The Menzies monthly handicap
On the last Thursday of each month we run the Menzies handicap. This is a 5.17 km
(3.21 mile) race starting and finishing at the YMCA Hawker Centre, Kingston.
Handicaps are allocated on the basis of previous performances- the slowest
runners start first and if everybody ran exactly to form, we would all finish together.
This has not yet happened.
We now also have a
Junior Handicap over 1 or 2 km (depending on age)
which is held from April to August, also on the last Thursday of each month, plus an
additional one in the middle of July when the 10km championship is held.
For 2006, the Junior handicap dates are: 27th April, 25th May, 29th June, 13th July,
27th July and 31st August.
Handicap rules and scoring
Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, plus
occasionally a prize for the first woman (if she has not won overall). But note,
if a woman wins overall, there is no prize for the first man - is this sexual
discrimination? You are not eligible for a prize on your first run in the event, also,
you must be a member of the club to be eligible for a prize.
Handicaps are based on a scratch time for the course of 35 minutes, so if you run the
course in 25 mins, your handicap would be 10, i.e. you would start 10 minutes after zero.
Your handicap is based on your last three performances, plus your year's best
performance, according to the formula:
x = (sum of last three race times) + (3 times year best)
Handicap = 35 mins - (x / 6).
If you have not yet run three times, this formula has to be adjusted slightly.
Also, first time runners are given a start time based on their estimated pace. Their
result in their first run determines their handicap for next time.
Please note that your webmaster accepts no responsibility for the handicaps. If you
think your handicap has been wrongly calculated, please apply to the handicapper on
a Thursday night.
In addition to the monthly prizes, there is an annual competition, for which points are
acumulated each month, and the highest scorer at the end of the year wins the Handicap
League Shield.
A minimum score of 4 points is gained by running in the event. The start and finish
crew are also awarded 4 points.
Additional points can be scored:
First place: +5 points; second place: + 4 points, down to 5th place: 1 point.
The 5 fastest men and women also score 5 down to 1 point.
You also score 5 points for achieving a year best time; or for getting near to your
year's best:
within 15 seconds: + 4 points;
within 30 seconds: + 3 points;
within 45 seconds: + 2 points;
within 1 Minute: + 1 points;
The maximum possible score in any race would be 19 points, though this is very
seldom achieved.
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