Club Handicap Percentages 2024
Club Handicap Percentages 2023
Handicap Races for 2024 (Best 10 of 15 races to count)
1) 24th March – Banbury 15 – results
2) 7th April – White Horse Half Marathon results
3) 25th April – Mota-Vation Charlton-on-Otmoor results
4) 30th May – Mota-Vation Oxford results
5) 30th June – Thame 10k results
6) 7th July – Didcot 5 mile results
7) 14th July – Hornton Classic 6 mile results
8) 4th August – Hook Norton 6 mile results
9) 7th August – Alchester Summer 5k results
10) 25th August – Headington 5 mile results
11) 7th September – Cotswold Classic 10 mile results
12) 29th September – Hanney 5 mile (Cancelled)
13) 5th October – Woodstock 12 results
14) 20th October – Abingdon Marathon
15) 24th November – Eynsham 10k
Club Handicap Percentages for 2024
Name | 10K | Decimal Conversion | Percentage of best |
James Bolton | 33:32 | 33.533 | 100% |
Ralf Arneil | 44:18 | 44.300 | 75.7% |
Dave Cantwell | 39:14 | 39.233 | 85.5% |
Iain Claxton | 53:23 | 53.383 | 62.8% |
Claire Court | 46:08 | 46.133 | 72.7% |
Rob Earle | 45:50 (Est.) | 45.833 | 73.1% |
Kevin Game | 44:42 | 44.700 | 75.0% |
Susan Haines | 58:03 | 58.050 | 57.8% |
Alan Harrison | 46:22 | 46.367 | 72.3% |
Caroline Johnstone | 44:41 | 44.683 | 75.0% |
Katherine Jones | 40:36 | 40.600 | 82.6% |
Sarah Kerswell | 45:24 | 45.400 | 73.9% |
Ed King | 39:50 | 39.833 | 84.2% |
Nicola Leavesley | 52:55 | 62.917 | 63.4% |
Rob Linnell | 40:25 | 40.417 | 83.0% |
Liz O’Farrell | 55:38 | 55.633 | 60.3% |
Christian Orr | 39:21 | 39.350 | 85.2% |
Tom Preskett | 38:22 | 38.367 | 87.4% |
Hans Price | 38:32 | 38.533 | 87.0% |
Adam Smith | 38:20 | 38.333 | 87.5% |
Simon Tucker | 42:04 | 42.066 | 79.7% |
Jess Ward | 52:39 | 52.650 | 63.7% |
Louis Warden | 41:45 | 41.750 | 80.3% |
David Watkinson | 38:02 | 38.033 | 88.2% |
Rob Webster | 39:51 | 39.850 | 84.1% |
Lizzy Welsh | 45:49 | 45.817 | 73.2% |
2023 is the 18th year of the competition (two years missing due to COVID-19 and 2020 featured just one race due to COVID-19). It is based on a handicap system devised by Mike Shipway. Every first claim member in the Club has a chance to win irrespective of ability, and the competition should provide an incentive for all members to run in as many races as possible. This competition is a bit of fun and should not be taken too seriously as we acknowledge that there are shortcomings in the system. If you have any suggestions for the improvement of the competition please contact Mike Shipway and your comments will be considered for future years.
Handicap Races for 2023 (Best 10 of 15 races to count)
1) 19th March Banbury 15 – Banbury 15 overall results
2) 2nd April White Horse Half – cancelled due to flooding
3) 27th April Charlton M/V – Charlton Mota-vation results
4) 25th May Bletchingdon M/V – Bletchingdon Mota-vation results
5) 25th June Thame 10K – Thame 10k results
6) 1st July Otmoor Challenge – Results
7) 15th July Hornton 6 – race cancelled
8) 6th August Hooky 6 – results
9) 9th August Alchester 5K – results
10) 27th August Headington 5 – results
11) 2nd September Cotswold Classic 10 – results
12) 9th September Woodstock 8 – results
13) 1st October Hanney 5 – race cancelled
14) 22nd October Abingdon Marathon – results
15) 26th November Eynsham 10K – results
Club Handicap Percentages for 2023
Name | Percentage |
Ralf Arneil | 75.1% |
Richard Arthur | 53.4% |
James Bolton | 100% |
Dave Cantwell | 80.1% |
Sue Cantwell | 69.8% |
Iain Claxton | 69.4% |
Juan Diaz | 93.6% |
Rob Earle | 70.0% |
Dan Eisenhandler | 71.2% |
Matt Eveleigh | 72.8% |
Kevin Game | 77.5% |
James Groves | 79.5% |
Susan Haines | 61.8% |
Alan Harrison | 73.7% |
Phil Horgan | 63.7% |
Caroline Johnstone | 71.0% |
Sarah Kerswell | 66.3% |
Ed King | 91.0% |
Nicola Leavesley | 64.0% |
Hamish Linnell | 80.0% |
Rob Linnell | 79.0% |
Liz O’farrell | 67.1% |
Neil Preddy | 65.7% |
Tom Preskett | 92.2% |
Hans Price | 88.8% |
Adam Smith | 92.5% |
Adrian Smith | 66.5% |
Simon Tucker | 82.8% |
Jess Ward | 66.3% |
Louis Warden | 68.3% |
David Watkinson | 82.7% |
Lizzie Welsh | 70.7% |
Rob Webster | 91.5% |
The percentage handicaps in this table have been prepared using both cross-country and road racing event statistics from the Eynsham 10K in 2022, the 2022/23 cross-country season, this year’s road races and some estimates for those competing for the Club for the first time. If you feel that your handicap is unfair or inaccurate please let Mike Shipway know so that a discussion can take place.
