Formerly known as the club handicap
The club is very grateful to Emma Shaw for taking on the organisation of the 2024 handicap races, which are now known as the Ron Reynolds 5k Race Series. We would also like to express our thanks to Steve Blakemore for running these races for the previous two seasons.
Last year's winner was James Nelson, with Michelle Morgan, Chris Boden and Mark Chapman tying for 2nd place. The five individual event winners were Tammy Partridge-Smith, Claire Crook, James Nelson, Rebecca Grimshaw, and Rachel Antoine, Who will take the crown this year?
Last year's winner was James Nelson, with Michelle Morgan, Chris Boden and Mark Chapman tying for 2nd place. The five individual event winners were Tammy Partridge-Smith, Claire Crook, James Nelson, Rebecca Grimshaw, and Rachel Antoine, Who will take the crown this year?
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The race series is named after long standing club member Ron Reynolds who sadly passed away in May 2021. Amongst many other contributions, Ron was an excellent runner, covering all distances including ultra marathons, and a great supporter and encourager of other runners. He served on the club committee, organised club kit, was a fabulous photographer and revived the Handicap Races in 2014, after a break of 14 years. Anyone who knew Ron remembers him fondly, so it is fitting these races now carry his name.
The series consists of 5 x 5k races, one each month from April until August. In these races, all runners' abilities are levelled, so that every runner, regardless of speed, has an equal chance of being the winner. Everyone will given a start time according to current 5k time, with the person who has the slowest 5k time setting off first, then others following at times calculated so that all should finish at around the same time. |
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Congratulations to Louise O'Reilly, who finished first in the April run, to Sally Gordon, who was our first finisher in both May and July, also to Rachael Jones and Mandy Brassington, our first finishers in June and August.
Leaders in the points table at the end of July were Sally Gordon, Claire Crook and Andrew Birkbeck, but there were still no fewer than 24 club members with the potential to top the table by the end of the season.
A full statement of the rules, plus results so far can be found here. but the final results table and winners will be announced at the Presentation Evening on 2 November 2024.
2024 dates were:
Overview of the race series:
Leaders in the points table at the end of July were Sally Gordon, Claire Crook and Andrew Birkbeck, but there were still no fewer than 24 club members with the potential to top the table by the end of the season.
A full statement of the rules, plus results so far can be found here. but the final results table and winners will be announced at the Presentation Evening on 2 November 2024.
2024 dates were:
- Tues 16th April
- Tues 14th May
- Tues 4th June
- Tues 2nd July (please note change of date from that originally published)
- Tues 27th August (please note change of date from that originally published)
Overview of the race series:
- Each event starts shortly after 7pm.
- We will all run the same 5k route, which starts and finishes at the Stick and Wicket car park gate. The route can be found on this Strava segment.
- The idea is that if everyone runs to form then they should finish at the same time, meaning that runners of all abilities can compete against each other.
- Approx. 30-40 runners take part
- Start times are set initially using a 5k race time you submit - this may be your best recent parkrun time but you need to be realistic if you know you have not been racing to the full at parkrun!. After the first race, start times will be tweaked according to your finishing time.
- The person with the slowest 5k time will set off first.
- Then runners will set off in 30 second intervals using start times calculated as above, so if the slowest person has a 5k time of 42 minutes and someone else has a time of 32 minutes then the second person will start off 10 minutes after the first person.
- New for 2024: The parkrun timing app will be used so when you finish and cross the line you will be given a position token. You will then be asked to write down on sheets provided your name next to the finish number you were given.
- The total running time will be calculated by adding the start time to the running time on the night.
- 30 points will be awarded for the first finisher, 29 for the second etc, all the way down to 1. All who take part will be awarded at least 1 point. New for 2024 - the starting number will be decided by the organiser, according to the number of participants, but will always be the same throughout the season..
- The overall season's winner, runner-up and third place on points will be awarded trophies at our annual Presentation Evening.
- You will only need to compete in 3 races to qualify for the end of season prizes - the points table is calculated on your 3 best scores.
- There is a social time after each handicap event with members bringing some food to share.
- There may be ice lollies on a hot evening, although this was never needed in the 2023 season and we had a Haribo evening instead!
Competitors in the final Ron Reynolds Run 2024 series, August 27