UK Relay League 2012

[Scott]

The programme for the 2012 UK Relay League is now confirmed, and you can find it on the website at ukrelayleague.org.uk

There will be a total of six races this year, including a new Sprint Relay organised by SYO at Endcliffe Student Village, Sheffiled, and a UK Relay League Final organsied by PFO at Tockholes.

Scoring will be best three scores from the first five races plus score in the Final.

There's still time to form Neighbouring Club Alliances if you think your club will struggle to field a full-strength team on either Men's or Women's Premier courses at these events - email me asap, and by 15 Feb at the latest: sjcollier@gmail.com

[andy]

This is an interesting change.

I love the idea of adding the sprint relay. I am less keen on the 'final' idea becuase I don't think many will want to go unless you are either nearby or are in with a chance and the atmosphere will be a bit subdued

[EddieH]

I agree totally andy. There are enough races already challenging for our elite runners. Why would they also go to Lancashire to run in a team which probably has little chance of winning by then? I'd predict a very small turn out.

6 races seems fine, but a compulsory one which has no previous and is out of season seems that it will inevitably be a very small affair.

[ba-ba]

The final is the same weekend and area of the country as the UK Cup Final.
See what they did there?

[mharky]

See what they did there?

Put it with an event no one goes to?

[andy]

See what they did there?

Put it with an event no one goes to?

Makes sense to put it that weekend I guess, as long it's a quality weekend. Given the turnout at the UKCup final last year my comment still stands!

[mharky]

I agree, if it was going to be put with an event, then the UK Cup final is the right one. It's the whole concept of those races that's jobby.

A colour coded event at Darnaway in February managed to attract the British Long, British Sprint, JK, SHI, BUCS and Scottish Champions.

[lilywhite]

I disagree. I think the concept is bang on. There's no point the UK Cup/Relay league just being the major races that are already there - getting a cup for free to go along with your British Champion trophy, JK trophy and place in the WOC team is pretty meaningless. For most M/W21s the season ends at the WOC trials (usually May/June) and there's a huge void til the next big race the following March. The concept of putting something meaninful on in the Autumn that decides the season is ideal, in my opinion. There aren't many decent elites in the UK and, just like your Darnaway February example, it only takes a small carful (which is all it is despite how you big up the titles of the people involved) to go to one of these events to turn it from tinpot to a top notch field. All the UK Cup races last year were really good quality, only not that many top elites travelled to them. I think this is a downside to having polarised centres of 'excellence' (a concept I also agree with) - none of the top people race at anything that's not a selection race, or not in Yorkshire/Scotland. A carful from both Edinburgh and Sheffield to each of these races would make them awesome - and Lancashire is quite close to equidistant. Moan about the mapping, control placement etc. after the event, but don't diss the concept. (Hope I'm not being a hypocrite - it actually is too far for me to go to these races this year)

[Street]

ShUOC will go.

Anybody want to try and beat us?

[eddie]

Straining got us really motivated to win the UKRL back in 2006 and despite my best efforts on the Harvester Leg 1 we managed it.

Relays are a great way to get a group motivated and the more the better.

[FATBB]

A colour coded event at Darnaway in February managed to attract the British Long, British Sprint, JK, SHI, BUCS and Scottish Champions.

Yesterday a sprint training session, open to all and free to attend, attracted two former jwoc and eyoc medalists, three british champions, seven current and past members of gb squads and great britains best ever overall performer at JWOC.

I don't understand your point.

[mharky]

It's pretty obvious you don't understand my point, as you've just strengthened it.

How many of you went to the UK Cup / FCC final last year?

[FATBB]

And my point was that saying so and so ran a certain event has nothing to do with whether the concept of the UK cup final is right or not.

As far as I am aware none of us ran, myself included. But I think its a good concept.

[andypat]

I dont normally agree with Mharky (at least not when I am sober) but why is it a good concept if nobody goes, but yet top guys are turning up to these other events?

[mharky]

Communism is a good concept too.