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Harriers Handicap Scheme

Races

Club Handicap Competition percentage handicaps 2023

Results Table

Rules

Previous years results

2023 is the 18th year of the competition (two years missing due to COVID-19 and 2020 featured just one race due to COVID-19). It is based on a handicap system devised by Mike Shipway. Every first claim member in the Club has a chance to win irrespective of ability, and the competition should provide an incentive for all members to run in as many races as possible. This competition is a bit of fun and should not be taken too seriously as we acknowledge that there are shortcomings in the system. If you have any suggestions for the improvement of the competition please contact Mike Shipway and your comments will be considered for future years.

Handicap Races for 2023 (Best 10 of 15 races to count)

1)  19th March Banbury 15 – Banbury 15 overall results

2) 2nd April White Horse Half – cancelled due to flooding

3) 27th April Charlton M/V – Charlton Mota-vation results

4) 25th May Bletchingdon M/V – Bletchingdon Mota-vation results

5)  25th June Thame 10K – Thame 10k results

6)  1st July Otmoor Challenge – Results

7) 15th July Hornton 6 – race cancelled

8)  6th August Hooky 6 – results

9)   9th August Alchester 5K – results

10) 27th August Headington 5 – results

11) 2nd September Cotswold Classic 10 – results

12) 9th September Woodstock 8 – results

13) 1st October Hanney 5 – race cancelled

14)  22nd October Abingdon Marathon – results

15)  26th November Eynsham 10K – results

Club Handicap Competition percentage handicaps 2023 

Name
Percentage
Ralf Arneil
75.1%
Richard Arthur
53.4%
James Bolton
100%
Dave Cantwell
80.1%
Sue Cantwell
69.8%
Iain Claxton
69.4%
Juan Diaz
93.6%
Rob Earle
70.0%
Dan Eisenhandler
71.2%
Matt Eveleigh
72.8%
Kevin Game
77.5%
James Groves
79.5%
Susan Haines
61.8%
Alan Harrison
73.7%
Phil Horgan
63.7%
Caroline Johnstone
71.0%
Sarah Kerswell
66.3%
Ed King
91.0%
Nicola Leavesley
64.0%
Hamish Linnell
80.0%
Rob Linnell
79.0%
Liz O’farrell
67.1%
Neil Preddy
65.7%
Tom Preskett
92.2%
Hans Price
88.8%
Adam Smith
92.5%
Adrian Smith
66.5%
Simon Tucker
82.8%
Jess Ward
66.3%
Louis Warden
68.3%
David Watkinson
82.7%
Lizzie Welsh
70.7%
Rob Webster
91.5%

The percentage handicaps in this table have been prepared using both cross-country and road racing event statistics from the Eynsham 10K in 2022, the 2022/23 cross-country season, this year’s road races and some estimates for those competing for the Club for the first time. If you feel that your handicap is unfair or inaccurate please let Mike Shipway know so that a discussion can take place.

The Table (2023)

RACES 1 to 6

(figures in bold are deleted scores representing lowest race scores where more than 8 races involved. Best 8 races from 12 to count.

Name
Banbury 15 Race 1
Charlton M/V Race 2
Bletch M/V Race 3
Thame 10K Race 4
Otmoor 
Race 5
Hooky 6
Race 6
Total Points
J.Bolton 
25
 
4
23

22
70
K.Game
24





24
D.Cantwell
23
21
14
25

25
94
L’OFarrell
22





22
T.Preskett
21
4
3


21
42
P.Horgan

25
22



47
R.Arthur

24
19



43
D.Watkinson

23
21


24
68
Adr. Smith

22




22
H.Linnell

20
17



37
L.Welsh

19




19
R.Earle

18
18



36
C.Johnstone

18
23



41
S.Tucker

16
21



37
H.Price

15
12
24

23
74
J.Groves

14
16



30
R.Linnell

13
12



25
N.Leavesley

12
9
20
24

65
J.Ward

11
15
22
25

73
N.Preddy

10




10
S.Cantwell

9
10



19
Adam Smith

8
6



14
S.Haines

7
8



15
E.King

6
5
21


32
D.Eisenhandlr

5




5
J.Diaz

3




3
R.Arneil

2
13



15
L.Warden


25



25
S.Kerswell


24



24
I.Claxton


7
18


25
R.Webster



19


19

PAGE 2 – RACES 7 to 12

Name
Alchest 5K Race 7
Head 5 mile Race 8
Cotswold  10 mile Race 9
Wood 8
Race 10
Abingdn Mar Race 11  
Eynsham  10k Race 12
Total Points
Position Top 10
J.Bolton 
21
22
22
25 

