SGRAC 10k
RUNNERS from across the south coast have been quick to praise Stubbington Green Runners for the way the club handled the difficult decision to cancel Sunday’s 10km race because of the extreme winter conditions.
The club received a handful of complaints from some runners who were unhappy that we were not offering refunds – barely 1% of the 1,800 entries we had received for what would have been the 25th edition of the race.
One runner wrote: “Perhaps as a gesture of goodwill you should offer to refund a proportion of the entry fee to those who request it, subject to receipt of a number and a stamped addressed envelope.
“Nobody expects your club to make a loss but it might be worth remembering that in the past your 10K race has been a relatively easy way of boosting your club’s funds.
“I note how on the race entry details you ask all of the runners to ‘Please Play Fair’!”
Another wrote: “I think the only solution for the organisers would be money back or free entry to next year’s race. I’ll take either.”
However, theirs were relatively lone voices in the wilderness. For a full statement of what measures the club has taken following the race’s cancellation, please click onto this LINK
Sally Dale from Gosport Road Runners, offered her support for the decision. She wrote: “Just want to pass on my support and thanks to your club and race organisers in making an early decision (and the right decision) to cancel this year's race - not an easy thing to do, especially after all the hard work to stage the race.
“I have no complaint regarding my entry fee as it was clearly stated on the entry form it would not be refundable.
“I think the race committee have kept us well informed and I will definitely be entering next year's race. Hopefully, it will be at least another 30 years before we experience such awful weather!! Good luck for next year's race.”
Julie Ray, ladies captain with Isle of Wight Road Runners, also wrote to insist that the right decision had been made.
Julie was grateful for the club statement published on Sunday which explained that while no refunds would be made, any excess money would be donated to charity, there would be cut-price entry to runners who missed out on Sunday for next year’s race, and runners who had entered would be able to collect one of the precious Stubby 10k mugs.
She wrote: “Thank you for your quick, direct and concise explanation of the whys and wherefores of cancelling the Stubbington 10K.
“I can totally appreciate how difficult this decision must have been for you and can only say that your race is one of my favourite races of the season.
“Stubbington 2007 was my first ever 10K race and since then has been a firm favourite for me and a lot of my fellow club team mates.
“Along with my growing mug collection I have always found it one of the friendliest and well marshalled events of the season and will look forward to January 2011 when hopefully the weather will be kinder to us all.”
John Belinger, who lives in the New Forest and who had entered the race, even thought we had been too generous with our response to the cancellation.
He wrote: “I have great sympathy with the organisers who obviously made the right decision. Even tonight in Christchurch many of the side roads and pavements were dangerous when I went for a run.
“A discount from next year's race is always welcome but the financial viability of the race must come first so don't be too generous. One cancelled race in 25 years is a very good record for a race run in the middle of January and not being able to run was more disappointing than losing a few quid. See you next year!”
And Julie Russ, secretary of Farnham Runners added: “I am so sorry that the weather forced you to cancel this year’s 10k. It must have been very disappointing and a hard decision to make, but the correct one.
“I certainly sympathise as I am well aware of the time and expense involved in organising such an event. I think your offer of reduced entry for next year’s race is very fair and generous and I should like to thank you.
“Hopefully I shall be able to enter the 2011 race and the weather will be on our side! Thank you for all the effort you put into the pre race organisation this year.”
Dear Stubbington, On behalf of all runners, thank you for the concessions into next years race. I think at the end of the day everyone appreciates the effort that is put in to stage a race. I, myself marshal races at Salisbury because I feel I should put something back into the sport I love so much. Without the efforts of clubs like yours myself, or anyone else for that matter, would not be able to run races.
I also feel that 99% of entrants would not mind if you held the mugs over to next year, it was not your fault that the race was cancelled and I am sure that getting a memento with the wrong year on really would not matter. Certainly not to me. Again I thank your club for all its efforts, it is a top quality race, that is why you get 1800 runners, so keep up the good work. Andy Gillespie, Salisbury A & RC.
Many thanks for the info. I think the club has handled this very well and made the very best of a situation well out of your control. Looking Fwd to the 2011 event. Regards, Paul Maddison.
Thank you to everyone for their messages of support. Our apologies once again, but let’s hope next January we see a return to those delightful sunny, frosty Sunday mornings for the Stubbington 10k 2011!!
Here are some other comments left on the Runner’s World forum:
Lady Wot Jogs: At least they decided now and didn't leave it 'til the last minute. I wouldn't want to run in these conditions anyway, plus I certainly wouldn't expect marshals etc give up their day to stand around in these conditions.
Julia Pearce: Such a shame but with snow forecast for the rest of the week not unexpected.
WJH: Good call by the organisers to do this now rather than into the weekend. Shame but a very good call at this stage especially as pointed out with the weather not expected to let up too much down here. There is likely to be a lot of remaining snow possibly, slush and ice down here come race day.
DianaD: This is a shame, but does sound the right decision. Commiserations to SGR & AC, who will have put a lot of work into arranging this.
Judith Scott: This would have been my first 10k, shame it's been cancelled I was really looking forward to it. I'm a little annoyed, though, as you don't get your money refunded either. This would have been special as it was a exactly a year from when I started my get fit regime. This time last year I was 4 stone heavier.
Mr K: This is my 2nd cancelled event in the last couple of weeks - it is a pity but these things do happen. I think it is a fair decision. Well done SGRAC.
RunningCommentary: I agree its disappointing when you don’t get a refund. It has happened to me two or three times now. No details are ever supplied about the apparently irrecoverable expenses. Full marks to Wokingham Half last year who had to cancel, but rearranged the race for a bit later on in the year with race entries still valid.