Welsh Fell Runners Association
Each year the WFRA organise three Championship race series.
The North Wales Series & South Wales Series:
A competitor’s best results from up to 6 of the 9 races will be counted in the Series.
Every finisher will score points. Scores are based on the competitor’s time behind the average of the first five finishers. Your score will then be taken away from 100 to make a positive score. If you do not compete in a race you will score zero.
This is an Open Series. You do not need to be a member of any particular organization or have Welsh qualification to participate. However, to be eligible for an award/prize you must be a paid up member of WFRA by the end of May. There will be awards for the winner in each category as long as the competitor has completed at least 5 races. 2nd and 3rd will be awarded (in most categories) as long as the competitor has completed 6 races or more.
Age categories as follows – Open, U/23, O/40, O/50, O/60 O/70.
More information available on WFRA site: WFRA
WFRA Open Welsh Championship.
A competitor’s best results from up to 4 of the 6 races will be counted in the Championship. If 4 races are used this must include one race at each distance. Every finisher will score points. Scores are based on the competitor’s time behind the average of the first five finishers. Your score will then be taken away from 100 to make a positive score. If you do not compete in a race you will score zero.
This is an Open Championship. You do not need to be a member of any particular organization or have Welsh qualification to participate. However, to be eligible for an award/prize you must be a paid up member of WFRA by the end of May.
There will be awards for at least the winner in each category and the first Welsh qualifying finisher (if different). Age categories as follows – Open, U/23, O/40, O/50, O/60 O/70
More information available on WFRA site:
A fell race is a race run on fell, hill or mountain terrain and is categorized as follows:
Category ‘A’
(a) Should average not less than 50 metres climb per kilometre.
(b) Should not have more than 20% of race distance on road.
(c) Should be at least 1.5 kilometres in length.
Category ‘B’
(a) Should average not less than 25 metres climb per kilometre.
(b) Should not have more than 30% of race distance on road.
Category ‘C’
(a) Should average not less than 20 metres climb per kilometre.
(b) Should not have more than 40% of race distance on road.
(c) Should contain some genuine fell terrain.
Race Lengths
(a) A long (L) race is 20 kilometres or more.
(b) A medium (M) race is over 10 kilometres but less than 20 kilometres.
(c) A short (S) race is 10 kilometres or less.
Other codes include:
ER - Experience required
NS - Navigational Skills Required
LK - Local Knowledge an advantage
PM - Course Partially Marked
WFRA IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
Welsh Fell Runners Assoc (WFRA), Note on Runners and safety.
Link to Updated document on WFRA site WFRA
The general philosophy in Fell / Mountain racing is that the competitor should take primary responsibility for their own safety on the Fells / Mountains.
Please note the following:
Arrive at the venue with as much kit as the organiser is likely to require you to carry on the day. This means windproof full body cover, other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions (e.g. waterproof full body cover, hat, gloves etc.), map, compass, whistle, emergency food (long races).
BE AWARE THAT UNDER WFRA SAFETY REQUIREMENTS THE ABOVE MINIMUM KIT REQUIREMENTS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL CATEGORY ‘A’ LONG AND MEDIUM RACES WHATEVER THE WEATHER OR TIME OF YEAR.
Have the necessary skills to cope with any navigational problems you may encounter, whatever the weather.
Complete a Category ‘A’ short or medium race before running in a ‘long’ one.
Be able to recognize the signs of hypothermia and hypoglycaemia in yourself and others.
Hypothermia: not responding to conversation; unco-ordinated movement and speech; inability to think clearly; wanting to carry on in adverse conditions; skin cold where normally warm, such as under armpit. Immediate action: wrap in warm clothing.
FRA leaflet on Hypothermia FRAHypoglycaemia:, confusion, ill co-ordinated movement and speech; weakness, hunger. Immediate action: drink glucose solution or suck sweets.
Know what the organiser’s ‘drop-out’ procedures are and comply with them. As a minimum, if you retire you MUST notify the officials at the finish (and the nearest check-point marshal, if appropriate) before you leave the area.
If you see someone in trouble: HELP, even if it costs you the race.
Be aware that, by the nature of fell racing, first aid may not be readily available.
