The results of the Belper Harriers 2009 Grand Prix are now available, having been checked and finalised by Sam Lowry last week. Please click here to access the spreadsheet on the Grand Prix tab in the Results section of this website.
I am delighted to announce the three prize winners, as follows
1st place: ANDY ROSE 194 points
2nd place: ANDY FOOKES 178 points
3rd place: SIMON HACKETT 134 points
Many congratulations and well done to all!!
All three athletes have made substantial improvements during 2009; benefitting not only from more structured training, but also from greater competitiveness, improved focus and stronger determination. Having joined the club in late 2008, Andy Rose and Andy Fookes have made dramatic steps forward, and have certainly realised their potential during the past year. Simon Hackett has made an exceptional comeback following a serious knee injury. Incredibly, Simon had previously claimed one of the prizes in the 2008 competition – finishing in 2nd place last time around (with 83 points)!
The annual Grand Prix competition of which this was the sixth edition is designed to encourage our runners to challenge themselves across a range of disciplines and distances, while entering into healthy competition on a level playing field with their fellow club members. It also rewards loyalty to Belper Harriers through awarding additional bonus points for representing the club in league and relay competitions etc.
In order to qualify for one of the top three prizes, runners had to complete nominated races in ten required categories This can be quite difficult to do, and takes some planning to achieve! For example, you will see from the final standings (see the League Table 2009 tab on the spreadsheet) that Matt Conroy ended the year with the third highest number of points, but had only scored in eight categories; thus leaving third place open to Simon, who had ensured completion of all ten! Krish Mahadevan (on nine events) might also have been in with a look-in had he completed just one more qualifying race last year!
It’s also worth pointing out the effect that bonus points can have… while runner-up, Andy Fookes, scored the highest number of race points, winner Andy Rose eclipsed Andy’s overall score through accumulating a whopping 44 bonus points during the year. This included two 10 point double-bonuses awarded for completing all five cross-country league and summer league races; a feat also achieved by two other runners this year – Steve Meath and Rob Norman. (Thanks for your superb support for the club guys!)
As in previous years, I will be carrying out the re-grading exercise for all runners who have recorded performances in last year’s Grand Prix. This will ensure that everyone starts off on a level footing in readiness for this year’s competition. Sam and I will also be reviewing last year’s nominated races by category, and will consider additions and deletions based on 2009 participation levels. Once all this has been completed, I will communicate the new grades, along with the full details of this year’s Grand Prix competition, to all members.
Trophies (including the famous ‘Golden Trainer’) will be presented to all three winners at the Belper Harriers AGM on February 2nd. (Speeches are optional!!)
I would like to thank Sam Lowry for her sterling work in collating and inputting all of the qualifying race results once again this year. Without her much appreciated efforts, keeping the competition going would be extremely difficult!
Steve
