The Club competes in two Cross Country leagues and a variety of others races throughout the winter (October to March). These events are open to Senior and Junior athletes across all age groups.
The Oxfordshire Cross Country League
The Oxfordshire Cross Country League is Oxfordshire based and sponsored by Fit2Run, with 26 clubs competing. Each season the League organises five races at five different venues in Oxfordshire, with races normally scheduled on the first Sunday of the month, starting in November and ending in March. The league caters for all age groups from U10 to Veterans but is only open to member clubs – athletes cannot enter as individuals. One of the matches is normally hosted at Horspath with the course encompassing Shotover Park. Other venues have included Cornbury Park, Cotswold Farm Park, Henley Show Ground, Cirencester Park, Bicester Heritage and Newbury Showground.
Target distances are for male and females: U9 1200m, U11 1500m, U13 3000m, U15 4500m, U17 6000m and U20/Seniors/Veterans 7-9000m
The Chiltern Cross Country League
The Chiltern Cross Country League caters for athletic clubs in the north west Home Counties, specifically Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. 38 clubs compete within the league. Races are normally on the first or second Saturday of the month, starting in October and ending in February. The league comprises five races, run in five different locations. One of the matches is normally hosted at Horspath with the course encompassing Shotover Park. As the league has a larger catchment area, the other venues are further away than the Oxfordshire XC League’s venues. Recent venues have included Verulamium Park – St Albans, Campbell Park – Milton Keynes, Cassiobury Park – Watford and Stopsley Park – Luton.
Target distances are: Female U11 2000m, U13 2500-3000m, U15 4000m, U17&U20 4500-5000m and Senior Women 5500-6000m. Male U11 2000m, U13 2500-3000m, U15 4000m, U17 5500-6000m and U20 & Senior Men 8000-9000m
National Competitions, Schools and Relays
In addition to the leagues, there are many opportunities to compete in regional and national competitions, as well as schools’ competitions and cross country relay events.
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon (BBO) Championships has been running since 1910. It hosts one race, normally in December. The competition is entered individually but you run under club colours.
Oxfordshire Athletics normally run their County Championship in parallel with the January match of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League. Selection for the County team to race in the CAU Inter Counties Cross Country Championships goes to the top three finishers at this competition, with the remaining places based on other performances over the season.
England Schools’ Athletic Association run two events. The ESAA Cross Country Schools Cup is a team competition in the autumn term that is open to all schools, and entries are by school. This competition consists of three rounds: local, regional and national.
The ESAA Cross Country Championship is run in the spring term. There is a match in January that is used by Oxfordshire Schools’ Athletics Association for selection to the county team that will run in the national championship. Club athletes regularly compete in both National Finals.
The Teddy Hall Relays are held in March. It is for teams of four, with athletes running a 7km leg around the centre of Oxford with the start/end of each leg at the Iffley Road athletics track.