British Sprint Championships

[EddieH]

I have just got around to entering this and I note on the website that mementos are being presented in 10 year age bands.

Now I donn't mind in the least about these but I do care about the title. After all the pressure to get a proper British sprint championships does this mean that it is in fact only partially done, or have I failed to spot anywhere where it tells me that there will be a champion in each age class?

After all the fuss and confirmations, please don't let this be the case - so I won't add to this hoping that someone can confirm that every age class has a title (even if there is no presentation).

[NeilC]

As in previous years this is not an all age class championship. To be the British Sprint Champion you basically have to win. Ditto middle (except for the name of course). Full age class championships hopefully next year.

[EddieH]

WHY?????????????????????????

What the hell does it cost to allow someone to claim a title.

After all the discussion last year and the assurances that this year was to be a proper sprint championships for everyone you do this.

No wonder half the o population think sprint is Mickey Mouse.

[Homer]

As I understand it, it's down to who's willing to organise it. No one has come forward with an offer for 2009 yet.

I can understand why. The British Elite Sprint Champs is quite an undertaking on it's own. Two races in one day with the starts for the second race determined by the first. Add in to that multiple classes (and possibly courses; who knows how many people may enter?) and it starts to get very complicated.

[mikey]

Thought 2009 Sprint and Middle were in the East Midlands - Nottingham Uni campus and Grace Dieu.

[NeilC]

After all the discussion last year and the assurances that this year was to be a proper sprint championships for everyone you do this

Who gave you that assurance Eddie?

[Homer]

Thought 2009 Sprint and Middle were in the East Midlands - Nottingham Uni campus and Grace Dieu.

Yes but at the moment Nottingham Uni is just the British Elite Sprint Champs (as this year). Hopefully someone else may come forward to offer to put on a championship for the rest of us.

[Adventure Racer]

WHY?????????????????????????

What the hell does it cost to allow someone to claim a title.

In theory you're correct. Within the format of the race this year, there's no extra effort involved (apart from in sorting results and doing presentations) in awarding prizes for every class, sine there are only one set of heats and one set of finals which should rank all entries.

However the problem is that as soon as you announce it as age class championships, those running in the older classes want it to be fair - ie the person winning the prize is the person who is best. Given this format, that's not necessarily the case, since if a good M40 happens to be in a weak heat, and a better M40 happens to be in a strong heat, they will qualify for different finals and the better M40 won't win.

[awk]

I'm not sure what you mean by proper Sprint Championships Eddie, and I suspect from the responses others aren't as well.

If you mean simply recognising the best in each age class within the current format, then I'd possibly go along with you, although I'm quite happy about having 10 year bands, personally feeling that 5-year bands should only be used if there are too many people. But then some people would say that the format doesn't give a 'fair' competition to find a 'proper' age class champion. If you mean separate courses (as I think others might interpret), then no way, not until there are many more people: the current format is superb, and I'm not looking forward to the day it's broken up, which will spoil one of the best events of the year. Of course, the proper answer is to have separate 'Elite' and 'Age class' weekends, which is what I wish they'd stick to with the Long/Classic distance championships, but you'd probably get complaints over fixtures congestion (as if we've got too much sprint racing at present). That way, the best over-35s could compete both in their age classes and in the open (I'm sure I remember Jorgen Martensson winning both WOC and WMOC in the same year - that's how it should be).

I haven't come across anybody who thinks sprint is "Mickey Mouse". But I do think it's Mickey Mouse competition when you've got so few in a class that you've pretty much only got to turn up to win.

What I WOULD like to see is the rule that you can only win in your designated age range once and for all firmly consigned to the nonsense bin. If an M55 beats all the M50s and M45s, then he is M45, M50 and M55 champion, and good luck to him. What an incredibly stupid rule to say that a 43 year old beaten by a 53 year old is still the M40 "champion". How embarrassing for the designated "winner".

[IanD]

A lot of confusion and consequent ill-feeling would be avoided if the organisers would just state the situation in plain English on the event web site. The web site only uses the word 'elite' in connection with the Middle Distance, not the Sprint. Same on the BOF web site, "British Elite Middle Distance championship" and "British Sprint Championship". There's a strong implication there that the Sprint championship is a proper age class championship, not elite-only. (And yes I know non-M21's are theoretically eligible to win the elite class).

Not at this moment arguing for or against age-class championships, just for clear and unambiguous event details!

[Rookie]

The web site only uses the word 'elite' in connection with the Middle Distance, not the Sprint.

suppose the difference is that the middle is elite in that if too many people enter then the "non-elite" won't get to run while anyone can run the sprint and has a chance of being "The British Sprint Champion"

Splitting the field at the sprints into age classes on different courses would be bad, but I don't agree with

Please note that competitors are only eligible for a prize in their actual age group.

for the reasons described by AWK

[SJC]

If an M55 beats all the M50s and M45s, then he is M45, M50 and M55 champion, and good luck to him.

and he gets three identical mugs to take home and put on the shelf.

[PMG]

The events are titled on the web page as per the title of the BOF Guide for the events.
Both events are to determine the Elite Champions but as lots of people want to run OD have planned and put on other courses at the Middle and extra heats and finals for the Sprint to allow anyone to come and take part, with Junior courses to make it a family outing. Therefore some age group prizes are also being given as per the web page.

As the Sprint planner I can say you will run on 2 separate maps/areas - good value. GG has given some useful elite input and just for Graeme there are no trick controls.

From 2009 as per the Events Review and the recent Council decision there will be a full British Sprint and Middle from 2009.
As it stands the NOC sprint mentioned above is the Elite Event and the LEI event is both the Elite and the the full BO Championships. A volunteer club is required to host the full British Sprint in 2009. If your club is interested please contact your Association Fixture Secretary.

Peter (Planner, web person and Fixtures Chair)

[Rookie]

three identical mugs

well they can have one and give the others to some kids as spot prizes

Hope the sprints go well, can't wait to get back and see our shiny new campus map

[awk]

As it stands the NOC sprint mentioned above is the Elite Event and the LEI event is both the Elite and the the full BO Championships. A volunteer club is required to host the full British Sprint in 2009. If your club is interested please contact your Association Fixture Secretary.

Just to clarify Peter, does that mean that the British elite sprint in the current format will remain, with an additional age class event at another time? (I'm hoping the answer is yes!).

three identical mugs

well they can have one and give the others to some kids as spot prizes

Exactly!