Ballycotton '10' and the transfer of race numbers

This is just a reminder for all new runners who are not able to run on the day....You CANNOT transfer your race number to anyone else!

There are 2 main reasons for this...
1) The race can only handle around 2,500 at most. The roads in the area are narrow and access is a major issue. Hence, the cut-off for entries back in December and the restriction on numbers. The organisers know that a certain percentage of runners won't turn up on the day and they take this into account when taking entries. If there is wholesale swapping of numbers then it makes this exercise pointless.

2) The main reason is that in recent years, the organisers had the farcical situation of some male runners taking swapped numbers from slower female runners and then winning prizes in the womens category. Essentially when the race finishes now, the organisers have to take the list of prizewinners and then check if all of those people actually ran the race! Not only is it completely unfair on legimate prizewinners but it is a lot of extra work for the organisers.

This has been going on for a number of years despite the best efforts of the organisers. After the 2010 race, Ballycotton Running Promotions took the unprecedented step of putting the names and photographs of people who ran with swapped numbers up on their website.

Some people may take the view that it's no big deal to run with someone else's number but it is the one condition that the organisers are adamant about. At the end of the entry form for the race, you signed a form which said that you would not transfer your race number. If your signature has any value then don't transfer your number.

Statement from Ballycotton Running Promotions...
You cannot give your number to another runner. Last year, despite our warnings, a few runners again ignored this rule. As a result, we took the unprecedented step of publishing pictures of people not wearing the correct number on our website. We are prepared to do the same this year and also will not accept entries from the offending parties for next year’s race. So don’t say you haven’t been warned!