GLOUCESTERSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE 2023-4

The league is a series of four fixtures with medals for the season's top three in all age groups presented at the last fixture. (Score is based upon lowest three positions out of four races and running totals are published after each round).  Additional prizes are given for teams of six senior men, four masters men and teams of three in all other categories which are determined over all four races. Your age group will be based upon the date of birth declared on the form. The rules for age groups are available to view on the Athletics4u website under the Cross Country tab. Additionally MV65+ runners may opt to run in the shorter distance Senior Female race or run as M60+ in the longer male race.

Round two at Bath offers parking using JustPark  app £3 (at the current time), the location is 187814 and this can be booked on the day in advance of arrival. Toilets and refreshments will be offered and this is a grassland course on NT land rising steadily from south east  to north west, suitable for spikes or trail shoes. 

This year the fixture is being combined with the Gloucestershire County Championship and those of Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire. Separate championship medals will be awarded on the day by each county for each age group and gender. This will need time to administer and so we expect the medal awards to take place approximately 30 minutes after the race. (More information later) Refer to the Athletics4u website for championship eligibility requirements. You must declare a county qualification for one of the four counties in order to enter. (Runners from other counties such as our friends from Malvern and Droitwich will still count in the league but not in a county championship if they are not qualified, they can leave the qualification box blank).

As there may be slightly larger than usual fields we plan to revert to separate boys and girls races for some of the more popular age groups, keep an eye on the final details on Athletics4u.

Programme (Subject to change when entry levels are assessed):

11.00 – U13 Girls (2.8km 1 long lap) 
11.20 – U13 Boys (2.8km 1 long lap) 
11.40 – U11 Girls (1.9km 1 short lap) 
11.55 – U11 Boys (1.9km 1 short lap) 
12.10 – U15 Girls and U15 Boys (3.8km 2 short laps) 
12.40– U17 Women and U17 Men (5.7km – 3 short laps) 
13.10 – Senior & Masters Women, U20 Women, MV65+ (6.6km – 2 short and 1 
long lap) 
14.10 – Senior & Masters Men, U20 Men (10.3km – 1 short and 3 long laps) 

The league races are open to individual runners and teams  from outside Gloucestershire AAA . Where a runner is not qualifying for one of the county championships, the final choice for championship qualification is "none". In young athlete races, where boys and girls do run together, separate finish lists are published and medals are awarded for each gender group. 

In order for runners to be informed of who they are competing with in the county championship each runner will additionally have a back letter for their respective county, remember extra pins!!.

Note that this is the selection race for theGloucestershire AAA Inter-counties Cross Country Championship teams. 
The committee decided that the first 6 in each age group including seniors will have automatic selection. This leaves a few places for the selectors to fill after the league race in January.  Any athlete who wishes to be selected but has a good reason for not racing in either or both of the  December or January League races should message, by January 6th 2024, using the form on Atthletics4u. 

From the CAU " Each County/District is invited to enter up to 12 athletes per event with 8 to run and 4 only to score for team awards, with the exception of the Senior Men and Senior Women’s races, which shall be 15 to enter, with 9 to run and 6 to score for the team."

Price:  £5 for all u11 and affiliated young runners up to and including u20, £7 for unaffiliated young runners up to and including u20, £10 for affiliated senior runners and £12 for unaffiliated senior runnners. 
The race is run under UK Athletics Rules and is an England Athletics permit event.

Entries

There is no additional fee for entering online. Please note that entry fees are non-returnable. There will be no on the day entry , entries close at midnight on December 5th. Please do not try to enter after the cut off, you will be refused!

Registration

Individual running numbers will be distributed at the event. Race Numbers are not exchangeable and no-one will be allowed to run without one. Please check that your club is correct at the time you enter when collecting your number and on the published list on the Athletics4u website.

• Numbers MUST be worn on the front of your vest and be visible with the county identifier on the back.
• Club colours must be worn if you wish to be counted in the team competition. (If you are not in club colours, but with valid reason, you must seek permission from the match referee before the start. )
• Marshals' instructions MUST be obeyed at all times.
  Timekeepers are busy. DO NOT attempt to interrupt them while they are working.
•  Results will be published on the internet on the Athletics4u website as soon as possible as well as being displayed at the event if practical.