Quote Originally Posted by Wheeze View Post
Why would any RO describe their course as 'hazard free'?? That's plain daft. Our course it's hazardous, that's why we do it! Are you sure you are not trying to invent a problem where non exists?

I do accept your point about UKA though.....I was dead against the closer union and blame those of an 'athletic' bent on the committee at the time. Sorry Alan B, I know it was all well intentioned and my minority view was proven to be a minority by the vote. But it was precisely this sort of scenario that I was worried about.
I really dont get the UKA animosity.. I read a post by the great Craig Jones.. about UKA being involved in fell running and therefore wanting olympics and fell running.. odd... but the point was that UKA ignore fell running. They don't.

I was at the GB athletics (UKA) celebration dinner this week, great event, and Neil Black UKA Athletics Performance director gave a superb talk, really did enjoy it, and he did mention fell runners. Fell and ultra are becoming integrated into UK/GBA and receiving the funding. The great thing was we had a dry meal.. because it was 16 upwards.. so the juniors. There is now real buy in from UKA into our sports and funding of youngsters, how can this be a bad thing? I was sat on a table with Hannah England and she talked constantly to the 4 16 year olds on our table. Would that have happened 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

I think it was a superb step to bring together fell running/mountain running and UKA. I think fell running can learn from the professionalism. There's too much fear of the new and unknown.