SRH Running Promotions Ban on PH Runners

[Neil Mc Donald]

As a "Club Runner" I am dismayed, that Mr L Mc Andrew the events manager of many"charity" races has stated/asked the question "do we need club runners" I will not be supporting any future events organized by this organization that feels it can simply dismiss individuals in this way. However I believe that the only people to suffer will be the charities and the individuals who rely on the events/ monies raised, after the cut taken by SRH RUNNING PROMOTIONS. To this end I will be making a donation in future to the individual charities concern and will be cutting the middle men out. Doing so will prevent an individuals selfish attitude getting in the way of raising much needed funds. These are only my thoughts and I am saddened that I will miss the atmosphere generated primarily by club runners at these events.
Please consider,within yourselves, how you respond to the actions taken by SRH RUNNING Promotions / Mr L. Mc Andrew.

Not Smiling too much
Neil Mc D.

[Guest]

As a local runner ( Blackpool) this is the first i have heard about Preston Harriers not being welcome at SRH meetings. Maybe someone can enlighten the running community about the " ban"

[rick]

The subject line and the content of Neil's post differ.

The subject line suggests SRH has banned PH athletes. The body of the post suggest the RMcA questions whether his events need club runners in general.

Neil?

Edit: A quick check of this year's Great North Western Half Marathon , an SRHRP event, shows that approx (I might have lost count) 613 of the 1187 runners were unattached. The 2007 event is listed as "Not UKA", on the Lancs AA website no less.

There will be changes introduced in the way that road permits are issued.
Read more about it here: www.lancsaa.co.uk/
Or click on Road Running and Race Permits for more details.

[Neil Mc Donald]

Hi All
Apologies for any confusion. A number of PH have applied to take part in race events organized by SRH and have received notification that their entries "cannot be accepted" When contacted by PH Committee Mr L. Mc Andrew replied that this was due to an individual bad mouthing his events and that he took the stance that over 75% of entries to his events were unattached and posed the question by way of reply "do we need club runners?"
I would again like to stress that the concerns/frustrations expressed are my own but felt compelled to bring this sad affair to the attention of the club community.

Neil Mc D.

[George WRR]

Neil there is more to this the usual moans and groans that people like Ron have to accept. The criticism directed involved Ron's family. While Ron has broad shoulders I think this was too personnel and became that straw for that long suffering camel. Locally I cannot think of anyone who has helped raise more money for charity than Ron and I think we are talking over a million! So as someone who has had more knee jerk reactions to conflict than is healthy I can understand his anger.
Hopefully I will bump into you soon supporting a local race.
PS Before London!

[mackers]

this was due to an individual bad mouthing his events

then he should just ban that one individual.....why should all PH runners be banned for 1 persons actions...

[Neil Mc Donald]

I take on board entirely that Ron has raised, through his actions and that of others who have supported him, stacks of monies for the associated charities. Which adds to my frustrations regards the action taken to decline entries made by all Preston Harriers, which have had no part to play in any fall out and then to go further by posing the question as to whether the events staged by SRH actually needs any club runners. I believe that this matter should be resolved between the individuals in dispute and that others should not brought into an issue that is personal to them.
I run because I enjoy it and the people associated with it. This situation needs to be addressed and rectified so as to reflect, what in 99.9% of times is a positive experience.


Neil Mc D.

[rick]

Oct 21, 2008 20:22:14 GMT @George WRR said:

...and I think we are talking over a million!

I don't know how long SRHRP have been in operation but the amount you mention works out at nearly 1,000 pounds per week, every week, over 20 years. That's very impressive! (Even more so if you take into account they don't have a race every week).

[Clubman]

Comment deleted by Administrator

I would have said that no club benefits from the activities of SRH Promotions but I would be wrong. It appears that a donation of £200 has been made to Wesham RR and their runners have been granted a £10 reduction in the entry fee for next year’s GNW Half-marathon. So Wesham RR members pay £5, other club’s runners pay £15 and Preston Harriers can come and watch if they like.

[dunrunnin]

My understanding is Wesham Road Runners were given a sum of money by way of a donation for the assistance that club has given in the form of marshals and other assistance at events organized by Ron and Lewis.

As for the "ban", may I respectfully suggest the Preston Harriers Committee speak to Ron or Lewis for an explanation so this matter can be resolved?

[George WRR]

Sad that Neils thread turns into this with the have a go heroes that do not have the conviction to even identify themselves. Some facts; Ron like most race organisers are used to complaints. They will cover the whole remit accurate distance/prizes/water/marshalling/weather/hilly and another 100 things no doubt. This time the complainent made it too personal and decided to include Rons family, badmouthing them.
Ron has been raising money for charity for years (and yes Rick it is over a million, not all through weekly races ) so much so that the local charity Rosemere Cancer Trust headhunted him.
That is now Rons day job Rick, raising money for Charity. I never wrote that SRH was a vehicle for raising money for charity if it was it would be a poor one. Organising races is not a cash cow unless you think 22 runners in a Wednesday night paying £4 will make you rich. Organising a Marathon paying £5,500 to Blackpool Council to close the prom and believe me the expendature list goes on and on. If it was not for Ron, Billy Gardiner, Andy O'Sullivan and Ron Berry how would the racing calendar look. This Sundays New York Marathon is costing me £110 to enter. When I paid it I did not think who is making money from it I paid it cause thats what it costs to enter. So I will be grateful for the aforementioned men and all the committees of all the clubs who have good people who give the time/effort to allow me to run.................thank you
tag me how you choose all I want to do is race thats why I'm in a club.

[rick]

George. The more questions I ask the closer I come to the conclusion that there are three sides to every story.

Back on subject. I think most fair-mnded people would say that punishing a group of people for the actions of one of them a little extreme. I'm banned and I haven't seen or spoken to Ron for around 12 years. Bizzare.

Personally, I take the "do we need club runners?" with a pinch of salt. Technically the statement is correct but as a promoter once you have enough entries to cover the costs of setting up an event every extra entry is profit, whether it comes from a club member or non-club member.

[Neil Mc Donald]

I've been away a couple of days and on my return I see nameless individuals have used the thread to add personal attacks on Ron with regards to historic events/issues. The purpose of this thread was to raise the situation and resolve it. Not give individuals without a spine the opportunity to settle old scores. I would therefore like to be dis associated with the comments raised by said individuals and refer all to the original issues raised.

Hopefully this sorry situation can be resolved and we can get back to what we all enjoy, both as individuals and as groups, running with a smile!

Neil Mc Donald

[rick]

This thread is being locked at the request of the club secretary and will stay locked until further notice.
Please do not try and resurrect this topic elsewhere.

Thank you your understanding.
Rick