Parkrun cup - third Saturday every month

A new trophy is to be awarded over the period to the next AGM around February 2010. Points will be awarded for every BVAC participant in the Bromley Parkrun at Norman Park. Runners will get 2 points for completing the run and 1 point for obtaining a personal best. Points from 10 down to 1 will also be awarded according to the best age graded performances.

After 3 qualifying races, the contest is hotting up and it's pretty tight near the top. The scoring in the third qualifying race and the overall positions are as follows:

The scoring in the second qualifying race and the overall the positions are as follows:

The first run at which points were scored was 19 June, following announcement of the new cup in the previous newsletter. Points awarded were:

Swanley Park relays (4 x 1mile)

This year we were only able to manage one team of four and that was an all male effort. Teams compete in the men's, women's and mixed races.

We came in a fantastic 9th place out of 39 teams overall (some men's, some women's and a few mixed). We were 2 minutes 36 seconds behind the winners. All our runners times were closely bunched - an excellent balance. Well done.

Keith Burgess 5.45
Ray Chapman 5.51
Mark Russell 5.58
Chris Marshall 6.04

For the full results, click here

BVAC 5-mile cross country race

43 runners completed the 2010 BVAC 5-mile cross country race on Saturday 13 March. There was representation from a broad range of clubs and a number of unaffiliated runners. The usual home-made cakes certainly added a touch of unique magic to this challenging run. Thanks to all the BVAC members who made or donated cakes and to all those who marshalled at the event.

For a list of the winners and more photos, click here

Kent Fitness League Cross Country Races - occasional Sundays during Winter

Awards

Our very own Pam Woodward was valiant in the ladies 60+ category over the league season. The best five results are considered and were sufficient to take Pam just ahead of fellow BVAC runner Linda Gray. Overall Pam finished 37th and Linda 45th of the 217 ladies who competed in different events.

A number of other BVAC runners gained certificates for completing at least 5 of the races. They were:

Keith Burgess: 73rd of 459
Les Humphrey: 156th of 459
Chris Marshall: 77th of 459
Paul Marshall 31st of 459
Jim Peters: 115th of 459
Peter Ratcliffe: 135th of 459
Clive Walker: 107th of 459

General

All events took place on Sunday mornings 11am start. Runs were about 5 miles long on varying off-road terrain. Open to all and everyone welcome. Entry fee £2 on the day. Finishers entered into end of race raffle.

For more information don’t forget to check out the web pages devoted to this league – www.canterburyharriers.org and www.swanleyanddistrictac.org.

Club Colours imperative but members could choose to run either in the old style vests or in the new-style long or short sleeved tops.

Individual race dates

Swanley Park, Swanley - 8^th November 2009 (For details click here)

Nurstead Court, Meopham - 22^nd November 2009 (For details click here)

Rough Common, Canterbury - 29^th November 2009 (For details click here)

Oxleas Wood, Eltham - 3^rd January 2010, postponed from 20^th December 2009 (For details click here)

Minnis Bay, Birchington - 10^th January 2010 (Cancelled but see relay switch below)

Fowlmead, Deal - 24^th January 2010 (For details click here)

Knole Park, Sevenoaks - 21^st February 2010 (For details click here)

Swanley Park, Swanley - 14^th March 2010, replacing the relays (For details click here)

Swanley kindly hosted the awards presentation event on Sunday 14 March 2010 at the Alexander Suite after the final meeting of the season (which replaced the planned relays).

League positions

Key rules for 2009/2010

The race entry fee is £2 per runner (last revised in 2001).

There is no limit to the number of runners a club may enter. Points shall be awarded to individuals in accordance with finishing position as follows - 1st 1 point; 2nd 2 points etc ....... There will be a separate points scale for male and female finishers; guest runners are not awarded points.

The Combined team race will be decided on the lowest total of 7 men and 3 ladies from each club including at least 1 male veteran over 40, 1 male veteran over 50 and 1 female veteran over 35. Any club not fielding its quota of runners will have last place plus one added for each missing individual. There will also be a separate ladies’ championship with 3 ladies to score (including one veteran over 35).

Points will be carried forward in the team championships based on a descending scale of club positions after each race. With 18 clubs taking part, the team winners from each race will get 18 points, and subsequent teams will score 17; 16; 15 and so on.

The team championship awards at the end of the season are based on points accrued from every race in the series using the points system as described above. Awards will be made at the end of the season to the Champions and Runners-up in both leagues.

In the individual championships, percentage points shall be awarded to individuals in the mens and ladies’ races. These shall be on a descending scale based on the formula:

Rating = [(Number of Finishers + 1) – Individual’s place] / Number of Finishers

In this, the ladies shall be separated out from the men and will have their own percentage points. The championship rating will be the average score over the season based on the individual’s best 5 races (assuming a 7 race series). The percentage obtained from the above method will be used to decide all age categories within the men and women’s competition.

Awards will be made at the end of the season for top five Males, top three Females, Male Veteran (cat V40, V45, V50, V55, V60, V65 and V70) Champions; Female Veteran (cat V35, V40, V45,V50, V55 and V60) Champions, most improved Male, most improved Female- one award per person. Further awards to be presented as may be decided by the Committee.

Start of the Parkrun

Ladies - are you ready?

Helen's age group grading puts her in contention for cup