Handicap marks have been released for Doncaster’s new feature event, the Masters’ version of The Manningham Mile.

The Manningham Mile, which was formerly for open class athletes and run on Landy Trophy night, will in future be run as an age-graded Masters’ event, to be conducted at a separate meeting. Sponsored by Manningham YMCA, this year’s edition will be on the night of Monday, March 11.

All entrants will be required to run the full distance, from time handicap marks calculated from the internationally recognised Age-Graded Percentage Scale.

The marks make allowance for age and gender, meaning athletes of all ages and both genders will be able to compete ‘on a level playing field’.

While the initial handicaps have been calculated to allow for members of the W80 age-group to start on ‘Go’, it is more likely that on the night, a member of one of the younger age-groups will be the front-marker.

In the event of this happening, all other marks will be adjusted accordingly, being ‘moved forward’ with the gaps between them remaining the same.

The start will be strictly policed, with athletes being videoed with the time clock visible as they leave the starting line. Those who are seen to have ‘broken’ will be disqualified. The finish will also be videoed and Doncaster officials are confident these measures will eliminate any possibility of arguments over either the start or the finish.

The Manningham Mile will carry the same trophies it has during the eight years it has been run on Landy night. The winner will hold the perpetual trophy, valued at $1600, for 12 months and will receive a replica valued at $800 to keep.

Masters’ Manningham Mile – Age-graded handicaps

Marks have been calculated two years into each age-group, so as to reduce the usual advantage runners at the start of their age-groups have over  those who are close to the end of their age-groups. Thus, the W50 mark has been calculated for a woman of 52, while the M65 mark is actually the  correct mark for a man of 67, and so on. Members of VMA will have the opportunity to lodge pre-post entries or enter on the night.

The entry fee of $10 will include supper and will also entitle runners to contest other events on the supporting program if they want to. Further information is available from Richard Trembath on 0409 369944 or from any member of the Doncaster venue committee.