Handicapped Grand Prix Series Rules

Races:

• The series will comprise of 10-12 races per year agreed by Committee.
• Members need to run a minimum of 5 races from above to quailfy.
• Any number of above races can be entered, but a maximum of the 10 best results will count towards your final score.

Handicapping:

• Each club member that wants to take part in the Grand Prix needs to register with the club GP organiser and provide previous, recent (past 12 months) race results so handicap times can be created.  Registration forms have been e-mailed out, but if you need another copy please contact us at: website@swindonstriders.org
• Where previous race results are not available for certain distances, a 10K (or 5 mile if no 10k) time will be used to work out handicap times for other race distances (based on Runner’s World Race Time Predictor formula).
• If member doesn’t have any previous race times (past 12 months) their first race of the GP will be their qualifying race and the result will be used to predict their handicap times for all other distances.
• Each race result of the Grand Prix series will be compared to your handicap/predicted time and the difference between actual result and handicap/predicted will be calculated. 
• As you get a new time to replace your old/predicted time your handicap time will change.  The new time will directly replace your handicap if it’s faster, but your time will only get slower by 10 seconds if your time is slower (this is to stop people running a slow time so they can get top points next time!)

Scoring:

• Points will be given to the 10 members who have the largest negative (i.e. quicker than handicap/predicted time).  This rewards those that improve, rather than just the fastest.
• If a member is running their first qualifying race, they will not qualify for a score until their second race.
• 10 –> 1 points will be allocated to the top 10, with the best improver getting 10 points and the 10^th improver getting 1 point.
• If a member runs and scores in more than 10 of the Grand Prix races, their top 10 scores will be used as their total.

Winners:

• The winners will be the male & female with the highest scores at the end of the Grand Prix.

Organisation:

• The GP organiser will hold a spreadsheet of all members registered for the series, and their previous times/predicted times.
• After each race the actual times will be added to the spreadsheet to calculate the difference between actual and handicap/predicted.
• Scores will be allocated to top 10 as calculated by the spreadsheet and scores for the year will be kept on the spreadsheet.
• Forms to register for the Grand Prix and a list of the selected races will be available on club nights and from website@swindonstriders.org, along with details of how to enter each race.
• Entry forms for all GP races will be available on club nights (see Jude for race folder).
• We will try to send out reminders when entries open for each race, and near the actual race date (for late entries).
• Updates of GP standings will be available after each race (once official results are available).  These will initially be sent via e-mail, and then be available on club nights and the website.