2006 Championship

Club Championship Races |  Championship Table

This year we are running 2 separate championships – A ‘Veterans Championship’ based on the age-grading system and an ‘Open Championship’. There are separate male and female categories in each championship. Every fully paid up member who runs in a championship race will be awarded points in both championships automatically.

There will be 20 nominated races from which each member’s best 10 results will count. Members will score up to 20 points for each event as follows:

20 points for 1st place, 19 for 2nd ….. down to 1 point for 20th position and below. Positions in each race in the Veterans Championship will be based on the WAVA age-related system.

In addition any Harrier who runs a Marathon taking place between the first and last nominated race will be included for points, to be awarded at the end of the year, using the above points system. You may do as many events as you like but your best 10 races to count. Only races completed while a paid up member will be eligible (so races run before joining or when membership subs were unpaid, will not count). Unlike previous years, each Lacock Relay in the nominated list will be considered as a separate race. In the case of a tie, final Championship positions will be decided on the basis of those events in which the tied runners both competed; if still a tie, the member with the most/highest finish position(s) will prevail. Any disputes will be settled by the organiser whose decision will be final.

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 Association of Veteran Athletes - the world governing body for track and long distance running for veteran athletes. The tables were first published in 1989. 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. For example, the world record for a 53 year old woman running a 10km is 35:01. So if a 53 year old woman finishes a 10km in 45:18, she has an age-graded performance of 77.3% (which is 35:01 as a percentage of 45:18).

Why use age-grading for the Veteran’s Championship?

  • Age grading can be used to compare performances across different ages – so theoretically the performance in an event of a 75 year old can be compared to that of 40 year old.
  • 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.
  • As you get older you are still able to compete against younger members.
  • You can identify your best ever performance.
  • You can set goals and targets for future events and years – rather than simply having a sinking feeling that you are getting slower every year.

What is an ‘Open Championship’

This is how the championship used to be organised. It’s a first past the post system where you get recognition for the position you achieved in the race regardless of age. 1st Chippenham Harrier back gets 20 points, 2nd gets 19 points, 3rd 18 points etc.

Why have an ‘Open Championship’

After running the age-grading system for two years it appears that there are some problems with running it as the sole championship:

  • If a 37 year old is chasing a 45 year old towards the end of a race, what incentive is there to catch and overtake them when the age-grading will mean they actually finish behind them?
  • Your racing position relative to your fellow club members is not known until a day or two later when the age-grading tables are consulted and published. When racing, what is the point of trying to keep in front of or catch others when you haven’t a clue what order you will all be placed after the race.
  • Younger club members below the age of 40 appear to have to be very, very fast in order to be able to compete with the veterans. The age-grading is obviously biased in favour of veterans (it was, after all, a system set up by the World Association of Veteran Athletes). In 2005 Paul Dodd (47) gained a score of 84.15% at one of the Heddington Relays. Amy Chalk (30) gained a score of 84.26% at Lacock. Similar scores at similar races – but not similar ability!

Why have Two Championships

  • The ‘Open Championship’ will mean that races will be more fun, more competitive and the results will make more sense.
  • The younger club members will have more incentive to train, take part in races and beat the veterans. And, hopefully it will attract new younger members.
  • The veterans in the club can compete against each other regardless of age and continue enjoying competitions as they get older and (inevitably) slower.
  • There are more prizes up for grabs – could a veteran member (male over 40 or female over 35) win the ‘Open Championship’ category?