Cross Country 2025/26 – Information post

16 August 2025 - By Jodee Mayer

This post has background information about Cross Country (XC) with details of each event and the dates we have available. Separate posts  and Facebook events will follow.  

What is XC?

XC was described by previous captains as being “like trail running, often without the trails” and we can’t think of a more apt description.

Events are hosted by local clubs and take place every couple of weeks from September through to March.

The courses tend to be quite varied, with different gradients and different terrains, and each course has its own character. Course setters will normally aim to make you run through AS MUCH MUD AS POSSIBLE, and sometimes a water feature – excellent fun!

Whilst road shoes are unlikely to be suitable for most of the XC fixtures, you can run in trail shoes. Many members opt for XC spikes, which are often cheaper than trail shoes and you can often pick up second hand pairs on Facebook groups, eBay, etc. There’s very little (to no) technology in spikes, so get a pair you like the look of (including once they are covered in mud) – if you’re brave, there’s even white ones available… Any queries, pop a question below or in the Facebook group and, whilst Jodee’s advice will be “buy the pink ones”, some other more sensible members will have some information for you!

All race fees (for all of the below XC events) are covered by the club.

Please note that you need to be a member before running an event in order to take place – we had a couple of issues last year so if you plan to run XC please do sign up as a member before hand – any queries, do speak to James Attenborough.

NESS league

As a club we really get behind the NESS (North Essex and South Suffolk) Sunday fixtures. We tend to have a really good showing from WRC, and thanks to some volunteer bakers each week, there’s usually an abundance of cake!   (Bring your own hot and/or cold drink to most fixtures – some sell tea and coffee).

Courses are all around 5 miles and all runners set off together for a mass-start.

The only requirement to run is that you are a member and that you run in club colours  – i.e., a black and gold team top. Please speak to Ian Lucas or order one through the website if you don’t have one. There is no requirement to sign up in advance for NESS fixtures.

Fixtures

A separate post will follow for each of the NESS XC fixtures:

• 26 October – Ipswich Jaffa at Ipswich High School, Woolverstone
• 16 November – Springfield Striders at Nuclear Races site
• 30 November – Gt Bentley at Hilly Fields, Colchester
• 25 January – BDAC – FIXTURE TBC
• 15 February – Harwich at Wix Equestrian Centre
• 22 February – Halstead at Gosfield School

Please note that there is, as it stands, a clash with the Saturday League on the weekend of 25/26 October.

Official scoring

The races are not about racing the clock, they’re about running to the terrain, to what your body tells you and to the runners around you.

Scoring for these events is by finishing place only and not on time. This means keep your elbows out on the narrow paths, and push hard when approaching a choke point so you don’t get stuck in a queue!

Each club’s top performers (8 for men and 4 for ladies) get the points for their finishing positions (1 for 1st, 2 for 2nd etc). You don’t have to make it into the WRC scoring group to damage the scores of runners in other clubs. Time to get tactical.

Trophies

In 2022/23 Heydon Mizon won the mens NESS Trophy and in 2023/24 and 2024/25 Will Radley brought the same trophy back to Witham.

To be in with a chance of winning the trophies, you have to attend all of the NESS features and the winners are the runners with the lowest scores overall. Coincidentally, these are the same rules as for the WRC XC trophies….

I noted, in particular, that the top 10 women from last season were not in those that were scoring for their teams – it really could be a matter of just turning up every time!

What are the other (non-NESS) XC races?

Essex Cross Country League

Will will again be leading the black and gold to the Essex League (otherwise known as the “Saturday League”) fixtures – sign up is required in advance, and further information and the sign up sheet will follow.

The dates are as follows:

Essex champs

Similar to the road based Essex Champs, but XC…! The dates are as follows:

• 11 October 2024 – XC Relays at Hylands Park
• 13 December 2024 – Vets Champs (40+) at Epping Forest
• 3 January 2025 – Senior Champs (all age groups) at Gloucester Park, Basildon

Again, further information will follow and you have to sign up in advance for these races so sign up forms will be posted and the Captains will enter any runners wishing to run in these races. 

SUMMARY

XC is for all, and we look forward to seeing as many black and gold vests on the fields across Essex!

Any queries, just ask!

Will and Jodee