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This message is not aimed at any particular group and the contents can be freely debated on this group and among yourselves.
After last Saturday's Marton to Wanganui Relay, a top quality event conducted by the Wanganui Harrier Club, I have heard a few comments being made about both the good points and the not-so-good points of relays.
The good points include the undeniable benefits bought about by combining team/club members into a group to contest a fairly conducted event where they give their best, regardless of ability, to achieve a joint aim. Relays are a brilliant club-building experience.
The not-so-good points of relays are headed by groups regularly assembling a "gun" team out to win at any cost and having little regard for others of lesser ability. To truly enter into the friendly spirit of a relay teams achieve much more if the team includes some members of different ability. Otherwise the "gun" team will eventually destroy the event.
A relay is a team event in which a different member of the team takes over the task at the end of each stage (leg) of the event. This means that members of a team DO NOT walk consecutive stages. Some teams will say that they are put at a disadvantage if a member of their team has to complete a second later stage. What they are really saying is that they are gaining an advantage by having members of their team walking consecutive stages. This is a disadvantage and unfair to the other teams, without whom there will be no event.
If the event entry form says that a team member can walk one or two stages this means that they can only walk a maximum of two stages, unless of course there is a genuine reason for walking more. Experience has shown that the person/s selected to walk multiple stages are the "gun" walkers. Is this really fair to the other teams ?
Taranaki Racewalkers are to be congratulated on the way in which they spread their "gun" walkers among various team, giving every member of their club a chance of being in a winning team.
Let's all do the same in future and NO walking consecutive stages. Paul.
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