The Ironbridge Half Marathon, 18th March 2007

Grand Prix Race 3 - Results

 

GP

Pos.

Name

Age

Club

Pos.

Actual

Time

Age

Graded

Time

Performance

Level %

**

GP

Points

Bonus

Points

1

Alex Davidson-Elliott

66

2

1-39-27

1-15-57

77.97

50

10

2

Michael Morley

42

1

1-24-53

1-20-12

73.84

46

12

3

John Adams

56

3

1-47-24

1-30-08

65.70

44

8

x = Not Wearing Club Vest (GP Rule 8)              xx = Not registered beforehand 

** 90%+ World Standard            ** 80%+ National Standard            ** 70%+ Regional Standard

** 60%+ Local Standard            ** 50%+ Club Standard                 

A poor turn out for this our third race in the GP. A number of factors conspired against us in making this race more popular amongst our members. The half marathon distance is seen as a bit too long for both some of our younger and older runners as well as female runners. A fact that has not been lost on your Road Running Group and no doubt the subject of ‘inclusion’ or ‘exclusion’ in next years GP will be debated furiously over the coming months. Also dates had changed, which caused confusion everywhere and the proximity of the ever so popular Stafford Half that a lot of you have opted for instead of the GP. Mothering Sunday also didn’t help our cause. 

For those that took the trouble to get to Ironbridge as regards the GP it was worthwhile, fewer runners equal more points!  It is not surprising therefore, to find the Points Table upturned. Absentee, owing to a back injury and leader after race 2, Gordon Orme has dropped down to 3rd position, whilst Alex Davidson-Elliott has taken over the top spot. Alex was also first M60 home in the race, no mean achievement considering his current lack of fitness. John Adams moves up from 4th to 2nd and Michael Morley in his first GP race this year jumps in to the number 6 position. Peter Lawton falls one place to 4th

Early days yet with qualifying rules to apply later, things could alter dramatically. Mentioning qualifying rules, reminds me that only one person, Robin Davies has declared his intention to run two 10 mile races instead of a half marathon. This means that the Kenilworth Half Marathon will HAVE to be run by all of you to allow you to qualify to be counted in the competition. It was quite clear in Rule 2 of the GP Rules and I hope that because only one person read them this whole competition will not be torpedoed before we start!! 

Please note that because of the Triangle 10k multi-terrain cancellation, we will be looking for a suitable replacement. Please keep looking at www.birchfieldharriers.net for latest news and on the Club Notice Board. 

For photographs of the Ironbridge race and much more please look at Brian Smith’s online photo gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets 

Tom Morris