INTRODUCTION
The Striders League was introduced in 2006 to support the team captains in encouraging Club Members to enter and participate in Hampshire Road Race League and Today’s Runner Cross Country League (now renamed the Southern Cross Country League (SCCL)) races. The League was the source of some fun during its inaugural season and created extra interest between club members as the season progressed.
The League is split into two competitions, one male and one female. In addition to the aim of increasing participation and members scoring points for taking part, runners can challenge themselves to improve against their achieved Age Related Grading (ARG) results Each runner can increase their score the better they do against their own age banding. In order to encourage members to participate in as many races as possible, additional bonus points are awarded to those who compete in at least 50% of the SCCL and HRRL events. Acquisition of these bonus points can have a significant effect on the final results.
Rules for the 2023-2024 Season
General
The number of HRRL races for the new season is 13, the additional event being the New Forest 10 mile on October 29th which I can highly recommend, partiularly for those of you have not run this course before. It is a lovely route, gently undulating, consisting of about 7 miles along wide forest tracks and three miles along the delightful Rhinefield Road which will be closed to traffic on the day. All finishers receive a unique horse brass, a different each year which you can proudly display in a martingale which will be avaiable to pyrchase in the Race HQ.
6 SCCL cross country events are also planned for 2023-24. Dates are shown below although it should be noted that there are three dates which are yet to be confirmed.
In previous years,three additional (non-HRRL races have been included in the League to add a bit of variety. However, in view of the very low number of participants at Bramley and Winchester last year and the London and Southampton Marathons being held on different days this year, it is currently planned to confine the League road races to the 13 HRRL events. This MAY change – so watch this space!
This year, the best 10 out of the 13 road races and 5 out of the 6 cross country races will count towards an individual’s total score.
The rules governing the award of league points for this year are detailed below:
Qualifying Race Events
Road Races
HRRL Events
| Overton 5m | 3rd September 2023 | |
| Solent Half Marathon | 1st October 2023 | |
| New Forest 10 m | 29th October 2023 | |
| Hayling 10 m | 5th November 2023 | |
| Gosport Half Marathon | 19th November 2023 | |
| Victory 5m | 3rd December 2023 | |
| Stubbington 10k | 7th January 2024 | |
| Ryde 10m | 4th February 2024 | |
| Salisbury 10m | 17th March 2024 | |
| Alton 10m | 12th May 2024 | |
| Netley 10k | 19th May 2024 | |
| Alresford 10k | TBA | |
| Lordshill 10 km | 7th July 2024 |
Note: Some fixtures and dates are provisional. Please check your entry carefully.
Cross Country Races
SCCL Events
The SCCL events qualifying for points in the League are as follows:
| Benyon’s Enclosure, Basingstoke | 29th October 2023 | |
| Alice Holt Forest | 26th November 2023 | |
| Lord Wandsworth College | 17th December 2023 | |
| Chawton House, Nr. Alton | 21st January 2024 TBC | |
| Bourne Woods, Farnham | 18th February 2024 | |
| Holywell Estate | 3rd March 2024 |
3. Scoring
3.1. Basic Scoring
The scoring system is as follows:
As for previous seasons, the scoring system by which league points will be awarded for the road races will be on the basis of the WMA (World Masters Athletics) Age Grading calculator which has become established as an international standard and is widely used for many races – e.g. Park Runs.
The actual points awarded on this basis will be simply ARG( %)/10 expressed to one decimal place So, to quote a couple of examples, an ARG of 70% would give a score of 7.0 points, a score of 63.7% will yield 6.4 points.
The age grading calculators are updated from time to time. Park Runs currently use the 2006/10 version and that is the standard which I will be using – the calculator is available on the following website http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup06.html .
An individual’s total score for the road races will be their best TEN scores out of the thirteen road races. Hence, you do not have to run all thirteen races to be in with a chance of winning! 🙂
In the case of the cross country league races the points awarded will be on the same basis as in previous years. i.e. 5 points for completing a XC league race whilst running for Denmead Striders. Only 5 out of the 6 races will count towards an individual’s total score i.e you can miss one race to gain maximum score for the cross country races.
3.2. Bonus Points
In order to encourage the fullest possible participation in the League events, on completion of the SCCL and HRRLseasons, bonus points will be awarded, dependent on the number of events completed.
The basis for awarding bonus points this year will remain unchanged:
- 14 points for completion of 10 league road races
- 13 points for completion of 9 league road races
- 12 points for completion of 8 league road races
- 11 points for completion of 7 league road races
- 10 points for completion of 6 league road races
- 10 points for completion of 5 SCCL races.
- 9 points for completion of 4 SCCL races
- 8 points for completion of 3 SCCL races
The bonus point system will be split into two separate sections one for the road races the other for cross country, with all scores added to give final totals.
The League will run throughout the season with all paid-up members being eligible, results will be updated on the website as soon as possible after each race.
For further information on the Championship or if anyone thinks I have made an error in allocation of their points (I’m not infallible!!!) please contact Graham Clarke either by e-mail or on Club Night.