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Hastings Half Marathon
Published: January 4, 2007
One of the remits of this site is to look at web design, technology, development, usability and accessibility. I also cover making websites work in the form of a holistic business marketing approach. This article relates primarily not to these elements of a website but to the message contained within.
Our highly regarded Hastings Half Marathon, sponsored by the Hastings Borough Council, actually and publicly discriminates against women and I cannot think of one single justification for this. I'd love to hear one.
After receiving a text about the prize list for the Hastings Half Marathon and showing it around to various people I have had mixed responses about this. Go see for yourself by visiting www.hastings-half.co.uk/prizelist.html.
Running a marathon is running a marathon and anyone that competes, let alone completes it deserves a medal. However, the above link offer two instances of discrimination as far as I can see.
- The prizes for winning are £2000 if you're a man and £1000 if you're a woman.
- Prizes are given to men up to position 20 and only up to position 10 for women.
Bear in mind the following is not reflective of the thoughts of myself.
Some of the responses I have heard regarding this, from both men and women, are:
- They are two seperate categories so there should be two seperate prize lists.
- The men always run faster so should get more money.
- People only go to see the men race anyway.
- Far more men run the marathon than women and the prizes reflect that.
- Tough.
I know a lot of sports and even businesses discriminate in this day of equal opportunities but as you can see, when putting people on the spot to explain the difference in prizes, it's extremely hard for anyone to come up with something that sounds justifiable.
Can you?
Useful?
Assistance?
Comments
Penny says:
Taylor says:
You Brits must be prehistoric. That won't happen in the US. Check out the money for the San Jose marathon at http://www.rnrsj.com/press/postrace_2006.html
You guys shouldn't enter the race that would teach them.
Penny says:
Anyone else notice that the application fee is the same for everyone? Perhaps men should get a discount or race for free ,might as well.
Phil says:
I'm embarrassed to say I'm originally from Hastings - had you thought of writing to the Hastings Observer, the local paper?
Phil says:
Thanks Ed. I work in PR, so happy to take a look at the letter, or even give the editor a call (I'm pretty sure a brother of a friend works on the sports desk actually).
Thanks for the comments about my sites (although wish I could get the damn comments to work, but I am a newbie to such things).
Dave Rodwell says:
Penny stated that the entry fee is the same for everyone - NOT TRUE.
The potential prize winners i.e 'The Elite Athletes' are invited to attend, thus they do not pay a fee. It is also feasible that they are paid attendance money, therefore they potentially gain financially both ways. Just as likely is the factor of travelling and accommodation fees being found for them.
Therefore the ones who pay may be those who have no chance of being on the podium.
This is the way it is at all major road races and Hastings is in the top bracket of these.
Dave Rodwell says:
Taylor refers to the prize money at the San Jose event, there is a big difference between the two events so we are not comparing eggs with eggs.
The San Jose Marathon is part of a major series and, as such pulls in big sponsors with big money. The Hastings Half-marathon, albeit one of the top events for quality in the UK is still a local event for the most part. Sure Eric pulls in some international athletes, but primarily we are still sponsored by and, support the local community.
I have worked on many big events in the UK including London Marathon for Dave Bedford and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester so I have some knowledge in these things. In summary then, Hastings Half-marathon is a very popular event in the UK and provides a lot of money annually to good causes. There is a place in the sport for both events, both delivering different things to the community, assuming that is, that San Jose puts money back into the grass roots.
What prizes do you get if you are disabled? or hindu? or gay? Where does it end?
What gets me is that the councils prattle on about equal opportunities but take them away when they feel like it.
It wont change though. Who runs the marathon? is it the council?