Rules of the Junior Running Championships, 2025

1. Introduction: These are the rules applicable to the Rochdale Harriers & A.C. Junior Running Championships, 2025 (“the Junior Championships”).
   
2. Races: The Junior Championships consist of 5 races.  The best 3 results count. The Junior Championships are open to first claim, RHAC members of age 11 to 17 on race day.  Parents and guardians have sole responsibility for race entry, transportation and safeguarding of their children at the races.    
3. Scoring: In each race, a junior athlete’s position relative to other Rochdale Harriers of the same gender will be calculated as follows:
   
   • In cross country races and junior fell races, the time each junior athlete achieves will be converted to a % of the winning time for their age category (“% of winner time”).   The lowest % of winner time will be awarded 32 points, the second lowest will be awarded 31 points and so on; and
     
   • In all other races, the time each junior athlete achieves will be converted to an age grade % using the tool at https://runbundle.com/tools/age-grading-calculator  (set for road and the appropriate distance).  The highest age grade % will be awarded 32 points, the second highest age grade % will be awarded 31 points and so on.  Parkrun age gradings will not be used because they relate to age bands of 2 or more years instead of actual age. 
     
4. Scoring System: Boys and girls shall be scored separately.  At the end of the season, the boy and girl with the highest score from their best 3 races from Races 1 to 5 will be winners and 2^nd and 3^rd places will be allocated analogously.
   
5. Tie Breakers: In the event of a points tie, the tiebreaker will be decided as follows, working down the list until a winner is found:
   • The tied, junior athlete with the highest number of head-to-head victories (i.e. when running together on the same day) will prevail
   • The tied, junior athlete with the highest number of races completed will prevail.
     
     If still level, then a tie will be awarded and the next junior athlete’s position shall remain unchanged.
     
6. First Claim, paid-up membership: Junior athletes are required to be a fully paid-up, first claim member of RHAC on race day for their result to count.

7. Club Vests: An official RHAC Club racing vest must be worn for a race result to count, except for  Parkrun where Club vests are not required.

8. Appear in Results: For a result in a race to count in the Junior Championships, the junior athlete must run with their own number and name and appear in the official results for that race as a Rochdale Harrier.  

9. Chip Timing: When chip times are available in a race, these will be used for calculating scores (not gun times).

10. Trophies: A trophy will be awarded to the top three boys and top 3 girls who have scores in at least 3 races from Races 1 to 5.  
    
11. All Completers get something: A memento will be awarded to all boys and girls who score in at least 3 races from Races 1 to 5.
    
12. Presentation: Trophies and mementos will be presented to Juniors at the RHAC Annual Awards Presentation on 13^th December 2025.  This will be held in the private function above the Flying Horse, central Rochdale, from 19:30.  Entry will be by ticket only and there will be food, raffle and a DJ.
    
13. Primary organiser and results: John Mayall (LiRF and LiRF Fell and Mountain Running).
    
14. Dispute Resolution: If a dispute cannot be resolved easily by reference to these rules then the matter shall be referred to the RHAC Committee whose decision shall be final.

Scoring Example 1: At the Cowm 5K, Girl A achieves an age grade % of 71.0, Boy A achieves an age grade % of 65.3 and Boy B achieves an age grade% of 66.5.   Girl A scores 32 points.  Boy B scores 32 points and Boy A scores 31 points.

Scoring Example 2: At the first SEL Cross Country fixture, Boy A is 12 years old and finishes in 125% of the winner’s time in the Boys U13 age category.   Girl A is 14 finishes cross country in 105% of the winner’s time in the U15 girls category .  Girl B is 12 and finishes cross country in 165% of the winner’s time in the U13 girls category.   Girl A scores 32 points and Girl B scores 31 points.  Boy A scores 32 points.