Grand Prix

Rules

The 2023 Sedgefield Harriers Grand Prix is open to all paid-up first-claim members of the Sedgefield Harriers, however members are only eligible once they reach the age of 16. +

There are six divisions: two elite divisions (one men, one women), followed by four mixed-gender divisions based on ability.

All divisions are based on fastest Sedgefield parkrun time of 2022. Where a runner hasn’t run Sedgefield parkrun in 2022, the runner’s best parkrun time at any parkrun is used. Where the organiser judges a runner’s time to be below their typical standard, this is adjusted and the athlete notified. ++ For each division, first place receives 10 points, second place 9 points etc.

Bonus points are available for: volunteering at Harriers events (1pt per event, maximum 2pts) and competing at NYSD track and field events (1pt per event, no maximum).

Attendance bonus points will also be awarded for taking part in Grand Prix races as follows (i.e. the more Grand Prix races you run, the more points you get just for running them):

• 0-2 races: 0 bonus points
• 3-4 races: 2 bonus points
• 5-6 races: 5 bonus points
• 7 or more races: 10 bonus points

The best 7 results are taken from 10 races. You do not need to run all 10 races.

Good luck to everyone!

SMALL PRINT:

• All athletes must run in their Harriers vest
• Points will only be scored where athletes are paid-up, first claim members of the Harriers, i.e. new joiners won’t score points for races run unattached or in another club’s vest, leavers won’t score points in subsequent races
• No points will be scored where an athlete runs under someone else’s number. If an athlete using someone else’s number runs in a lower category, e.g. a V40 runner using a V60 runner’s number, a “fine” of 10 points will be issued. +++
• Where chip time is available, this is used in preference to gun time
• You don’t need to run 7 races to win – your best 7 results count, but if you win without running 7 you still win

TIE BREAK:

Where two athletes finish on the same points, the following will be used to settle a tie –

• athlete with the most points from races (as opposed to bonus points)
• athlete that has won the most runs head to head with competing athlete
• athlete that has entered the most Grand Prix races
• athlete with most volunteering points
• oldest athlete
• arm wrestle

Changes from previous years:

+ previously members had to be 16 on Jan 1^st to be eligible – now they can join at any time once they’re 16 (obviously this will make it difficult for people who have birthdays in October, but will allow athletes to compete sooner)

++ previously this was done on countback and the discretion of the organiser; now changed to be more objective, but onus is on athletes so set a qualifying time at Sedgefield parkrun

+++ most races allow number transfers before the event, so I’m being stricter on this this year; athletes competing in the wrong category damages the reputation of the club – previously this resulted in zero points, now it will result in minus 10 points

++++ bonus points available for NYSD track and field participation

DIY Marathon

Acknowledging that August is frequently a difficult time for people (especially those with families) to be certain of entering races, this year we’re doing a Stuart Park-style “show me your Garmin” run for August.

The idea is to run a full marathon distance during the month. This can be either done in one go (and can of course be done as part of an organised marathon), or you can make up the distance over a number of runs. There’s a BUT coming up…

For each additional run taken to achieve the distance, 8% of the total time is added, e.g.

If I take 5 runs to achieve the distance, my time will be the total taken plus 32% of that time.

If I take 2 runs to achieve the distance, my time will be the total taken plus 8% of that time.

Runs must be your own, must begin no earlier than 00:00 BST on 1 August and finish no later than 23:59 on 31 August.

N.B. – UK Athletics places a limit on the maximum distance younger athletes are expected to run. (These preclude under 16s from many of the Grand Prix races, which is why Grand Prix entry is for 16+.) These limits are:

Aged 16 years – 15,000 metres
Aged 17 years – 25,000 metres

With this in mind, it is expected that 16-year-old and 17-year-old athletes comply with these guidelines and respectively, they will be allowed to complete 3 and 2 runs before any additional time is added.

Runs must be presented to me by 7 September at the latest.

Roll of Honour

From 2018, the Grand Prix format was changed to allow two smaller "elite" divisions based on gender and four larger mixed divisions based on ability.

Year	Men's Elite	Women's Elite	Division One	Division Two	Division Three	Division Four
2023	David Walker	Jane Spink	Pete Milburn	Paul Cowell	Georgina Letts	Sue Dobson
2022	Mark Raine	Lisa Darby	David Walker	Mark Chapman	David Round	Graham Darby
2019	Mark Raine	Rosie Warnett	David Walker	Ian Spencer	Fay Uphill	Helen Frame
2018	Chris Lines	Jane Spink	David Walker	Matthew Walker	Andy Corfield	Beth Raine

The original format was a division for men and a division for women. In 2015 this was expanded to allow two divisions per gender.

Year	Men's Division One	Women's Division One	Men's Division Two	Women's Division Two
2017	Chris Lines	Lisa Darby	Paul Lee	Alda Hummelinck
2016	Ray Carmichael	Lisa Darby	David Round	Helen Letts
2015	Paul Weir	Tracy Glaister	Paul Glaister	Deb Pennick
2014	Paul Weir	Chris Hearmon	-	-
2013	Graeme Addison	Gail Bell	-	-
2012	Graeme Addison	Diane Baines	-	-

During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, Stuart Park organised a series of "virtual grands prix".

Year	Men's Division One	Women's Division One	Men's Division Two	Women's Division Two
2021	Mil Walton	Abbie Walker	Philip Houghton	Georgina Letts
2020 Winter	David Walker	Jane Spink	Andrew Malcolm	Chris Hearmon
2020 Summer	Paul Weir	Jane Spink	Steve Foreman	Paula Warwick