Inter Area Cross Country Challenge
Taking place in Croydon’s Lloyd Park on March 4th, this event is open to all paid-up members of BMAF area clubs.
You enter as an individual but it is a team competition based on age-graded scoring for the first 6 men and first 6 women from your area club to finish. The winning team holds the trophy for the forthcoming year and there are prize certificates to all members of the winning Area Club team, plus prizes for best men’s and women’s age graded score.
The course is 2 laps totalling 5 miles, over varying terrain including some hills.
Entries close March 2nd.
British Masters Cross Country Championships
These championships are due to take place in Wallsend on March 18th, open to all UKA-registered athletes.
Besides the chance to win an individual five-year age-group medal, you can win team medals if you get fellow cross country runners from your first claim club to make up a team of 3 in your 10-year age-group. Down-aging to make up a team is allowed.
The course is on grassland around the Rising Sun hill. 2 laps (5.8 km) for all women and M65+ and 3 laps (8.6 km) for M35-M60.
Entries close March 10th.
England Masters Cross Country Team Selection Race
This race, due to take place on October 14th in Derby, is open to all paid-up members of the BMAF area clubs in England.
The first three athletes from each five-year age category in Race 1 and in categories M55 and M60 in Race 2 are guaranteed selection. Similarly the first four athletes in the other five-year age categories M35 up to M50 in Race 2 are guaranteed selection,
The course for Race 1 is 6 km, for all women and men 65+, and Race 2 is 9.8 km, M35 to M60.
Anyone not able to attend can apply for remaining places in the team based on their performances during the year. Competing in either or both of the events listed above is likely to be a great help to selectors.
Note: EMAA are looking for new team managers for the men’s and women’s teams. A role summary is given here
The other countries will also be holding their selection races around the same time.
British Masters Cross Country Relays
On October 28th in Long Eaton, this event is open to all UKA registered athletes in teams of varying size.
Teams are 3 men or women (4 for M55-64 or 5 for M35-44/M45-54), competing for their first claim club. Medals are for the first three teams in each age group and to the fastest leg winners in each age group. The course is generally flat and good for both runners and spectators.
British & Irish Masters Cross Country International
A very special weekend of teams of 80 men/women from each of the home countries and Ireland competing for individual and team age group medals — the friendly rivalry that has existed for the last 33 years will be resumed in Glasgow. Races will be on November 11th.
There will be two races of 6 km, one for those over 65, and one for W35-64, followed by two races of 8 km for M50-64 and M35-49. Finally, there will be an open race over the same distances.
In the evening, there will be a banquet to accompany the presentation of medals.
Full details and entry links available on the BMAF website.
We hope to see many of you at these events!
Contact BMAF officers here.