NESS XC – R6 – Harwich at Wix – 22 February 2026

16 February 2026 - By Jodee Mayer

PLEASE READ AND ACTION RE CAR SHARING

With about 100 car parking spaces for runners/supporters (Harwich need some of the mentioned spaces below for their volunteers) and 11 teams in the league, there are less than 10 car parking spaces at the event per club. As we usually have 30-40 runners and supporters, car sharing is going to be imperative, vital, insert other suitable word here.

Karen and I have therefore mooted a few possibilities in order to ensure that all of our club members make it to Wix on Sunday and the proposed plan is thus:

Please comment below/on Facebook/message Jodee if you intend to run on Sunday and when doing so:

Please confirm if you are a driver and already have 2/3/4 passengers (with their names please) booked into your car (this is the far easiest thing for me….) OR
Please confirm if you are a driver but do not have at least 2 passengers, whether or not you are happy to be a passenger – and where you live/will be coming from OR
Please confirm if you need a lift and where you live/will be coming from (including if you are a passenger already booked into a car)

I will then aim to sort everyone into cars on Friday evening (I have a fun life) so you have Saturday to coordinate pick ups etc.

Whilst we usually do not need anyone to sign up to run NESS, on this occassion we are going to have to ask you to do so in advance say by 6.30pm on Friday and if you do not do the above we will assume you will not be attending and not allocate you a space in any of the cars we will have going to the venue.

Final note from me – please note the instructions re the parking below (i.e., that there are only 30 senior parking spaces on site until the junior runners have left) and plan your journey accordingly – including allowing enough time to run/walk from your car parking if not on site.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

Instructions from Harwich

Harwich Runners are pleased to be hosting the final 2025/2026 fixture of the NESS Cross Country League on Sunday 22^nd February 2026.

Please be aware the start location has moved along the road from previous years. The majority of parking has moved too.

Location	Dengewell Hall, Clacton Road, Manningtree CO11 2RU. Race HQ will be in the Finish field behind Dengewell Hall. Team rendezvous/Gazebos will be in this field too.
Special notes	Due to the nature of the venue as working farmland there are a few important considerations. Please observe these rules and respect this private facility, thank you. · STRICTLY NO DOGS on any part of the venue. · NO ACCESS before race day. It will not be possible for any pre-race recces. · NO RUBBISH to be discarded. Please take rubbish home with you or use bins provided. · CAR SHARE – We are limited to approximately 140 off-road car spaces as it stands. · HEAVY, SOFT and WET under foot on arable farmland and long grass. About 1km total of roughly gravelled track. Spikes are suitable. · WELLY BOOTS are highly recommended for the walk to Race Start.
Parking	Please follow the marshals’ directions on arrival at Wix. An additional page of parking details follows the Route Maps. The Car parks closes at 13:00 prompt. Do not wander off and risk getting locked in. 😊
Toilets and Amenities	Chemical toilets will be available in the carpark. There are no changing or shower facilities available. Runners are advised to leave non-essentials in their cars.
The Races	Junior fun run will start at 10:00 and will be 1 mile in distance. Senior race will start at 10:45 and has is 5 miles/8km. Both races will be entirely on private land except for a couple of short stretches in the senior race which traverses public rights of way. Please be respectful to ramblers on these parts of the course.
Refreshments	There will be no refreshments provided on the day.

Senior Route

The course is a flat one lap route across predominantly rugged terrain. There is some variety including ditch jumps, wooden footbridges and woodland trail. Expect challenging and knobbly ground around many of the ploughed field edges due to the exceptionally wet weather of the last few weeks. There are a few faster easy-going stretches but for a lot of the course passing opportunities are limited.

Please pay close attention to course markers and marshals for direction and no cutting corners.

Car Parking

*Clacton/Wix Road should not be used for parking. It is a 60mph zone and not wide enough to allow unimpeded two-way traffic flow if parking here.*

For parking in the areas C and D, the directions to Start are shown in red above. The walk is between 1.5 and 2km.
The recommended safe walking route is via the Wix Village Hall, entrance shown here. à
///diner.shrub.stumbleWalk through Village Hall car park, cross the playing field to far side and walk through gap in hedge.You will then join footpath as marked in map above. It is on Farmland so Wellies are best!You could walk up Clacton Road but there is a short stretch of this main road with no pavement so it is not recommended. If you do go this way turn left at footpath sign.///dumpy.inflation.records(Note, no parking available at Wix Village Hall. Venue hired to another party.)

A – Parking at Dengewell Hall – Approx 70 spaces. For Juniors and those with Gazebos to move. This is on the same side of the main Wix/Clacton Road as the event itself. Emergency Access required at all times. ///woes.prove.crispier Old photo – this entrance is now gated! Latecomers – there may be spaces after the Juniors race has finished and some have departed, but don’t count on it!.
B – Parking opposite Dengewell Hall – Approx 30 spaces. For visiting Senior runners. This is a farm track. Consider that parking is likely to be first in, last out on Exit, due to width restrictions.///birdcage.relay.faminesOld photo – this entrance is now gated!
C – Wix & Wrabness Pre-School – Approx 25-30 spaces. For visiting Senior runners. Concrete car park.
D – Wix Village. There is some street parking available here. Please park with consideration for the locals.