Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Should there be top 30 t-shirts for women in the Ballycotton Summer Series?

Friday, August 23, 2013

Should there be top 30 t-shirts for women in the Ballycotton Summer Series?

Back in July after the Churchtown South 5 mile road race, I put up the standings after the first three races. Someone then left this comment...

Given that 125 women (versus 222 men) have competed all three races; perhaps consideration should be given to the number of top finisher shirts? 20 versus 50 seems a bit biased.

I made a mental note to come back and look at the stats for the series after the last race in Ballycotton. First of all, some background info. The chart below shows the total number of people that have completed all four races in the Ballycotton Summer Series....

1) The total number of people that have completed the series has grown from 122 in 2007 to 306 in 2013.
2) For whatever reason, there was a surge in the number of men completing the series in 2009 and 2010 and has remained pretty much level since. The number of women however has grown at a more steady rate.
3) As a percentage of the total, the number of women has gone from roughly 26% in 2007-10 to 29% in 2011 to about 36% in 2012-13.

One of the features of the Summer Series is that Top 50 and Top 20 t-shirts are awarded to the top men and women respectively. The chart below shows what percentage of each gender got a t-shirt...

Before 2011, a slightly higher percentage of women got a t-shirt. It varied from about 4-7% more. Now with more women completing the series, the percentage of women getting a t-shirt has declined and now lags behind the men by about 8-9%.

Based on the 2013 figures, nearly 29 t-shirts should have been awarded to the top women in the series in order maintain a parity with the men. So to answer the person that left the original comment in July, there is a valid case for say the top 30 women in the series getting top t-shirts in future.

4 comments:

Paudie said...

Hard one to call.
Maybe if you look at the difference between the top man and top woman times as a guide. The difference was 22 minutes and 36 seconds (Over the 4 races) Now add this on to the top 50th mans time. This gives you 2:33:07. If you look at the top women’s table that time would have you at 22nd. Just another way to look at it.

Anonymous said...

At least there are t-shirts for women in the Summer Series, unlike in the Ballycotton 10 which only awards top 100 finishers! That is really quite unfair and organisers should be aware of gender discrimination. In fairness to the Summer Series they do acknowledge the female runners as well as the male. Perhaps they might look at adjusting the numbers of t-shirts in line with the male/female ratio of participants.

Anonymous said...

we can compromise and give t shirts to the top 25 women ;-) I think the womens standard after the first 10 isn't up to par yet

I suggest a more radical idea - why not cap the tshirts given to men at top 30. It might encourage a stronger standard

Grellan said...

Well done on getting your own T shirt Paudie.