8th Annual Grand Prix Competition 2011 Belper Harriers 8th Annual Grand Prix Competition 2011

What is the Grand Prix ? This is an annual competition open to all club members. It provides an opportunity for runners of all abilities to compete against each other; starting from a level playing field at the beginning of the year. It also provides ‘stretch’ goals for individuals to aim for over each distance; by way of striving to perform above their current grading level.

What are the aims of the competition ? To provide friendly competition amongst club members; and for the winners, the kudos of being presented with a trophy after the end of the year. To encourage club members to compete more often, and over a range of distances and different disciplines. To encourage loyalty to the club, and to help maximise turnouts for competitions such as league races and relays.

How does it work ? Everyone is graded in the first few months of each year based on their GP qualifying race scores in the previous year. (Or, for new members - recent Handicap times). Your grading level consists of time bandings covering a range of standard (and league race) distances over different surfaces.

How does it work ? You are awarded points, based on your grade, for your performances in ten races from a varied selection. You score loyalty bonus points for participating in and/or supporting club races.

Which races are involved ? You will be scored for your ten races attracting the highest points. (Subject to a maximum of 2 races in any particular category). There are no mandatory races, however you must include at least one race from each the following seven categories: (see next slide)…

Race Categories 1. Cross-Country League (5 per year) 2. Summer League (5 per year) 3. Club 10K Handicap (6 per year) 4. 1 mile (at least 9 per year) 5. 5K (13 listed races) 6. 5 Miles or 10K (13 listed races) 7. 10 Miles or above (13 listed races)

Nominated Races – 1 mile Derby Midweek Races – Raynesway (9 dates per year) Any Open Track Meeting mile Time trial on Belper School or Amber Valley track (verified by Steve or Malc)

Nominated Races – 5K Derby Midweek Races – Raynesway (9 dates per year) Mansfield Spring 5K (April) Southwell Trail 5K (May) Mansfield Autumn 5K (Sept) Queens Head Canter – Belper (Dec)

Nominated Races – 5 mile Weston 5m (March) Long Eaton 5m (June) Heanor 5m (July) ‘Double-or-Quits’ 5m–Shipley (Aug)

Nominated Races – 10K Pride Park 10K – Derby (April) Larwood 10k – Worksop (May) Sinfin 10K (June) Colin Potter 10K – Derby (July) Tara Kinder 10K – Derby (July) Great Yorkshire Run-Sheffield (Sept) Pudding Run 10K – Heanor (Nov) Bolsover10K (Dec) Southwell 10K (Dec)

Nominated Races – 10 miles Notts 10 (June) Chesterfield 10 (Aug) ‘Double-or-Quits’ 10m - Ilkeston (Aug)

Nominated Races – Half Marathon Mansfield Half-Marathon (June) Robin Hood Half-Marathon (Sept) Great North Run – Newcastle (Sept) Worksop Half-Marathon (Oct) Clowne Half-Marathon (Nov)

Nominated Races – 13 miles + Grindleford Gallop 21M (March) Coniston 14 (March) Ashby 20 (March) Stafford 20 (March) Belper Rugby Rover (Aug) ANY Marathon

The scoring system 5 points are awarded for completing a race with a finishing time* within your grade’s time banding. (*From official results). This decreases by 1 point for every band you perform below your grade. (With zero being the minimum – i.e.5 bands below your grade).

The scoring system You gain additional improvement points when achieving times in bands above your grade. These range from 2 to 5 points per band improved, depending on your default band. (The higher your grade, the more improvement points you attract - as it becomes increasingly difficult to move up a band the further you move up the chart).

Bonus points Two Bonus Points are awarded every time you participate in one of the following club races… X-Country League; Summer League; Pride Park Relay; Derwent River Relays. Two Bonus Points are also awarded for competing in Regional, Area or National Cross Country and Road/XC Relay Championships. One bonus point is awarded for supporting at these races, and two are awarded for helping at races we host.

Boosting your Bonus! Bonus points earned are doubled for competing in and/or supporting at a complete series (5 races) of the Cross-Country League and Summer League … (i.e 5 x 2 points doubled = 20 points maximum available for each league series).

What about new members? New runners joining the club in the first half of the year will be assessed on their first 2 or 3 race performances (which may include the club 10K Handicap races). A grade will then be assigned on which their race scores for the remainder of the year will be based. Runners joining in the 2nd half of the year will be eligible to enter the following year’s Grand Prix.

The winner !!!!! A perpetual trophy - The Golden Shoe - will be presented after the conclusion of the 2010 Grand Prix, to the member scoring the most points from their ten races. This will be engraved and be held for one year. A personal trophy will also be presented for the winner to keep.

The runners-up!! Personal trophies will also be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd placed runners. Prizes can only be awarded to runners who have completed all ten categories.

What happens next year ? Steve reviews the Grand Prix with Sam after the end of each year and incorporates any developments into the following year’s competition. They assess all competitors on their Grand Prix performances, and recalculate their grades for the forthcoming year. (Using mean, modal and median averages in conjunction with various other criteria). The prime purpose of this review and re-grading exercise is to keep the competition relevant and to re-establish the ‘level playing field’ for all members.

What do I need to do? As in 2010, this year’s competition has nominated open races; therefore we are able to access published results for these. You can help though by e-mailing Steve with any qualifying races you’ve run – this is only required if your name is not published correctly in the race results as a Belper Harrier. If you run a marathon other than London, or an Open Track Meeting 1 Mile, please send in a link to your official result.

And Finally… The Best of Luck in this year’s competition!