RE: Racing category based on ability. Or is it?

mike.m-@obra.org

2003-10-04



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The OBRA method for upgrading rider ability category is basically identical

to the USCF scheme. For ability graded racing neither USCF or OBRA have a

mechanism for requiring a rider to compete in a younger than his age

category based on ability or performance. You could propose such a scheme

as a rule for OBRA. The method for proposing rules is at the beginning of

the OBRA rules which can be found at:



http://www.obra.org/word_docs/2003rules.doc



Personally I don't think it would be a very good idea. Such a scheme would

muddle up age graded and ability graded competition. Race organizers can

already choose to combine the two criteria by limiting age graded racing to

specific race ability categories if they choose. Many do by limiting

Masters races to Cat 3/4/5 riders. Most do not.



A separate but related issue is the problem of upgrading Cat 3 riders and

riders that compete primarily in Masters fields. Masters fields rarely meet

the upgrade requirements to move a rider past Cat 3 so a talented rider that

only rides Masters will never be forced into Cat 2.   Many riders, if they

are old enough, when they get a mandatory upgrade to Cat 2 will not race Cat

2 but will instead race Masters. Since the mean age of a Cat 3 rider is 36

and the mean age of a Cat 2 or better rider is 33 this is a fairly

substantial issue.



Mike Murray



-----Original Message-----

From: Dan Houghton [mailto:brm-@hotmail.com]

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 13:56 PM

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Racing catagory based on ability. Or is it?





When I was racing as a cat. 4 [in 1977] under USCF rules, the deal was that

if you won 3 races or placed top 3 in a number of races you were

automatically kicked up a category.

Why doesn't that work the other way? I mean for masters. If there is some

50 year old guy regularly winning / placing in the 45+ category, should that

person not be kicked up [or down] an age group?

Why or why not?





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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=690221417-04102003>The

OBRA method for upgrading rider ability category is basically identical to the

USCF scheme.  For ability graded racing neither USCF or OBRA have a

mechanism for requiring a rider to compete in a younger than his age category

based on ability or performance.  You could propose such a scheme as a rule

for OBRA.  The method for proposing rules is at the beginning of the OBRA

rules which can be found at:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN

class=690221417-04102003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=690221417-04102003><A

href="http://www.obra.org/word_docs/2003rules.doc">http://www.obra.org/word_docs/2003rules.doc</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN

class=690221417-04102003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN

class=690221417-04102003>Personally I don't think it would be a very good

idea.  Such a scheme would muddle up age graded and ability graded

competition.  Race organizers can already choose to combine the two

criteria by limiting age graded racing to specific race ability categories if

they choose.  Many do by limiting Masters races to Cat 3/4/5 riders. 

Most do not.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN

class=690221417-04102003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=690221417-04102003>A

separate but related issue is the problem of upgrading Cat 3 riders and riders

that compete primarily in Masters fields.  Masters fields rarely meet the

upgrade requirements to move a rider past Cat 3 so a talented rider that only

rides Masters will never be forced into Cat 2.   Many riders, if they

are old enough, when they get a mandatory upgrade to Cat 2 will not race

Cat 2 but will instead race Masters.  Since the mean age of a Cat 3 rider

is 36 and the mean age of a Cat 2 or better rider is 33 this is a fairly

substantial issue.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN

class=690221417-04102003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>

<P><FONT size=2>Mike Murray </FONT></P>

<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma

size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Dan Houghton

[mailto:brm-@hotmail.com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 03, 2003 13:56

PM<BR><B>To:</B> ob-@topica.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [OBRA Chat] Racing catagory

based on ability. Or is it?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>

<DIV style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">

<DIV>

<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>

<DIV>When I was racing as a cat. 4 [in 1977] under USCF rules, the deal was that

if you won 3 races or placed top 3 in a number of races you were automatically

kicked up a category.</DIV>

<DIV>Why doesn't that work the other way? I mean for masters.  If there is

some 50 year old guy regularly winning / placing in the 45+ category, should

that person not be kicked up [or down] an age group?</DIV>

<DIV>Why or why not?</DIV></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR clear=all>

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