Principles of Fell Running

Latest results




Races coming up...



Disciplinary case & FRA bans

Thu 21st Feb, 2019


Richard Bell (Wetherby Runners AC) has been given a 3-month ban for running in a race under the name of another runner, Andrew Walsh (same club). Andrew Walsh has been given a 2-month ban for his part in the same offence.
 
This offence carries significant safety implications and is described as an "absolute no-no" in the FRA's "Runners' Rules". We would encourage all runners to spread this message among your clubs and running friends.


Stretton Hills 2 - English Champs Race

Mon 11th Feb, 2019


Just a heads up that entries for the Stretton Hills 2 English Champs race will be open from 9am on Saturday 16th, initially for a six day window. We don’t expect the race to fill, but, just for clarity, IT IS NOT FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. Crashing Martin’s server will not help you get an entry.

If it does turn out to be oversubscribed  after six days, places will be allocated at random (except for elite athletes on the guaranteed entry list). Those not allocated places will go on a waiting list also in random order and there will be a partial refund for anyone not able to take up their allocated place to help us get as many of you an entry as possible. If you enter in this initial window you will get an email confirming your entry’s status and advising you what happens next at some point on Friday 22nd, so when entering please check that the email address you have registered with SiEntries is current and working. If you haven’t got an email by Sunday 24th, check your spam before getting in touch.



Mourne Highline

Thu 31st Jan, 2019


Please be aware that the entries for those on the British Champs Guaranteed list will close 3rd Feb midnight.



Guaranteed entry lists for the British and English Championships 2019

Mon 28th Jan, 2019


As previously stated, automatic inclusion, based on 2018 championship results, for:
  • The top 20 men and 10 women
  • The top 5 men and women V40/45
  • The top three men and women from all remaining categories.
Others with a strong case have also been included.  Where a borderline decision had to be made, factors considered were:
  • Recent results against current category medallists
  • Historical performance in and commitment to Championships
  • The FRA’s commitment to encouraging younger athletes to enter the Championships
We have carefully considered the many applicants and tried to fairly apply these criteria.  We recognise there may be some disappointed runners but we will unfortunately not be able to respond to individual queries.  Please remember that the opportunity to enter and the majority of race places are still open to all.  Please click to see the British and the English lists.


Disciplinary case: outcome

Tue 8th Jan, 2019


Matthew Briggs of Northumberland Fell Runners has been given a suspended six-month ban, with several conditions, for entering Senior FRA races as an underage runner. Jane Briggs (Matthew's mother) has been banned for three months from 1st January 2019 for her part in these offences.
 
 
The FRA's restrictions on Junior races exist for good reason and the FRA requests the co-operation of all clubs in ensuring that their juniors compete legitimately.


Flower Scar – Fell Inter-Counties

Tue 8th Jan, 2019


The Fell Inter-Counties this year will be hosted by the Flower Scar race (Todmorden).  The date has now been fixed as Saturday 11th May 2019. The race will not be run on its original date of 16th February



Coaching Courses 2019

Mon 7th Jan, 2019


Please click here for details



Updated List of Championship Races 2019

Sat 10th Nov, 2018


No changes to races, just a correction to date of Creag Dhubh.

 

Country

category

Race

17-03-19

E

AS

Stretton Hills

06-04-19

E

AL

Howgills race

27-04-19

B

AM

Mourne Highline, Ireland

11-05-19

    

Inter-Counties. (TBC)

25-05-19

B

AM

Ras Y Meolwyn, Wales

15-06-19

B&E

AL

Great Lakes Race

06-07-19

E

AM

Black Fell

03-08-19

B

AS

Creag Dhubh, Scotland

07-09-19

E

AM

Grisedale Horseshoe

22-09-19

E

AS

Ilam


GPS devices for navigation

Sat 10th Nov, 2018


At a meeting in September, the FRA Executive Committee voted to introduce a new race category relating to the use of GPS devices for navigation.
 
This is not a cut and dried subject and throughout our discussions, the principles of fellrunning have been at the forefront of our thoughts. We have consulted extensively with our membership base and Race Organisers to arrive at the following position, which will form part of the FRA Requirements for Runners 2018 (the ‘Runners’ Rules’):
“If a race is classified ‘non-GPS’ (NG) then the use of any electronic device to delineate a route, to display current position on a map, or as a compass, will be prohibited. The use of such a device to display distance travelled, time, speed or altitude will be allowed, as will recording of an actual route for post-race analysis. If such a device is used in an emergency situation then that competitor should retire from the race and declare themselves non-competitive.”
 
For the avoidance of doubt, GPS is not allowed in FRA registered races in England unless the race is categorised as "G"; by the race organiser.
 
The Kit Requirements for FRA Races are further clarified in respect of the fact that maps must be on paper. A conventional compass must be carried in addition to this.
 
Happy running!
The FRA Committee


A reminder: Club vests

Sat 19th May, 2018


Please note: to qualify for team points in Championship rankings each compeditor must wear the vest that his/her club has registered with British Athletics. This is a ruling of British Athletics to which the FRA is affiliated.
 
Anyone not wearing the registered club vest will not count for team points in the Championship rankings.
 
We fully appreciate that in certain weather conditions additional layers may be required.


Membership matters

Mon 29th Jan, 2018


Each year club membership secretaries complete and submit a return to England Athletics - read more



Championship eligibility clarification.

Sat 20th Jan, 2018


In response to a question raised by one club other clubs may want to note the following statement.

-          Eligibility for English Juniors over U13 is the same as for English Senior Champs.  Younger age groups in the Challenge only have to be members of the club they run for.

-          Individuals must be registered with EA or members of the FRA.  Some clubs only register (i.e. pay for) members who request it – it is not necessary for a club to pay EA for a member who is has already joined the FRA.  If a runner is registered with EA eligibility is the same no matter which club paid the registration fee.

-          Runners can only count for their first claim fell club, but the inflexibility in the EA/UKA system of administering first/first claim other can cause problems.  The FRA Rules (Handbook page 14) has been amended for 2018 to read

“d. Team eligibility.  Runners may count for a team for their first claim fell running Club only. This Club must be affiliated to England Athletics or other National Association. For runners who are simultaneously members of two clubs, in the event of ambiguity over which club has ‘first claim’ status an appeal should be made to the Membership Secretary at the start of the season”   

The FRA has made a request for a rule change on this issue which is going through the EA/UKA process at the moment, but with no certainty that our proposals will be accepted.


 


First on the Scene

Tue 25th Jul, 2017


What to do if you are First on the Scene of an incident on the fells -
essential reading here.


Welfare policy - Transgender and Anti Doping

Tue 28th Feb, 2017


The Committee have agreed that the FRA will be following the UKA policies on Transgender - http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2016-news-page/august-2016/03-08-16-transgender-policy/ and Anti Doping - http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/cleanathletics/rules/
 
This replaces the item in the 2017 Handbook on P 24 Apps 3 and 4 and as previously set out in the Welfare policy - http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/documents.php The policy will be updated.


Welfare

Fri 13th Jan, 2017


Following the FRA committee meeting on 4/12/16 and in light of recent publicity surrounding historical sexual abuse at football clubs, the committee clarified that any allegations of a similar nature within the sport of fell running will be taken extremely seriously and investigated appropriately.

We have already liaised with UKA and an update and explanation of his role will be provided by the newly appointed Welfare Officer in the Spring Fellrunner.

Any enquiries should be directed to Ed Gamble (welfare@fellrunner.org.uk)