Aberystwyth Athletic Club - Clwb Athletau Aberystwyth

Thank you to everyone who contacted me with suggestions and comments about the club league for 2009. There were some pretty wide ranging views and lots of good ideas for ways we can make the league more open, competitive and inclusive as well as ideas for the races we should include.

For 2009 we will continue to operate the main Club League and the Off Road/Trail League as we did in 2008 but with increased race choice and flexibility. It will be possible to take part in both Leagues

The most significant change to the main league is the introduction of a new structure and handicapped scoring system that will allow everyone to compete more directly against people of similar ability.

• There will be separate Male and Female leagues and these will each be divided into a series of divisions each containing between 7 and 10 people.
• To start with each club member will be placed into one of the league divisions using their performance in this year’s league as an indicator.
• Each person will be given a starting age handicap to even out their potential performance against everyone else in their division.
• There will be five races categories – Sprint, Short, Medium, Long and Off Road
• To qualify you will need to run four races in at least three of the race categories. This means that you can concentrate on the races that suit you best.
• People will compete against each other within their division and at regular intervals in the year there will be promotions and relegations – just like the football league or squash ladder.
• As people move up and down their handicap will be reassessed to ensure that the divisions remain competitive.
• Prizes will be awarded at the end of the year to the lead person in each division
• People who have received promotion during the year will become the prime contenders for a most improved runner award.

The 2009 race list shows a new category of “Sprint” and lots of additions in each of the other areas to ensure that everyone has a host options to choose from. Remember, to qualify you only need to run races in any three of the categories. We have also added optional races to each category so you’re not restricted to the nominated league races and will be able to enter your time from another race.

Keeping the scoring to 3 out of the 5 categories means that you will be able to concentrate your racing into the areas where your strengths and preferences lie.

Dates are shown - where we have them - so you can begin to prepare your race diary.

	League Races 2009	Date
Sprint	400m (1)	TBA
	400m (2)	TBA
	800m (1)	TBA
	800m (2)	TBA
	1 mile Time Trial (2)	TBA
	1 mile Time Trial (3)	TBA
Short	Aberystwyth A.C. Club 5k (Spring)	TBA
	Rhayader 5k race 1	13 May 2009
	Rhayader 5k race 2	27 May 2009
	Rhayader 5k race 3	10 June 2009
	Newtown Carnival 5k	12-Jun-09
	Newtown Barbecue 5k	10-Jul-09
	Aberystwyth A.C. Club 5k (Autumn)	TBA
	Any 5k (Official results required)
Medium	Rhayader 5 mile	21-Mar-09
	Ras Gwyl Dewi 10k	01-Mar-09
	FelinFach 6	TBA
	Newtown 10k	03-May-09
	Dolgellau 5 mile	TBA
	Aberystwyth 10k	TBA
	Llandudno Twin Piers 10k	24-Jan-09
	Nick Beer 10k Llandudno	08-Feb-09
	Any 10k (Official Results required)
Long	Ras Cors Caron	15-Feb-09
	Rhayader ‘Round the Lakes’	21-Mar-09
	San Domenico 20	22-Mar-09
	Teifi 10 (Lampeter)	TBA
	Penmaenpool 10	TBA
	Dale (Pembroke) Half Marathon	TBA
	Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon	13-Sep-09
	Elan Valley 10	TBA
	Any Half Marathon (Official Results required)
	Any Marathon (Official Results required)
Off Road/ Trail	Race the Train (Quarry Challenge)	15-Aug-09
	Race the Train (Rotary Challenge)	15-Aug-09
	Ras Tarren Hendre	24-Jan-09
	Ras Y Mast	TBA
	Ras Beca	August Bank Holiday
	Ras yr Aran	21-Mar-09
	Cader Idris 10.5	30-May-09
	Dyfi 8	12-Sep-09
	Red Kite Challenge	TBA
	Source of Severn	TBA
	Aberystwyth Twin Peaks	11/10/2009
	Team Optional (1)
	Team Optional (2)
	Team Optional (3)
	Team Optional (4)
	Rhobell Fawr	07/11/2009

In addition to the main league divisions we will also be running the Trail league – and this has been widened to include a whole host of new races as well as four Team Options. The key points about the Trail League are:

• The Trail league races will be scored using an averaging approach that compares individual performance against the top 10% (or first 10 whichever is fewer) of runners in the race.
• A person’s best four scores from the trail races will be used to determine overall Trail league position.
• Running in the listed Trail races will automatically count as an category for the main League.
• Only races listed in the Off Road/Trail category will be considered for the Trail.
• Team options will be Off Road/Trail races not included on the list but where a minimum of four Aberystwyth AC members (male or female) participate. This means that people must agree the events that they want to run at in order to get the points.

1st male – Pete Foale
2nd male – John Evans
3rd male – Clive Evans
4th male – Dave Powell
5th male – Kevin Holland
6th male – Tony Wenlock

1st female – Anita Worthing
2nd female – Louise Barker
3rd female – Glenda Roberts
4th female – Helen Stretch
5th female – Helen Williams
6th female – Bridget Parkinson

1st male – John Evans
2nd male – Tony Wenlock
3rd male – Geoff Oldrid

1st female – Helen Stretch
2nd female – Bridget Parkinson
3rd female – Shan Breese

1st male – Pete Foale
2nd male – John Evans
3rd male – Clive Evans
4th male – Dave Powell
5th male – Cliff Thomas
6th male – Kevin Holland

1st female – Anita Worthing
2nd female – Louise Barker
3rd female – Glenda Roberts
4th female – Kate O’Sullivan
5th female – Helen Williams
6th female – Annwen James

1st male – Pete Foale
2nd male – Clive Evans
3rd male – John Evans

1st female – Glenda Roberts
2nd female – Louise Barker
3rd female – Delor Harvey