Grand Prix
Each year, our club has a momentous Grand Prix competition!
We choose a selection of ten or so races ranging from 10k to fell races – and everything in between.
Everyone who takes part in a race receives points based on their performance. This year (2018) it is based on whether they can beat predictive times for races, which have been calculated based on their Gibside Parkrun PB. (Full rules below.)
Well done to Nick Belcher and Carys Watts, 2017’s well deserved King and Queen of the Grand Prix!
The Grand Prix is a brilliant way to try out new races with fellow club members, and is open to all, regardless of how many races you can take part in.
The fixture list for 2018 has just been revealed by Mark Marchant. Here it is:
Alnwick Castle, NEHL cross-country 3 March – XC www.harrierleague.com/
Pier to pier, Sunderland, 20 May – Mixed – SOLD OUT www.sunderlandstrollers.co.uk
Blaydon Race, 9 June – Road – SOLD OUT www.blaydon-race.com/
Tynedale 10k, 4 July – Road – advance booking advised as can sell out www.tynedaleharriers.com
Saltwell Harriers Fell Race, Stanhope, 03/07/18 July – Fell http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=5718 www.saltwellharriers.org.uk
Red Kite Trail Race, Derwent Valley, 15 July – Trail – SOLD OUT (Reserve list) – www.sientries.co.uk/redkite
Branches and Bays 10k, Co Durham, 19 August – Trail – SOLD OUT (no reserve list) www.urbantrails.co.uk/branches-and-bays.php
Anne Allan 10k, Felton, 02/09/18 (tbc) – Trail (family day with children’s races) – no advance booking – www.facebook.com/AA10kCoquetTrail/
Prudhoe Miners 10k, 30/09/2018 (provisional) – Road – advance booking not open a/o April https://www.runbritain.com/RaceDetail.aspx?eventid=7fbd0dcb5e74&raceid=75bb0fcf5e6e
Ullswater trail 14k (early book advised – remember to book 13.30pm sailing as we’re hoping to arrange a coach trip if enough numbers), Lake District, 14/10/2018 – Trail www.lakelandtrails.org/ullswater/
Saltwell 10k, 22/12/18 (tbc) – Road – advance booking not open a/o April www.saltwellharriers.org.uk
All dates with TBC are provisional as of June 2018.
Rules are simple
This season the Grand Prix’s rules are a bit different. They are based on Gibside parkrun PB (personal best) times. This has allowed us to generate predicted finishing times for each athlete over the season’s Grand Prix events.
This year we have decided to have 5 counters to qualify for the competition; in short that means if you only do 5 races from the Grand Prix events, then those 5 will be the times which count. If you do more than 5 events, the best 5 times will count. (You can still get a score even if you complete less than 5.)
The system is designed so that athletes are only actually competing against themselves and hopefully over the course of the season will accumulate a negative time (faster times than predicted). The male and female athlete with the best negative time will be deemed the winner and most improved over the season.
