Road running
performances by members of Cheshire clubs have again been collected during 2014
and analysed. Tables 1 to 10
inclusive provide a detailed breakdown of a number of aspects.
Park Run
participation has again increased dramatically over the previous year to the
extent that the performance numbers are almost as high as the cumulative numbers
for all road races themselves. Over
the seven year period from 2008 (which coincidentally was the first year of Park
Runs in the area) for which detailed data collection has been carried out the
number of participants from Cheshire clubs in Park Runs has increased 22 fold
and their “acceptable” performances by 40 fold.
In contrast total participation in road races at all distance over the
same period has increased by only 1.5 in terms of athletes and by 1.4 for
performances. Twenty percent of active males and 23% of active females only took
part in Park Runs. Park Runs will be
discussed in more detail in a separate document.
Participation at
different distances shows some variations. 2014
produced the highest number of participants and performances at 10K, half and
the full marathon over the 7 year period, but disappointing reductions at 5K, 5
and 10 miles. We had the highest
number of athletes taking part in road races in 2014, with most clubs showing an
increase while several new Cheshire clubs in 2014 contributing significantly to
the totals. A couple of the new
clubs in 2012 also had significant increases in athletes and participation
compared to their first couple of years (notably Lymm Runners).
However, participation in road races by individual athletes (that is,
number of races/athlete) has fallen slightly.
One concern is the dip in road running activity by one club which has
seen an increase in numbers taking part along with a significant increase in
Park Run participation. Is there a
link? However, two other clubs who
have also had large increases in numbers of Park Run participants show the
reverse trend; that is an increase in road races/athlete.
An attempt has been
made to determine average ages for those participating at different distances
and for the data base overall. In
general the averages for women are 3 to 5 years younger than for males; overall
they are 38.8 for females and 42.1 for males (5 year age groups or actual ages
for 5% of senior males and 7% of senior females are not yet known).
The most populous age group for men is M45-49 and for females the F35-39
age group, with very low figures in the 20-24 and 25-29 age groups for both
(lower than for all older age groups up to 55-59 inclusive).
Again this will be looked at in more detail later as there is a possible
link with the age profile of the general population.
On the performance
side we had some excellent performances from a few ladies with several “faster
than scratch” times. Top of the
bunch were Stevie Stockton’s (Vale Royal) sub 34 minute 10K’s, the faster one
breaking a long standing Cheshire record.
New County age group records were set at several distances, particularly
in the older age groups. Averages of the best performances in the Top 10 list
were the fastest over the 9 year period at 5K and 10K for men and at 10K for
women. Averages of best times for all athletes and for all performances showed
little change, but were in general slower at the longer distances.
The best male single performance of the year (based on the BDS handicap
system) was by Chris Perry of Vale Royal who was just slightly slower than
scratch at 5K.
The top individual
performers listings, which is points based depending on the ranking lists at 6
different distances which include all known performances of athletes, has been
used this year to establish an overall Cheshire Road Running champion to replace
the Cheshire championship at a particular distance.
These tables have been compiled for several years.
In 2014 the overall male “champion” was Stuart Doyle of Vale Royal AC
despite only being the leading runner at one distance (10K).
Diane McVey of Wilsmlow RC is the female champion, topping the lists at 4
different distances and second at a 5th distance.
Some new names appeared this year with Andrea Hilldrupo of Lymm Runners
top of the female 5K list and Colin Thompson of Helsby RC top of the male 5 mile
list. In the club equivalent, the
leading male club for the 4th year in succession was South Cheshire
Harriers and the leading female club was Wilmslow RC.
The most popular
event for Cheshire club runners was the 4 Villages half-marathon, Helsby after
missing out in 2013 due to cancellation (as has happened again in 2015) due to
icy conditions. Most of the Cheshire
GP races (5 out of 7) are in the top 10 for popularity.
Also noticeable in 2014 are 3 non-club organized events in the top 10.
John Driscoll 15th
February 2015
TABLE 2 : Breakdown of
summary data by club
TABLE 2a :Numbers of active
athletes by club 2007 to 2014
TABLE 3 : Breakdown of
performances at different distances by month and by club
Table 4 : Performance
Trends using BDS handicap number as indicator 2006 to 2014.
TABLE 5 : Age Distribution
of athletes at different distances.
TABLE 6 :
Improvers, New athletes and Turnover at different distances 2009 to 2014.
TABLE 7 : Age Group best
performances at different distances (5 year age groups).
TABLE 8 : most popular
events at different distances and where year bests were set.
TABLE 9 : Top individual
and club performers at different distances in 2014
TABLE 9a : Top individual
and club performers 2008 to 2014.
TABLE 10 : most popular
races for Cheshire club athletes 2008 to 2014
Summary table of Park Run
participation for local venues 2008 to 2014
Any comments, etc to John Driscoll (E-mail )