That sounds like a good idea.Originally Posted by Travs
It would be interesting to view a graph of the number of participants in the various forms of British Champs. over the years (although I'm not going to research the subject).
That sounds like a good idea.
It would be interesting to view a graph of the number of participants in the various forms of British Champs. over the years (although I'm not going to research the subject).
Well, at the last British Champs race in September, i finished 30th overall.
That should not be happening under any circumstances.
Actually there are two proposals... a one-off race around medium distance, or the separate short/long races.
Interesting that this has been put up on Facebook "The Fell Runners Association" page, but not on the FRA Forum here.
I've no skin in the game. I've always been in the final 3rd of the field whatever the level and if I've run in a champs race, it's only because I had coincidentally entered.
I suppose it's as a coach I had more interest, as I coached athletes that were contenders in junior champs and trials, some won national titles and international vests.
It does interest me though, having given my thoughts through official and unofficial channels in the past.
MRAG - The Mountain Running Advisory Group - it's part of UKA/British Athletics - I was involved for about 5 years as the English Junior Rep.
It might technically have some remit for the British Champs (and Relays) but I tend to think it should keep out and leave them to the Home Nations bodies.
This is domestic competition. They might like it to be, but it isn't really for those chasing International vests.
Change if needed, but leave it to the FRA, WFRA, SHR and NIMRA or whoever looks after NI now.
One only needs to look to the trials.
The elites attend, but the numbers aren't high.
I'm one of a few on here with exposure and involvement in T&F, Cross Country, Road and Fell.
Can anyone point to British Championships in other disciplines?
You'll struggle, because where they do exist, it seems as a bit of an afterthought.
For example I think we have a British Marathon Championship incorporated in to the London Marathon recently. But what about a GB/UK 5k, 10k, or HM Road Championship?
In Cross Country we have the English National which is the big one, with the other nations having equivalents. But where is the GB/UK Champs?
In Track and field we do have UK indoor and outdoor champs, but the idea that they attract the elites is a bit stretched.
Mo Farah for example, last won a British Track title in 2011.
So UKA or GB Athletics as it is now branded, really seems to have no interest in UK/GB Championships in any discipline as exampled by the lack of them.
So my instinct says they should be done bottom up, not top down.
There is definitely something distinct about fell.
It's very heavily Vet orientated with many Vets still good enough to contest the Senior titles.
Vets and Seniors run together, where in other disciplines we often see Masters events for the Vets.
Champs events seem to be about the whole club, a big day out, such as we see at the National XC Champs, or the 6 & 12 stage road relays.
It doesn't seem so long ago that I used to see complaints on this forum and on Facebook about Champs races filling up quickly.
Maybe that's where to look to reform.
It's nice to move races around to make them more interesting. A National Cross Country at Marl Pits would be awesome - but the venue couldn't cope with it.
The main issue I see for the Champs is that they needed to stick to venues that can support large fields. If the Limits are so small that entries are closed within hours, then that in time will reduce the interest from those individuals that miss out, but also from their clubs as they can't all go and enjoy the event together.
Richard Taylor
"William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
Sid Waddell
The British Champs format does need to change - when just one women's team completed it in 2022 and not a single women's vets team - so those medals went unawarded.
For the record, i filled in the survey, and my vote went for the one-off race per year.
(there were options to vote for keeping it as current, and some other minor amendments)
"Interesting" indeed. Given the recent discussions within the FRA about how to make the forum relevant to members, this seems like another opportunity missed.
Good to see the British champs being revamped though. Hopefully it will get some more interest.
Without looking at the numbers the British has been on a road to nowhere since home nations introduced their own champs.
(I have two English medals so perhaps I am biased but) it seems to me that if I were a Scottish runner I would want to be known as a champion by my local Scottish running peers - not by someone who lives in, say, Cornwall.
But attitudes vary. I interviewed one triple British Champ. who took the view that only the British mattered and so he didn't bother with the English. "Why would I bother with the English Champ. when I can win the British?"
But I interviewed one multiple English Champ. and he said he didn't bother with the British but "left it so **** could win it every year"!
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 07-03-2023 at 01:11 PM.
I would suggest that biggest barrier to participation in the British Champs is the distances to be travelled and associated expense.
Visibility good except in Hill Fog
Especially if you live in Northern Ireland
Before my involvement, but it sounds likely it's one of the factors.
It probably also doesn't go down well with many Female competitors when an athlete from a decade or so ago won titles unfairly and had results supposedly annulled, but they are still listed as English and British Champ and the ladies robbed of the appropriate medal haven't been upgraded or recognised.
Richard Taylor
"William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
Sid Waddell
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