NESS XC – race 1 – 25 October 2026 – Halstead

13 October 2026 - By Jodee Mayer

Cross Country information post here – https://www.withamrc.org.uk/club-news/cross-country-2026-27-information-post/

The NESS Cross Country season kicks off on Sunday 25 October at Gosfield School, hosted by Halstead Road Runners.

In my mind, XC means cake so if you can bake / bring some cake for your fellow runners please let me know so I can keep track. My ankle isn’t up for running trail currently let alone XC so I will score but if there’s anyone that wants to help or take photos do also let me know.

Please note there is a new course this year which has a concrete track in the woods and a short (about 10metres) stretch on road. Bear this in mind with your shoe choice – Halstead recommend trail shoes over spikes.

Please also note that you must not walk/run across the school fields or grassy areas etc to save time or for warm ups. Guidance on warm up location below.

Information below from Halstead and let me know if you have any queries and I will ask. Look forward to seeing you all there!

Date: Sunday 25th October 2026

At: Gosfield School, Cut Hedge Park, Halstead Road, Gosfield, CO9 1PF

Senior Race – 10.45am

The course is approximately 5 miles.

The course starts/finishes on school fields but is mainly run on footpaths in the woods & on private fields, so as with all cross country please be aware of tree roots & other usual obstacles and listen to the marshals.

There are sections of the course in the woods run on broken concrete track and there is approximately a 10m section run on country lane linking the woods/fields together so trail shoes would be recommended over spikes.

Please note that the woods are still open to the public during the race and we do not have any priorities so there might be dog walkers & families about so listen carefully to the marshals and give space to any members of the public you may see.

CAR PARKING

On arrival please follow the marshals instructions to the car park.

This year we are using parking spaces nearer the cricket pavilion first before using the main bay marked car park to maximise all available parking areas.

This first car park will be a 5 min walk to the start/finish area along the main access road.

DO NOT walk across the school fields/grass areas to save time as this will affect our ability to use this location in the future.

Please follow all instructions from marshals to help us avoid any issues.

Car sharing where possible will also help with maximising space.

TOILETS

There will be 3 portable toilets available for use near the start/finish area.

Other toilets will be available for use in the main sports hall, just a short walk away from the main car park.

There are also changing rooms in the sports hall in the event of bad weather but the showers MUST NOT be used.

Ideally though please come race ready or change at the car/field.

RACE INFO

On arrival at site please follow marshals instructions to the car park, to get to the new start/finish area DO NOT walk across any school fields, instead go back on to the school road, go past the main school building & sports hall etc as if you are leaving the site & the start/finish area is down there on the left.

Marshals will be in position to guide you.

There are sheep grazing in a pen by the start/finish area DO NOT pet or feed these animals.

Warm up/cool downs for the race will have to be done on the access road on site or in the woods.
DO NOT enter main school fields as these are strictly out of bounds. Staff members are on site & anyone caught running in these areas could result in us not being able to use the site going forward.

The start area only gives us about a 200m run before the runners enter the woods so please try to place yourself on the start line in some sort of order, fastest nearer the front etc so to help try and limit any potential bottleneck as you enter the woods.

OTHER INFO

There will be no food or drinks available at this event so please bring whatever refreshments you & your team require & take all your rubbish home with you.

Please remember that these events are put on & marshalled by runners like yourselves who have given up their own time so this can go ahead so be kind & give them a little smile & a thank you. It goes a long way!!

We look forward to seeing you all on the 25th.

Halstead Road Runners