runbritain Grand Prix Series/England Athletics Championships

runbritain and England Athletics invite tenders for Championship and Grand Prix road race events in 2013 (see previous news story for full details of the tendering process for UK Road Race Championships in 2013).

The 2013 runbritain Grand Prix series will be created from established races at 10km and Half Marathon. Tenders will need to confirm that the following points will be achieved and must be received by 31 August 2012.

Tender Requirements

* The series will take place in spring (March - May) and autumn (September - November)
* The races will include the England Athletics Championships at 10k and Half Marathon, taking the series to seven events, from which the best five scores shall count
* The race must hold a current UKA licence and have fully closed out its 2011 and 2012 events
* The runners scoring points in the Grand Prix must be current members of their respective Home Country Athletics Federation membership scheme on the day of each race.
* The races will also include the UK Championships at 10k and Half Marathon, for which a separate tendering process is required
* A geographic spread is desirable. Each event shall guarantee a minimum of £3,000 British-only prize money at their race and contribute a £3,000 rights fee which will go towards a £10,000 – £14,000 (7 at £2,000) overall Grand Prix purse.

Sample individual race prize money (for both male and female):

1st: £1000
2nd: £500
3rd: £400
4th: £300
5th: £200
6th: £100 

2013 Overall Grand Prix (male and female)

1st: £3,000    
2nd: £2,000 
3rd: £1,500  
4th: £1,000  
5th: £500    
6th: £600
7th: £500
8th: £400
9th: £300
10th: £250
11th: £200
12th: £150 

Rationale

* A maximum of seven pre-existing events will form the Grand Prix series
* To link and give status to those races currently supporting British athletes and maximise the earning potential of British athletes not otherwise on funded programmes.
* To draw new runners into competition and to make inclusion attractive and prestigious for race organisers and maximise available places
* Eligibility for awards is linked to GB team eligibility and athlete registration with a Home Country scheme.
* The first 250 British finishers will score points, from 250 points down to one point to broaden the number of runners capable of achieving GP points-scoring status. Best five performances from possible seven will count. Athletics Data will track and score and maintain Grand Prix standings (inc. age groups etc) on rankings/handicap pages of the runbritain website. Double points will be allocated to the designated Grand Prix final race, to maintain interest throughout.

Please submit your tender in writing by 31 August 2012 to John Temperton at jtemperton@uka.org.uk and address any queries to runbritain Managing Director Geoff Wightman at gwightman@uka.org.uk

For details on the 2012 runbritain Grand Prix including current leaders, follow the link to the dedicated Grand Prix section on the runbritain website.