For the 2020 Abbey Runners Grand Prix the rules are the same as last year. If you complete 3 target Parkruns between January and November 30th you will be rewarded with an additional 50 points. Continuing on from last year an added incentive is that all those who complete the minimum requirement of 4 short races, 2 medium races and a long run and who also compete on 3 of the 4 terrains will receive an exclusive Abbey Runners Grand Prix 2020 memento!
- 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, Washburn Valley, Calderdale Way, Bradford Millennium Way and Leeds Country Way
- There are 50 bonus points on offer for taking part in ANY 3 of the monthly target parkruns over the course of the year until November 30th
Short races (up to 7.5 miles)
| PECO XC Race 5 – Roundhay | Sunday 1st March | 11:00 | XC | ||
| Lightwater Valley 10K | Sunday 8th March | 11:30 | MT | £13 | Open now |
| Guiseley Gallop 10K | Sunday 12th April | 10:30 | T | £13.50 | Open now |
| Charlesworth Chase Fell Race 5.2M (Simon’s Seat) | Saturday 16th May | 11:00 | F | £7 | Entry on day |
| Apperley Bridge Canter 10K | Thursday 28th May | 19:15 | T | £13 | Race full |
| Club 5K handicap | May/June TBC | 19:30 | R | TBC | TBC |
| Club Trip – Thoresby 10K | Sunday 7th June | TBC | T | TBC | TBC |
| Hyde Park Summer Mile | Wednesday 24th June | 18:30 | R | £7 | Opens 28/03 |
| Harrogate 10K | Sunday 5th July | 10:00 | MT | £13 | Open now |
| Firefighters 5 | August TBC | TBC | R | TBC | TBC |
| Wetherby 10K | Sunday 6th September | 14:00 | MT | £16.50 | Open now |
| Meanwood Valley Trail 7M | September TBC | TBC | T | TBC | TBC |
| Knaresborough Crag Rat Race 5M | September TBC | TBC | MT | TBC | TBC |
| Abbey Dash 10K | November TBC | 09:30 | R | TBC | TBC |
| Post Hill 5K | November TBC | TBC | T | TBC | TBC |
| PECO XC Race 1 (2020-21) | November TBC | 11:00 | XC | TBC | TBC |
Medium races (between 7.5 and 13.5 miles)
| Temple Newsam 10 | Sunday 12th January | 09:30 | MT | £17 | Race full |
| The Kirkstall Calverley Cutter 18K/11.2M | Saturday 1st February | 11:00 | MT | £10 | Open now |
| Liversedge Half Marathon | Sunday 16th February | 11:00 | R | £16.60 | Race full |
| Elvington Flyer 10M | Sunday 29th March | 10:30 | R | £18 | Open now |
| Vale of York 10M | Sunday 19th April | 09:30 | R | £22 | Open now |
| Dick Hudsons 7M Fell Race | Thursday 7th May | 19:00 | F | £4 | Pay on day |
| Wharfedale Trail Half Marathon | Saturday 6th June | 11:00 | T | £18 until 31/01 | Open now |
| Burn Valley Half Marathon | Sunday 12th July | 10:00 | R | £17 | Open now |
| Tadcaster 10M | November TBC | 10:00 | R | TBC | TBC |
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 an 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 Martin Jones
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 use http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmaroad15.html to work out the age performance factor using the 2015 WMA 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 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