2008 Championship

Club Championship Races |  Championship Table

This year we are once again running 2 separate championships - An 'Age-Graded' 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 17 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 a minimum of 5 points, so everyone that takes part gets at least 5 points. Positions in each race in the Age-Graded Championship will be based on the 2006 WAVA database.

As well as the nominated races, there is also 'Best Marathon', 'Best Half Marathon', 'Best Lacock' and 'Best Heddington' categories. You can do as many of these events as you like in the year but it will be your best time that decides your championship points. The positions and points given for these will obviously change throughout the year and the administrator of the championship will update these on a regular basis. (Best half marathon time can not be gained at either FOD or Stroud. Lacock Handicap time also not to count.)

You may do as many events as you like but it's only your best 10 races that 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).

You also need to be entered as a Chippenham Harrier to earn points in the championship. Members who enter under their 2nd claim club will not be awarded points.

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 45:1).

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 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. This will tend to suit younger members of the club.