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 Beast | Saturday 10th February | 11:00 | XC | £17 | Open now |
Dewsbury 10k | Sunday 4th February | 9:00 | R | £18 | Race Full |
PECO XC 2022-23 Race 5, Roundhay Park | Sunday 25th February | 11:00 | XC | £9 | Open Now |
Willow Flyer | Sunday 28th April | 10:00 | T | £12 | Open Now |
Ilkley Trail Race | Monday 27th May | 11:30 | T | £13 | Open Now |
Club Trip – Mulgrave 10k | Sunday 9th June | 11:00 | T | £12 | Open Now |
Otley Chevin Fell Race | Wednesday 5th June | 19:30 | F | £8 | Open Now |
Club Handicap | TBA | R | £0 | ||
Summer Mile | Wednesday 26th June | 18:30 | R | £10 | Opens Now |
Kings Challenge | August (TBC) | ||||
Rush Around The Rhubarb | September (TBC) | ||||
Kirkstall Abbey 7 | Sunday 22nd September | 10:00 | T | £12 | Open Now |
Morley 10k | Sunday 8th October | 9:00 | R | ||
Post Hill Challenge | November (TBC) | 10.30 | T | ||
PECO XC 2023-24 Race 1 | November (TBC) | 11:00 | XC |
Medium races (between 7.5 and 13.5 miles)
Vale of York 10 | Sunday 17th March | 09:30 | R | £23 | Open Now |
Baildon Boundary Way | Sunday 7th April | 09.30 | T | £21 | Open Now |
Bluebell Trail | Sunday 5th May | 10:00 | T | £13.60 | Open Now |
Otley 10m | Wednesday 12th June | 19:00 | R | £15 | Opens Now |
Ilkley Half Marathon | Sunday 14th July | 10:30 | R | £35 | Open Now |
Round Hill | Sunday 4th August (TBC) | 11:00 | F | £5 | Entry on Day |
Rombalds Romp | Saturday 21st September | 11:30 | F | £8 | Open Now |
St Aidan’s Half (TBC) | October (TBC) | T | |||
Settle Loop | October (TBC) | T | |||
Guy Fawkes 10 | Sunday 3rd November | R |
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 Run | March | 3 Lakes Classic (15 miles) | June | |
Spen 20 | March | Northumberland Coastal Run (14 miles) | July | |
Locke Park 20 | March | South Cheshire 20 | September | |
Heptonstall Fell Race (15.4 miles) | March | Yorkshireman Off Road HM (14.9 miles) | September | |
East Hull 20 | March | Chester Metric Marathon (16.3 miles) | October | |
Trimpell 20 | March | |||
Coniston 14 | March |
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 | |
A | Averaging no less than 250ft for every mile of climb, and no more than 20% of total distance on road |
B | Averaging no less than 125ft for every mile of climb, and no more than 30% of total distance on road |
C | Averaging 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
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2022
FINAL RESULTS FOR WINTER GRAND PRIX 2020-21
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2020
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2019
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2018
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2017
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2016
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2015
Grand Prix Results 2015 FINAL OPEN
Grand Prix Results 2015 FINAL Age