2024 Club Championship Rules

Below are the 2024 rules.

This year the championship remains unchanged from 2023 - it runs from January to December, there are 14 races and runners need to do at least  7 -  3 road and 3 off road.
In addition, we will trial additional 'road' and 'off-road' sub divisions. This means for example that anyone who prefers to run only road races can do so - their best 4 out of 7 available in the year to count. Of course, for the race weary, this also means individuals can target only 4 races in the year.
The same applies for those who prefer 'off-road'.

After a mini-review in 2023, where all members were consulted, the purpose of the club champs were set out as: 

• opportunities for members to experience a variety of running types/terrains/skills

• to give races that inspire and motivate members to run and take part at all levels 

• opportunities to develop/foster camaraderie - give opportunities for us to meet up.
  
  It’s less about:

• fostering a framework of competition within the club

• identifying the best runners in the club – ie finding the 'club champions'. It could be argued that we already know who our faster runners are. By default however, the faster runners will inevitably be near or at the top of the overall results.

Races have been selected taking into account location, cost, ease of entry and to encourage greater turnout at some of our team events. Efforts are made to keep races reasonably local, most are within an hour of Chepstow.   The champs co's will try to encourage and where possible organize transport shares to events – this may include organizing ‘4 in a car’ club subsidies’ and minibus/coach travel for far away events. 

Of the 14 races annually, 7 will be accessible to all club members.

Club champs races will not clash with (and be at least 2 clear days from) GLCL events & Rack Raid.  Where possible the club champs races will not clash with other club events (like fell series, Gwent league XC, mob matches..._), however clashes may well occur, especially when race dates change.

Specific  Rules

• At least three races must be each of ‘road’ and ‘off-road’.  The best other one scores from any other category make your seven qualifying races.  If you want you can do more than seven races, in which case your best seven scores will count.  Any or both of the extra races can also be used towards your road/off-road tally. (In the case of the separate Road and Off-Road championship trial for 2024, your best 4  out of 7 to count). 

• Points in the ‘Open Championship’ are awarded according to your finishing position in relation to other CH club runners (eg. 1st=100 points, 2nd=99 and so on).  Points in the ‘Age Graded Championship are calculated using the WMA tables and ranked according to your percentage score. Highest score =100, 2nd highest =99 and so on. (Scoring in the 'open' for the separate raod and off-road championship trial in 2024 is the saem) 

• There are separate Age Graded Championships and Open Championships for men and women, making a total of four categories. (

• Runners must run unassisted ie 2 legs and not 6, leave your furry friend at home.

• It is the responsibility of each member to fill in the appropriate boxes and submit your times on the web page below the club championship races table, for 'any half marathon'. Alternatively you can PM or email either of the champs co's.  - bonus race times must be submitted before December 1st  so that the positions are clear leading into the last monthly race on December 15th. 

• Members should enter races as Chepstow Harriers and wear club vest and colours (a blue vest or tee-shirt with a red hoop) in order to earn club championship points with the exception of park runs.  The championship coordinators may penalise anyone who continually ignores this request and may deduct points.  Also, only races completed while a paid up member will be eligible (races run before joining or when membership subs were unpaid, will not count).

• With regard to parkrun, please make sure that your profile has you down as Chepstow Harriers otherwise your result will not be picked up.

• In the case of a tie, final championship positions will be decided on the basis of those events in which tied runners both competed.  If still a tie, then:

  • for the 'open championship' tables, the member's position overall in each race will be considered

  • for the 'age graded' tables, the sum of each member's best 7 age graded percentages will be used

• There will be a memento for each member who completes seven or more races in the year.  This is achievable by everyone in the club.

• There will also be a memento for each member who completes all races in the year.

• If a race is cancelled in January to October, an alternative race will be found and notified as soon as possible.  If the November race is cancelled and no alternative is possible, it will be replaced with a nominated parkrun in December of the equivalent type ie road for road.  If a cancellation occurs in December, then no alternative race will be considered due to limited availability of suitable races and  a date that would suit the majority of the Club Championship participants.  If this situation occurs the Club Champions will be decided based on the results as of the day before the cancellation or the marathon closing date if later.  It is therefore the responsibility of the participants to plan for these eventualities.

• Prizes: In the open championship prizes/awards will be presented to the top 3 (male & female). In the Age Graded championship prizes/awards will be presented to the top 5 (male & female) - this in effect being the same number as if we had separate age-categories. 

• Prizes for the 2024 trial 'road' and 'off-road' championships will go to members who have not received one already in the main championship.
  If for example, the winner of the main championship is also in 1st place in the one of the sub-divisions they will not be eligible for that prize as well. The prize will go instead to the next person with the most points who is eligible. The general principle will be 'one prize only per person'.  

Any eventualities not covered by these rules, need to be raised with the Club Championship co-ordinators at the earliest opportunity, and any decision they make is final.

There are two types of Club Championship:

1. The Open Championship

2. The Age Graded Championship

What is an 'Open Championship'

This is a first past the post system where you get recognition for the position you achieved in the race regardless of age. 1st Chepstow Harrier back gets 100 points, 2nd gets 99 points, 3rd 98 points etc. This system tends favour younger members of the club.

What is ‘age-grading’?

Age grading is a way to adjust an athlete's performance according to age. The age-grading tables were developed by the World Master Association (WMA) - the world governing body for track and long distance running for veteran athletes. The tables work by recording the world record performance for each age at each distance, for men and women. Where necessary, the world record performances are estimated. The time you achieve in a race is then expressed as a percentage of the world record. The higher the percentage – the closer you are to the world record.

Click here to go to the WMA Age grading calculator: Calculator

Why have an ‘age-graded Championship?

• Age grading analyses your true performance - since it's based on time and not your club position in the race. Eg: If you were 2nd placed club member in a race,  and say just 2 seconds behind 1st place person and 3 mins in front of 3rd placed club member, you would get 99 points in the standard or 'open' championship - there is no reward for being so close to winning, and being so far in front of 3rd. In the age graded championship your percentage or age adjusted time is based on your time so the narrowness of defeat  from 1st is less marked.  You are rewarded for keeping it close and performing at your best. 

• Age grading can be used to compare performances across different ages - so the performance in an event of a 75 year old can be compared to that of 35 year old. The age-adjusted time is particularly useful for this purpose. Age graded scores 'level the playing field'. 

• It does away with the need for separate age categories and does not mean that the younger athletes in an age category will have an advantage. E.g. A competitor aged 49 in the Male Vet 40 category is often at a disadvantage when competing against a 41 year old.

•  As you get older you are still able to try and improve your performance every year - rather than working to improve your time you just try to increase your percentage/age adjusted time.

• Older members are able to compete against younger members. This is a particularly important advantage with a small club such as ours, since members will not just be able to compete against others of similar age (if indeed there are any in their age category) but with everyone within the club

• You can identify your best ever performance in your running career.

• It highlights those members of the club who are 'good for age' and achieve great times considering their age.  

• You can set goals and targets for future events and years - older athletes can try to better their age adjusted time rather than just be content with slowing actual times for races as they age. 

• Our club used to have only an age graded championship at one point - the open was introduced to cater for younger members who were not scoring well in the age adjusted championship
  
  

Championship guidelines for co-ordinators resulting from 'mini-review' in 2023