20
180
2nd
K.Game






24

D.Cantwell
23
23
24  


24
188
1st
L’OFarrell






22

T.Preskett
16
17
16
23  
24 
17
155
3rd=
P.Horgan






47

R.Arthur






43

D.Watkinson
24
24  (5)



23
139

Adr. Smith






22

H.Linnell






37

L.Welsh






19

R.Earle


19



55

C.Johnstone


23


22
86

S.Tucker
22





59

H.Price
20
22
21  


18
155
3rd=
J.Groves






30

R.Linnell





21
46

N.Leavesley
18
20
18  


19
140

J.Ward






73

N.Preddy






10

S.Cantwell






19

Adam Smith


17
24
25

80

S.Haines

18



16
49

E.King

19




51

D.Eisenhandlr






5

J.Diaz






3

R.Arneil


20



35

L.Warden
25
25
25


25
125

S.Kerswell






24

I.Claxton






25

R.Webster






19

S.Cruikshank
19





19

A Harrison
17





17

Previous Years Harriers Handicap Scores

The Revised Rules for 2023

In previous years the Club handicap scheme calculations were based on each member’s best performance in a 10K road race competition. This has not proved feasible this year because the curtailed race calendar for 2022 has meant that only 17 Harriers took part in 7 different events.

To give a better overview of each athlete’s capabilities I have averaged performances of 26 members over 9 races, 5 cross-country and 4 road. Please see the schedule below:

Handicap Percentages based on performances in 9 races (5 XC and 4 road)

Name
Henley XC 2023
Guiting  XC 2023
Shotover XC 2023
Cirencester XC 2022
Newbury XC 2022
Eynsham 10K 2022
Hanney 5 2022
Headington 5 2022
Kidlington M/V 2022
Average
James
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Juan
97.9

89.2






93.6
Tom
97.3

92.4
90.0
89.0




92.2
Adam
96.9
96.4
90.6
93.7
94.4
90.9
89.7
88.7
90,9
92.5
Ed
93.0
90.8




89.3


91,0
Dave C
83.7
80.9
80.0
76.8


79.2


80.1
Kevin G
82.3

76.8
75.8
75.0




77.5
Neil
72.3
66.7
64.3
65.3
66.0
62.8
62.6

65.7
65.7
Lizzy
77.8
66.6
71.8
68.2
69.2




70.7
Sue C
71.0
70.0
67.8

71.7

68.5


69.8
Liz O’F
67.7
66.6
67.1






67.1
Susan H
65.0
63.6
62.2
61.9
62.5


55.7

61.8
Dave  W

86.2
84.6
79.5
82.3
81.5


82.2
82.7
Rob L

79.6
78.3

79.1




79.0
Iain

72.8
70.7
71.3
70.6
66.8


64.0
69.4
Hans


89.1
90.8
88.2
89.1


86.7
88.8
Louis


68.3






68.3
Jess


65.3

68.6
64.9



66.3
Adrian



66.7

66.3



66.5
Lucy




67.5




67.5
Sarah D




64.8




64.8
Matt E




74.5



71.1
72.8
Ralf





74.0


76.3
75.1
Megan





52.8

56.6
58.4
55.9
Alan H







75.0
72.4
73.7
Richard 








58.4
58.4

As the men and women run the same cross-country distances now it was possible this year to calculate all times based on the fastest runner James Bolton.

How are the calculations made? Looking at the Henley XC race James was quickest in 29:52, Ed was 5th fastest in 32.06 and Sue Cantwell was 10th in 42:04. As the fastest James’ handicap is 100%, Ed’s is 29:52/32.06  or 29.867/32.100 which is  93.04% and Sue’s is 29.867/42.040 or 71.04%

How the points are calculated For each Club Championship race 25 points are awarded for the fastest handicapped time, decreasing to 1 point for the 25th fastest. If there are only 5 Woodstock runners in the race, then the fastest will receive 25 points and the slowest 21 points. If there are 30 members in the race then those who finish from 26th to 30th will receive no points.

Results from the best 10 of the 15 races will be used to determine the competition winners. This allows for holidays & injuries and rewards the regular participant.

System Shortcomings One weakness of this system is that it is based on results from 2022 and if anyone has dramatically improved since the previous time was registered, then the handicap will appear generous. Likewise, if someone’s fitness has deteriorated, perhaps due to injury, then they would have no realistic chance in the competition. A review of the handicaps will, therefore, be carried out in August after race 10 to adjust any glaring anomalies. No new entries to the competition will be allowed after race 10.

Prizes Inscribed trophies will be awarded to the competition winner, runner-up and third place after the last race in November. Good Luck! Everyone has a chance to win – so go for it! The Club’s officials and committee members reserve the right to vary these rules from time to time and their decision is final in any dispute.