The Table (2023)
RACES 1 to 6
(figures in bold are deleted scores representing lowest race scores where more than 8 races involved. Best 8 races from 12 to count.
Name | Banbury 15 Race 1 | Charlton M/V Race 2 | Bletch M/V Race 3 | Thame 10K Race 4 | Otmoor Race 5 | Hooky 6 Race 6 | Total Points |
J.Bolton | 25 | 4 | 23 | 22 | 70 | ||
K.Game | 24 | 24 | |||||
D.Cantwell | 23 | 21 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 94 | |
L’OFarrell | 22 | 22 | |||||
T.Preskett | 21 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 42 | ||
P.Horgan | 25 | 22 | 47 | ||||
R.Arthur | 24 | 19 | 43 | ||||
D.Watkinson | 23 | 21 | 24 | 68 | |||
Adr. Smith | 22 | 22 | |||||
H.Linnell | 20 | 17 | 37 | ||||
L.Welsh | 19 | 19 | |||||
R.Earle | 18 | 18 | 36 | ||||
C.Johnstone | 18 | 23 | 41 | ||||
S.Tucker | 16 | 21 | 37 | ||||
H.Price | 15 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 74 | ||
J.Groves | 14 | 16 | 30 | ||||
R.Linnell | 13 | 12 | 25 | ||||
N.Leavesley | 12 | 9 | 20 | 24 | 65 | ||
J.Ward | 11 | 15 | 22 | 25 | 73 | ||
N.Preddy | 10 | 10 | |||||
S.Cantwell | 9 | 10 | 19 | ||||
Adam Smith | 8 | 6 | 14 | ||||
S.Haines | 7 | 8 | 15 | ||||
E.King | 6 | 5 | 21 | 32 | |||
D.Eisenhandlr | 5 | 5 | |||||
J.Diaz | 3 | 3 | |||||
R.Arneil | 2 | 13 | 15 | ||||
L.Warden | 25 | 25 | |||||
S.Kerswell | 24 | 24 | |||||
I.Claxton | 7 | 18 | 25 | ||||
R.Webster | 19 | 19 |
PAGE 2 – RACES 7 to 12
Name | Alchest 5K Race 7 | Head 5 mile Race 8 | Cotswold 10 mile Race 9 | Wood 8 Race 10 | Abingdn Mar Race 11 | Eynsham 10k Race 12 | Total Points | Position Top 10 |
J.Bolton | 21 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 180 | 2nd | |
K.Game | 24 | |||||||
D.Cantwell | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 188 | 1st | ||
L’OFarrell | 22 | |||||||
T.Preskett | 16 | 17 | 16 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 155 | 3rd= |
P.Horgan | 47 | |||||||
R.Arthur | 43 | |||||||
D.Watkinson | 24 | 24 (5) | 23 | 139 | ||||
Adr. Smith | 22 | |||||||
H.Linnell | 37 | |||||||
L.Welsh | 19 | |||||||
R.Earle | 19 | 55 | ||||||
C.Johnstone | 23 | 22 | 86 | |||||
S.Tucker | 22 | 59 | ||||||
H.Price | 20 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 155 | 3rd= | ||
J.Groves | 30 | |||||||
R.Linnell | 21 | 46 | ||||||
N.Leavesley | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 140 | |||
J.Ward | 73 | |||||||
N.Preddy | 10 | |||||||
S.Cantwell | 19 | |||||||
Adam Smith | 17 | 24 | 25 | 80 | ||||
S.Haines | 18 | 16 | 49 | |||||
E.King | 19 | 51 | ||||||
D.Eisenhandlr | 5 | |||||||
J.Diaz | 3 | |||||||
R.Arneil | 20 | 35 | ||||||
L.Warden | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 125 | |||
S.Kerswell | 24 | |||||||
I.Claxton | 25 | |||||||
R.Webster | 19 | |||||||
S.Cruikshank | 19 | 19 | ||||||
A Harrison | 17 | 17 |
Previous Years Harriers Handicap Scores
The Revised Rules for 2023
In previous years the Club handicap scheme calculations were based on each member’s best performance in a 10K road race competition. This has not proved feasible this year because the curtailed race calendar for 2022 has meant that only 17 Harriers took part in 7 different events.
