Abbey Runners Grand Prix 2024

 

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

For the Abbey Runners Grand Prix in 2024, the rules will be the same as 2023:

  • The Grand Prix will be based on your 7 best counting races
  • Of those 7 races you need to complete a minimum of 4 short races, 2 medium races and any 1 long race to qualify for maximum points
  • Across all the Grand Prix races that you compete in you need to ensure that they include 3 of the following 4 terrains –  road, trail / multi terrain, cross country and fell (see FAQ’s below). To take part in 3 of the 4 terrains is enough and they don’t have to be a counting race
  • There are 50 bonus points on offer for taking part in ANY one of the relays that Abbey Runners enter – These include Danefield, PECO, Calderdale Way, Bradford Millennium Way and Leeds Country Way. 
  • There are 50 bonus points on offer for taking part in ANY 3 target parkruns over the course of the year until November 30th
  • There are 50 bonus points for volunteering at 2 Club Races. 25 additional bonus points are awarded for each additional club race that you volunteer at.

As an added incentive, all those who complete the minimum requirement of 4 short races, 2 medium races and a long run on 3 of the 4 terrains and complete 3 target parkruns, 2 volunteering efforts and 1 club relay will receive 50 bonus points and an exclusive Abbey Runners Grand Prix 2024 memento!

Short races (up to 7.5 miles)

St Aidans Winter BeastSaturday 10th February11:00XC£17Open now
Dewsbury 10kSunday 4th February9:00R£18Race Full
PECO XC 2022-23 Race 5, Roundhay ParkSunday 25th February11:00XC£9Open Now
Willow FlyerSunday 28th April10:00T£12Open Now
Ilkley Trail RaceMonday 27th May11:30T£13Open Now
Club Trip – Mulgrave 10kSunday 9th June11:00T£12Open Now
Otley Chevin Fell RaceWednesday 5th June19:30F£8Open Now
Club HandicapTBAR£0
Summer MileWednesday 26th June18:30R£10Opens Now
Kings ChallengeAugust (TBC)
Rush Around The RhubarbSeptember (TBC)
Kirkstall Abbey 7Sunday 22nd September10:00T£12Open Now
Morley 10kSunday 8th October9:00R
Post Hill ChallengeNovember (TBC)10.30T
PECO XC 2023-24 Race 1November (TBC)11:00XC

Medium races (between 7.5 and 13.5 miles)

Vale of York 10Sunday 17th March09:30R£23Open Now
Baildon Boundary WaySunday 7th April09.30T£21Open Now
Bluebell TrailSunday 5th May10:00T£13.60Open Now
Otley 10mWednesday 12th June19:00R£15Opens Now
Ilkley Half MarathonSunday 14th July10:30R£35Open Now
Round HillSunday 4th August (TBC)11:00F£5Entry on Day
Rombalds RompSaturday 21st September11:30F£8Open Now
St Aidan’s Half (TBC)October (TBC)T
Settle LoopOctober (TBC)T
Guy Fawkes 10Sunday 3rd NovemberR

Long race (over 13.5 miles)

Any road, trail or fell race where times and positions are recorded. The qualifying period is from January 1st to November 30th inclusive

If you are not entering a marathon here are some nearby races that are between 14 and 20 miles in distance. There are also a number of 10K/13.1M/26.2M/33M trail races at Kirkstall and Bolton Abbey over the course of the year

Dentdale RunMarch 3 Lakes Classic (15 miles)June
Spen 20March Northumberland Coastal Run (14 miles)July
Locke Park 20March South Cheshire 20September
Heptonstall Fell Race (15.4 miles)March Yorkshireman Off Road HM (14.9 miles)September
East Hull 20March Chester Metric Marathon (16.3 miles)October
Trimpell 20March  
Coniston 14March   

FAQ’s

Do my best 7 races count regardless of distance?

No. Your total score is calculated by using your best 4 short race scores + your best 2 medium race scores + your best long race score

I’ve only managed 4 short and 2 medium races. Does that mean I don’t qualify for the Grand Prix because I didn’t complete a long race?

No. Everyone who competes in a Grand Prix race automatically qualifies for the Grand Prix. To receive the maximum amount of points though you will need to complete the minimum criteria of 7 races as stipulated above

I have run 7 races comprising of 4 short, 2 medium and 1 long. However these were only on road and trail.

You still need to enter a cross country race or fell race to qualify for the full points available. In this instance we would only count your 6 best scoring races.

I have run 10 races on the grand prix calendar across road, trail and cross country. However my best scoring races are only road and trail – does this affect my overall score?

It doesn’t affect your overall score. If your 7 best counting races are road and trail, as long as your other 3 races include a XC or fell race then that meets the criteria.

I have completed a long race. What do I need to do?

Send your race details including race, position and time to Adam Ellis.

How are the ‘Open’ and ‘Age Graded’ scores calculated?

For the open scores we calculate the race time (chip time) in seconds of the first male and first female runner. We then calculate each runner’s race time in seconds and use the following formula:

(First male or female time in seconds) / (your time in seconds) x 100 to 1 decimal point

 For age graded scores we use the same times in seconds as above but we also need to calculate the age grade factor for your age at the specific race distance. For this calculation we are using the Age Grade Factors from the updated 2020 Age Grading tables at https://github.com/AlanLyttonJones/Age-Grade-Tables

The final calculation is as follows:

(First male or female time in seconds) / (your time in seconds x your age performance factor to 4 decimal points) x 100 to 1 decimal point

Aren’t fell races difficult? Do I need extra kit to enter a fell race?

They can be difficult but like cross country they are open to all abilities and you will find runners of the same pace around you. We are also hoping to do recces of the fell race routes before race day.

In terms of kit it is a FRA (Fell Running Association) requirement to carry kit at all FRA registered races. The kit includes:

  • Waterproof whole body cover (long sleeved jacket with hood and full length trousers)
  • Hat and gloves
  • Map of the race route and compass
  • Whistle
  • Emergency food

At shorter races and depending upon the weather conditions the race organiser may waive the need to carry kit but you must take it just in case

Most runners will carry their kit in a 3L bumbag/waist pouch or for longer races in a small ruck sack. The kit can be picked up cheaply at high street stores like SportsDirect or TK Maxx

What do the fell categories mean?

Fell categories 
AAveraging no less than 250ft for every mile of climb, and no more than 20% of total distance on road
BAveraging no less than 125ft for every mile of climb, and no more than 30% of total distance on road
CAveraging no less than 100ft for every mile of climb, and no more than 40% of total distance on road
Short (S)Under 6 miles (9.6k) in length
Medium (M)Between 6 and 12 miles (19.3k) in length
Long (L)More than 12 miles in length

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2023

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2022

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR WINTER GRAND PRIX 2020-21

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2020

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2019

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2018

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2017

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2016

Men Open

Women Open

Men Age Graded

Women Age Graded

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2015

Grand Prix Results 2015 FINAL OPEN

Grand Prix Results 2015 FINAL Age

FINAL RESULTS FOR 2014

Grand Prix 2014 Results