Some of you who are new to the club, or have not tried cross country before, may be unfamiliar with the cross country season, so here’s a guide to what to expect:
What cross country fixtures are there?
There are four Surrey League fixtures, two South of the Thames fixtures (Junior and Senior – note that the junior race isn’t for junior runners, it’s just the shorter of the two races), Kent County, Southern Championships and National Championships, plus Masters races at county, regional and national level, and relays. It’s quite possible to run 10 cross country races in a season.
In most races men and women run separately. The exceptions are the South of the Thames races, in which men and women run together.
There are also junior races at most fixtures.
Note that Kent are in the First Division of the Surrey League, so the competition standard is high, particularly in the men’s races, which can be daunting. Don’t be discouraged by that, there are plenty of races with a broad ability level, including the South of the Thames races, Kent County, Kent Vets (Masters) and the Southerns.
What distance are they?
Most races are 8k/5 miles. The exceptions are the South of the Thames Senior (12k), Kent County (12k), Southerns (15k) and Nationals (12k)
Where are they held?
The Surrey League fixtures are in parks mostly in South London, the furthest locations are Guildford and Oxted. The South of the Thames fixtures are in similar locations, but there is currently some doubt over venues for both of them this season. The Southerns are in Beckenham Place Park, and the Nationals, which rotate each year, are in Newark in 2027.
Will they cost me anything?
Entry fees for almost all xc races are covered by the club. The exceptions are the Southern Championships in January and the National Championships in February, which are more expensive than other races (£14-15) For those we require a £5 payment to secure your place, and also to deter uncommitted placeholder entries that cost the club.
Can I reclaim travel costs?
Most races are close enough that they would not be eligible for travel reclaim. Some such as the Nationals and more distant regional races may qualify. The club’s policy is that, except in specific circumstances, travel will not be recoverable unless travelling in a group by the cheapest reasonable method.
Do I need spikes?
For some of the earlier races, when the ground is firm and dependent upon the terrain, it may be that trail shoes or flats are suitable. For most races in the season, spikes are strongly encouraged, running without them on slippery ground can be perilous. Generally, the chat before the race will guide as to whether spikes are necessary.
Notification will come round soon for the first cross country, at Wimbledon on 10 October.
We have a proud recent history of success in cross countries, and also of sending large teams to races. We encourage everybody to try it out!
Owen Hind adds
‘As ever it’s the Surrey Cross Country League that’s the cornerstone of the season where numbers count most. We encourage everyone in the club to run at least one of the four matches (ideally more!) For the men each match requires ten scorers and for the women it’s seven runners. As the club continues to grow in strength and depth, we need your help in making the organisation of entering teams and travel as smooth as possible. Bear in mind: we can’t enter anyone who is not a club member or registered with EA, so make sure your club competition membership is up to date. The sign up spreadsheet can be found here’