To give a better overview of each athlete’s capabilities I have averaged performances of 26 members over 9 races, 5 cross-country and 4 road. Please see the schedule below:
Handicap Percentages based on performances in 9 races (5 XC and 4 road)
Name | Henley XC 2023 | Guiting XC 2023 | Shotover XC 2023 | Cirencester XC 2022 | Newbury XC 2022 | Eynsham 10K 2022 | Hanney 5 2022 | Headington 5 2022 | Kidlington M/V 2022 | Average |
James | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Juan | 97.9 | 89.2 | 93.6 | |||||||
Tom | 97.3 | 92.4 | 90.0 | 89.0 | 92.2 | |||||
Adam | 96.9 | 96.4 | 90.6 | 93.7 | 94.4 | 90.9 | 89.7 | 88.7 | 90,9 | 92.5 |
Ed | 93.0 | 90.8 | 89.3 | 91,0 | ||||||
Dave C | 83.7 | 80.9 | 80.0 | 76.8 | 79.2 | 80.1 | ||||
Kevin G | 82.3 | 76.8 | 75.8 | 75.0 | 77.5 | |||||
Neil | 72.3 | 66.7 | 64.3 | 65.3 | 66.0 | 62.8 | 62.6 | 65.7 | 65.7 | |
Lizzy | 77.8 | 66.6 | 71.8 | 68.2 | 69.2 | 70.7 | ||||
Sue C | 71.0 | 70.0 | 67.8 | 71.7 | 68.5 | 69.8 | ||||
Liz O’F | 67.7 | 66.6 | 67.1 | 67.1 | ||||||
Susan H | 65.0 | 63.6 | 62.2 | 61.9 | 62.5 | 55.7 | 61.8 | |||
Dave W | 86.2 | 84.6 | 79.5 | 82.3 | 81.5 | 82.2 | 82.7 | |||
Rob L | 79.6 | 78.3 | 79.1 | 79.0 | ||||||
Iain | 72.8 | 70.7 | 71.3 | 70.6 | 66.8 | 64.0 | 69.4 | |||
Hans | 89.1 | 90.8 | 88.2 | 89.1 | 86.7 | 88.8 | ||||
Louis | 68.3 | 68.3 | ||||||||
Jess | 65.3 | 68.6 | 64.9 | 66.3 | ||||||
Adrian | 66.7 | 66.3 | 66.5 | |||||||
Lucy | 67.5 | 67.5 | ||||||||
Sarah D | 64.8 | 64.8 | ||||||||
Matt E | 74.5 | 71.1 | 72.8 | |||||||
Ralf | 74.0 | 76.3 | 75.1 | |||||||
Megan | 52.8 | 56.6 | 58.4 | 55.9 | ||||||
Alan H | 75.0 | 72.4 | 73.7 | |||||||
Richard | 58.4 | 58.4 |
As the men and women run the same cross-country distances now it was possible this year to calculate all times based on the fastest runner James Bolton.
How are the calculations made? Looking at the Henley XC race James was quickest in 29:52, Ed was 5th fastest in 32.06 and Sue Cantwell was 10th in 42:04. As the fastest James’ handicap is 100%, Ed’s is 29:52/32.06 or 29.867/32.100 which is 93.04% and Sue’s is 29.867/42.040 or 71.04%
How the points are calculated For each Club Championship race 25 points are awarded for the fastest handicapped time, decreasing to 1 point for the 25th fastest. If there are only 5 Woodstock runners in the race, then the fastest will receive 25 points and the slowest 21 points. If there are 30 members in the race then those who finish from 26th to 30th will receive no points.
Results from the best 10 of the 15 races will be used to determine the competition winners. This allows for holidays & injuries and rewards the regular participant.
System Shortcomings One weakness of this system is that it is based on results from 2022 and if anyone has dramatically improved since the previous time was registered, then the handicap will appear generous. Likewise, if someone’s fitness has deteriorated, perhaps due to injury, then they would have no realistic chance in the competition. A review of the handicaps will, therefore, be carried out in August after race 10 to adjust any glaring anomalies. No new entries to the competition will be allowed after race 10.
Prizes Inscribed trophies will be awarded to the competition winner, runner-up and third place after the last race in November. Good Luck! Everyone has a chance to win – so go for it! The Club’s officials and committee members reserve the right to vary these rules from time to time and their decision is final in any dispute.