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Brass Monkey 2010
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RC, computers are here in Yorkshire - in some profusion actually
This is a very sensible post and I find myself nodding in agreement with you. I suspect it won't be long before Knavesmire Harriers have to do something, but in all honesty it probably comes down to how much technology the folks who are dealing with this plethora of applications are willing to embrace. My own club would struggle with on-line entries, I know.
I hope that in future KH do something like has been suggested earlier, i.e. allocating X many entries per [local] club and that should leave a lot more place available for others when the "official" entry opens.
BTW, for what it's worth I got my entry form into the post the day the form was received by local clubs - I think that will be two weeks ago tomorrow, the 13th or thereabouts. The cheque still hasn't been cashed, so I think it's fair to say that the poor soul who's dealing with all these applications is deluged. And he's a volunteer, remember ; -)
NE
message from the York Flat Earth Road Runner's Society
I had a chat with the organiser (Malcolm) and his wife before last year's race started .
He told me that the system works fine for him- the envelopes come in, they get stacked in order of receiving them and then he and his wife get round to opening them up in order and making sure the contents are correct - forms filled in, cheque, return envelopes with stamp etc, details logged of applicant. When they have got the requisite numbers then the unsuccessful ones can be informed.
The advantage is it is cheap to administer for the club, leaving aside all the time inputted by the organiser(s) and relatively fool proof.
Of course that is only a small part of the organiser's work - he did tell me that he had been up until the very small hours on the Sunday of the race filling all the goody bags
KH produce an outstandingly organised event with the present system - and the principle that "if it ain't broke don't fix it " surely applies???
Actually, I lived in Yorkshire for 12 years and worked in IT, so the tongue was firmly in the cheek there.
Torque Steer,
The one thing you forgot to mention about Malcolm,
He is one of the mainstays of Knavesmire Harriers who spends countless hours of his time dealing with the entries for Brass Monkey, you could'nt wish to meet a nicer man, i can tell you for nothing he will never go to online entries, never in a million years.
Didn't the London Marathon switch to online entries a couple of years ago to a howl of protests from people who could not get online at the time the entries went live (mainly because they were running the thing!) Also I don't think this site, ukresults or whichever site would be handling the entries would be able to cope with the deluge.
I wonder if they would be able to change the start area to begin on the road, because with 1800 runners, I fear a bottleneck and collisions on that first corner. It would mean shutting the road for a bit before the race though, and maybe the police would not allow this.
London marathon is a money making business for charity, Knavesmire Harriers and the Brass Monkey is'nt, they are a running club and all volunteeers.
I would guess that the financial stability of Knavesmire Harriers depends on a successful Brass Monkey to such an extent that their own members are,nt allowed to run in it, but are required to marshall etc.... to ensure that everyone keeps coming back for more, which we do.
Their Club members run the course on saturday the day before, it must be terrible not being able to actually run in one of the most popular races ever. My club allows me to run in my club event as long as i provide a marshall.
While many people will be disappointed at not getting a place, don't be too critical of Knavesmire they will never ever be able to satisfy the demand for places.
nice to see Hilly and BR on a thread
RC
what you do is find someone liviing close to the race organisers house and ask him kindly to pop in an entry for you when next year comes - make a note of my email address
Old Timer
very good point - if it's what the organiser wants to do - and given the huge amount of time he has to devote to sorting the entire race out and not just the entries - then it is entirely his preference as to how he devotes both his time and the club's financial commitments in order to maximise a return to the club -good luck to them.
I have often thought that the start and tight turn is a bit of a lottery and that it encourages folk to take up positions a bit in advance of their abilities. Chip timing should have helped but positions are determined by gun time so there is still the same pressure. The road is closed for the very start but I suspect transferring the start to the road would mean an even longer period of road closure as the field assembled and walking them round from the racecourse road.would not work either.
In these days of 'ealth and safety and risk assessment studies we should be thankful that they can actually still mount a road race!!
Torque Steer,
Its health and safety issues that are the main problem, north yorkshire police are not sympathetic to race organisers, i know that from my involvement with the Snake Lane race, Knavesmire have had a huge task in the past 2 years persuading them to go along with the limit increases.
Now Snake Lane is about the most amazing race package I've ever come across - £7 entry, flat accurate fast course, superbly organised, nice mug and Mars Bar, number exchange on the day and wonderfully deep prize list. How do you manage that for £7?
Maybe NY police are too busy pretending they're on Heartbeat (or indeed Rosie - anyone remember that one set in Scarborough)?
The wonders of the internet...
http://www.tv-timewarp.co.uk/programmes/Rosie.htm
Barnsley Runner, i will pass on your comments to the Snake Lane Organisers of which i am part of, it is and will be very much appreciated.
However i have to say, the £7 will probably have to go up next year because of the health and safety demands from the Police.
Neither has mine that I know of (unless it's waiting at home), so fingers crossed.
Totally agree that Snake Lane is another great race, I actually have got into it next year. I use my lovely mug from 2006 every day!
Me too
Me and Mrs Bobbles are in!