Conversations at Falkirk

At the National Championships at Falkirk on Saturday I spoke to runners, officials and members of a variety of other clubs - Falkirk Victoria, Central Region, Victoria Park, Edinburgh AC, Dundee Hawkhill, Cambuslang and others - about the issuing of permits for other endurance events on the day of the National Championships. Almost all - there was one who wasn't sure - said that their club had lost athletes to other events this weekend thus weakening their team for what should be the peak event, the focus, of the entire winter. The feeling was virtually unanimous that the weekend should have only the one event which should be a showpiece for the sport. Instead of which there ere three endurance events on on Saturday and at least two on Sunday.

I asked two who were officiating on the day and the comments were as follows:
1. Prior to modernisation and reorganisation the whole winter calendar went from the start of October to the end of February and all races in this period were the responsibility of the the cross country association.
2. When this was the case, all events during the season led to the National which was the culmination of the winter efforts, the peak of the cross country season. Nothing was to detract from this as the major event.
3. This is no longer the case and those making up the fixture list see the year as a whole with events to be slotted in whenever the organisers request them with no differentiation for the cc championships.

It seems to me that the matter should be discussed again at scottishathletics level. The issuing of these permits means that
1. There are hundreds fewer runners in the top winter event than there should be;
2. This also means fewer spectators and a consequent loss of atmosphere;
3. Club teams are weaker;
4. Runners can miss the experience of running in the national championships;
5. There is a loss of revenue to the association as well.

I feel that runners should always choose the nationals but I am not running in 2009 and things might be different if I were but I don't feel that athletes should be put in the position where they have to choose what to run. The association should not issue these permits.