Club Handicap Championship
The latest 2023 Handicap Table here
Handicap Recorded Times from 1986 to Present here, (Note this is a compressed zip file)
Handicap Points from 1995 to Present here.
Many thanks to all the various custodians of the Handicap results over the years. Their hard work and record-keeping has allowed the following information to be available for ongoing analysis by club members.
For those interested in understanding how the handicap series has evolved since the creation of Otley AC, please follow this link to the Handicap Timeline.
What is a Handicap?
If you have never run a handicap before, the idea is that the slower runners set off first the fastest off last and hopefully everyone gets to the finish together.
For example if the handicap distance is 5k and a runner ‘A’ usually runs a 5k in about 30 minutes, a second runner ‘B’ about 16 minutes. Then at the start of the handicap runner A starts 14 minutes before runner B. If both run to form the runner B catches A at the finish line.
Do I need to enter, Do I need to do anything? No, just turn up at the start and I will sort out a start time for you on the morning/evening.
.. and the Eric Smith Trophy?
The Eric Smith handicap trophy is awarded to the person with the most points accululated over the montly handicap races. Points are awarded at each handicap the winner gaining the number of points based on how many do the handicap.
Benefits of the Handicap series..
- 12 free low key races for the year.
- Good for motivation. pretty much everyone who has finished near the top of the handicap trophy table has ended the year fitter and faster then they were in January.
- Everybody has the chance to finish first.
- Run different routes to the norm.
- A great social get together. meeting folk who aren’t part of your training group.
- At most of the handicaps there’s post race refreshment in the local pub.
- If you have a bad run or I get your handicap wrong, never… then for sure you’ll have an easier handicap at the next one.
- A chance to give the handicapper some abuse about your handicap
- It’s all a bit of fun nobody takes it too seriously.
The future race venues and dates are on the upcoming events section of the website on the home page.
If you are unable to make a handicap race, you can run the route in the preceding 7 days, letting me, (Andrew Robertshaw), by email : androbertshaw@gmail.com before you run and afterwards with some evidence of your time, a link to your strava, garmin, or even just a photo of your stop watch will be acceptable.
Handicap Routes
Eric Smith Handicap Podium places for the 28 years of the monthly handicap races.
Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
2022 | Rachel Michael | Sarah Belt-McMullin | Bob Payne |
2021 | Ann Powell | Mick Jeffrey | Carol Armitstead |
2020 | Antonio Cardinale | Nick Hodgkinson | David Fox |
2019 | Lee Gumbrell | Bob Payne | Paul Clifford |
2018 | Bob Payne | Tom Hannah | Andy Webster |
2017 | Rob Fearnley | Laura Hind | Antonio Cardinale |
2016 | David Cattanach | Tom Lynch | Tom Pomfrett |
2015 | Tom Lynch | Dominic Egan | Chris Tomlinson |
2014 | Nicola Lee | Sean O’Halloran | Charlotte Tomlinson |
2013 | Ursula McGouran | Dominic Egan | Caron Ralph |
2012 | Billy Rayner | Richard Hamer | Tom Hannah |
2011 | Caron Ralph & Matt Broughton | Ben Cousen | |
2010 | Graham Stead | John Armitstead | Billy Rayner |
2009 | Billy Rayner | Neil Charlton | Ian Fisher |
2008 | John Dade | Zack Whitehead | Paul Clifford |
2007 | Mick Jeffrey | Antonio Cardinale | Michael Pickard |
2006 | Mark Clifford | Mark Blagg | Zack Whitehead |
2005 | Paul Clifford | Phil Robinson | Tom Hannah |
2004 | Kath Robertshaw | David Cattanach | David Hainsworth |
2003 | Graham Stead | Paul Clifford | Malcolm Court |
2002 | Phil Robinson | Kath Robertshaw | Carl Walsh |
2001 | Antonio Cardinale | Graham Stead | Tom Hannah |
2000 | Tony Allen | David Hainsworth | David Fox |
1999 | John Straiton & Graham Stead | Phil Robinson | |
1998 | Ian Fisher | Chris Carver | Tom Hannah |
1997 | David Fox | Phil Robinson | Steve Haywood |
1996 | John Straiton | Paul Cubbon | David Hainsworth |
1995 | Tony Allen | Tom Hannah | Phil Robinson |