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History & Acknowledgements

Alan Jones scored his first running meet by computer in 1970 and, in 1982, wrote a race-scoring program in BASIC for the original IBM PC. He later rewrote it in C for DOS as RunScore.

In 2000 he rebuilt RunScore as a Windows program. In 2007 he split it into the client/server design it still uses today: RSServer does the work, while RSClient is a thin client for the keyboard and screen. Race Roster acquired RunScore in March 2019 and continues to develop it.

RunScore grew over more than thirty years with help from many people.

RunScore 9​

Since 2024, RunScore ships fewer public releases — two or three a year — with a beta build every one or two weeks. The Beta-Timers group runs those betas on live races, and their testing, reports, and feedback play a key role in the quality of each release.

Thanks to:

  • Adam and Jake (Start2Finish)
  • Bill Teschek (Granite State Race Services)
  • Brad Pickle (Pickle Events)
  • Mike and Connor (Millennium Running)
  • Josh (ARE Event Productions)
  • Steve (Best Times CCT)
  • Art (Chiptime Results)
  • Sid (ChampionChip of the Rockies)
  • Andy (Lakeshore Athletic Services)
  • Matt Schreiber (Advanced Sports Timing)
  • Ricky Campbell (AP Timing)

...and to all RunScore users who have shared their ideas over the years.

Earlier contributors​

Steven Keith ("Kei") was a core part of RunScore support for years — finding bugs, making the Windows version feel more native, and testing the client/server package at every step.

RunScore for DOS​

In 1985, Stephen R. Nichols wrote the full-screen system that DOS RunScore used for all its screens, and its design carried over into the Windows version.

Many improvements came from users, including:

  • Steven Keith
  • Alan Avery
  • Craig Brooks
  • Mike Proctor
  • Joe McDaniel
  • Don Munro
  • Bob Teschek
  • Neil MacDonald
  • Michael Peyton
  • Dave Wise
  • Felix Cichocki
  • Ivan Hnatuik
  • John Dennison
  • Jim Borgstrom
  • Bill Glauz
  • Norm Harris
  • Charlie George
  • Mark Toretsky
  • Benji Durden
  • Bob Luchinger
  • Ken Klein
  • Cliff Bruce
  • Malcolm Gillis

The manual for the DOS version was dedicated to Alan's mother, Julia Hunn Jones, who copy-edited an early draft a month before she died on July 22, 1985.

RunScore for Windows​

Mark Toretsky had a knack for finding bugs within hours of a new release. Mike Ducy and Jim Schauder also reported bugs and made suggestions. David Fox built and maintained the RunScore website.

Client/server​

John Snitko was skilled at finding bugs, and Jon Krupa suggested improvements to security. Mike Proctor, Jim Oaks, Sylvan Smyth, and Marc Roy also helped.