Cross Country Update 2022/23

11 October 2022 - By Ben O'leary

Click here for my intro to XC post explanation of the different types of events.

I have copied the full set of race dates at the bottom of this page for handy reference. You may notice that it’s all about to get a lot more real, with the first NESS event less that 4 weeks away. For those wanting to hit the ground running check out the details for the first Essex League event happening THIS SATURDAY.

NESS fixture #1 – Great Bentley’s “Hilly Fields”

Don’t let the name put you off, unless you really hate hills and fields, but even so there’s plenty to like about this event.

We’ll share the details once they’re passed along by the hosts but for now, make sure you have the date in your diary!

Between now and then you can expect:

  1. CAKE – get planning your bakes. Your Social Sec will be looking to gather a list of willing bakers to contribute to the rota, you don’t have to be a great baker, you’d be surprised how anything tastes great after a muddy XC race.
  2. INTRA-CLUB COMPETITION – we’ll be taking sign-ups for involvement in this competition. You’ll score points for your team based on your final position at each event. The teams will be hopefully balanced (we’ll get your current 5-mile pace off you at sign-up) so a few places up or down could be all your team needs to charge to victory.
  3. XC-FAMILIARISATION – DJ and the coaching team are organising a series of XC familiarisation events between now and the first NESS race. These will give you the opportunity to run on some local uneven terrain and try out your new spikes (optional) so see how they feel. More importantly there will be an opportunity to familiarise yourself with cake…

XC-Familiarisation

Details are HERE so I won’t repeat them too much but make sure you keep these dates free:

  • Saturday 15 October – extra info HERE
  • Sunday 23 October
  • Sunday 30 October

Essex League #1 – Thurrock Harriers AC

The Harriers event will take place this Saturday at Langdon Hills Country Park, One-Tree-Hill, SS17 9NH.

  • 12:00 Under 17 Men and Senior/Veteran Women 6k
  • 12:45 Senior/Veteran Men (including U20 Men) 8.2k

We probably won’t be circulating the details for all of these. To keep up on details for the rest of the Essex League season, connect with their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235239086671265.

Eastern Counties XC Champs

Please note also the following from someone on the Facebook:

We have decided this year to send Essex XC Teams to the Eastern Counties XC Champs, to be held on the 19th November 2022 at Southill Park in Biggleswade. This is for:
      • U20 Men, U20 Women, Senior Men & Senior Women only.
      • 4 to run in each team (with 3 to score).
Selections for this race will take place from the 1st Essex League at Thurrock on the 15th October 2022 (entries must close by the 28th Oct 2022).
Allison Gillan will very kindly be acting as Essex Team XC Manager for this fixture, as both Phil Oatham and myself are not available. If you are unable to be at the trial event, please contact the team manager for consideration.
If you like your chances (there are a few of us who have done very well at some of these events) then make sure you get down this weekend and see what you can do.

Calendar

24 September – Essex Champs – Relays

15 October – Essex League – One Tree Hill (Thurrock Harriers)

6 November – NESS XC – Great Bentley

12 November – Essex League – Epping Forest, Chingford (Orion Harriers)

26 November – Essex League – Writtle University College (Chelmsford AC)

27 November – NESS XC – Halstead

3 December – Essex Champs – Vets

18 December – Essex League – Apex Playing Fields (Southend AC)

7 January – Essex Champs

15 January – NESS XC – Springfield

29 January – NESS XC – Harwich

11 February – Essex League – Hainault Forest (Ilford AC)

19 February – NESS XC – Hadleigh

12 March – NESS XC – Witham (TBC)

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