The new Cross country season is almost upon us and the dates of the Club fixtures are virtually all confirmed. We enter two Leagues as a Club and both will help athletes of any age from 10 upwards prepare better for the various Championship races (starting in December) or for school Championships (after Christmas). As always the Club is dependent upon parents and senior competing members to take on volunteer roles if we want to  continue to punch above our weight at these fixtures. Please contact any of the volunteer coaches or committee members if you want to offer to help. Team managers will be announced soon and detail will be on the Team News tab above.(photo by Paul from last year's County XC Championships)

The Gwent League sees 5 fixtures (1 per month, Oct to March) hosted by Clubs from South Wales to Bristol). This is the tougher/harder League of the two but has proved a good competitive League over the past 7 or 8 years for our Club. http://www.gwent-league.org.uk/

The Wessex League operates across Dorset/South Somersetand offers 4 fixtures before Christmas. This has less competitive fields but is a good introduction to XC. At either League we all compete in the Royal Blue vest of the Harriers.

http://www.teamdorsetathletics.btck.co.uk/competition/wessexleague-crosscountry

The Harrier tent will usually be at the Gwent League. The Harrier flag will be at the Wessex League. You can run in one or both Leagues, and if you can’t attend every fixture that is not a problem. The Team manager (or Simon/Neil see below) needs to know if you are running to make sure you have been entered before the race starts For the Wessex League please contact Neil Biss at least 2 weeks before the first match as you will need to complete a pro-forma available from him.

We also encourage our members to compete at the following Club Championships:

• The County Championships;
• The South West Championships;
• The Southern Championships;
• The National Championships

(Note: there are deadlines for pre-entering Championships – keep an eye on the Harrier website for those deadline - it is the athletes/their parents responsibility to clearly state their avilability as late entries are not usually possible).

There wil be Minibus, or arrangements for shared transport, to many fixtures. We are always lokoing for volunteers for driving the minibuses.

CROSS COUNTRY CALENDAR FOR 2015/16

(Key GW = Gwent; WX = Wessex; CH = Championship)

(CHECK THE LEAGUE WEBSITE before you go; check with contact if any doubts)

Oct      11^th     GW     Newbridge Fields, Bridgend

25th    WX      Canford Heat, Poole

Nov     1st       WX      Avon Heath, Dorset (near Ringwood on Hampshire border)

8^th        GW     Llandaff Fields, Cardiff

22^nd     WX      Yeovil

Dec     5^th        GW     Blaise Castle, Bristol

13^th     WX      Canford School, Canford Magna (inc DORSET CHAMPS)

13^th     CH      SOMERSET COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS, Uni of Bath.

20^th     CH      SOUTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS, Bicton Park, Devon

Jan     30^th     CH      SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS Parliament Hill, London

Feb     13^th     GW     (or 14^th) Abergavenny (TBC)

27^th     CH      ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS, Donington, Leicestershire

Mar     5^th        GW     Brecon Leisure Centre, Penlan

MAIN CLUB CONTACTS FOR CROSS COUNTRY:

Gwent XC League - Simon Prior            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Simon will usually be at the Gwent fixtures

Wessex XC League – Neil Biss   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neil will usually be at the Wessex fixtures

We will appoint a team manager or two per age group – we need volunteers for this role, especially at the Championship events. They will remind athletes of races coming up and help coordinate transport and meeting up at the venue. Please ask Paul if you want a Job Description for this role This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Harrier's continue to sponsor the local secondary schools cross Country League For school years 7,8 & 9. First fixture Tuesday Sept 22nd  At Millfield Prep school, Glastonbury. Schools have been invited but individuals can also compete if their school is unable to send a teacher with a team. Other School fixtures as confirmed wil be on the Schools website.

Senior Mendip Cross Country League-2015: Sponsored by Wells City Harriers Athletic Club

1st round-Tuesday 22nd September-MPS-4.15pm

2nd round-Tues 29th Sept-Millfield-4.15pm

3rd round-Tuesday Tues 13th Oct-MPS-4.15pm

The competition is for year 7,8 and 9 boys and girls. Boys and girls will run together.

In the team event it is the first 3 to count.If there is a tie on points, the team with the best third finisher will count.

To count for the medals runners need to complete 3 events. Schools need to finish in 3 events to count for the team competition. 

Adam Duke will be organising the MPS events and Jason Allen the Millfield event