“Oh, there’s a severe thunderstorm coming, let’s not run today” said no cross country runner ever.
Below are the dates and information regarding the XC season for 2017. The club did very well in the ANI league last year, and hope to repeat this success this year.
The aim is to have at least 16 male and 16 females at each XC event to score maximum points. As someone once said, “Points mean prizes” and “the more, the merrier”. A club night out spending any winnings at the end of XC season is welcomed after all the hard work!
The club tent will be brought to each event to offer some shelter from the elements, as well as warming drinks for afterwards. Baking skills are put to the test with a variety of homemade treats, to recoup any calories lost! Car-pooling from the Sportsplex is normally arranged to save on petrol costs, and to have some fun on the journey! Also, it means up to 4 people get to sleep on the way home.
Of course, there’s always the discussions on what to wear, and really, for XC, anything goes, well, almost anything. Spikes* are recommended for your feet, along with socks. The brighter, the better, so someone said. Avoid white, unless you’ve got a really fab washing machine. Club vest is a must! The yellow and blue vests stand out brightly against the mud and grass, check out the fashion below for some ideas! Finally, don’t forget warm dry clothes for afterwards!
*Specialist Cross Country running shoes, available in all good sports shops, 9mm or 12mm. Don’t get confused with track spikes. Clean after use, otherwise you’ll have ground-in hard mud that’s a nightmare to get off. Better still, get someone else to clean them.
Cross country training sessions will be held on the following dates, meeting at the lower carpark at the side of the Town Hall in Bangor at 11am.
Saturday 21st October
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14th October: Comber Cup, Billy Neill Playing Fields, Comber Road, Dundonald
Enter on the day from 11.00am: £8 adult, £3 junior, free P6 & P7
6km: women & M60+ @1.30pm
8km: men up to M60 @2.15pm
Prior to the senior races, junior races take place for P6 & P7 (1km), U 13 & U15 (3km) and U18 (4km)
Click here for more information
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28th October: Bobby Rea Memorial races, Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor
Online entry: £6 Click here to enter online
Enter on the day £10
5k: U20, senior and master women, M60 @ 2.45pm
8kk: U20, senior and masters men @ 3.10pm
Prior to these races, age group Championships will take place. Click here for more info
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4th November: 83rd McConnell Shield, Six Mile River Park, Ballyclare
Enter on the day £7 adult, £2 junior
3 miles: women and M60+ @1.30pm
5 miles: men up to M60 @ 2.00pm
Prior to the senior races, junior races take place for U14 (1 mile) and U16 (2 miles)
Registration and changing is available at Six Mile Leisure Centre.
Click here for more information
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2nd December: Malcolm Cup, Sixmilewater Park, Ballyclare
Enter on the day £5 adult, £2 junior, £1 U11. O65+ free
3 miles: women and vet males @1.15pm
4 miles: men @ 3.00pm
Races are available forU11(0.5 mile), U13 (1 mile), U15 (2 miles) & U17 (2 miles girls, 3 miles boys)
Registration and changing is available at Six Mile Leisure Centre.
Click here for more information
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9th December: Mighty Oaks XC, Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown
Enter on the day
3 miles: women & M60+ @ 2.00pm
4 miles: men up to M60 @ 2.45pm
Prior to the senior races, junior races take place for U11 (800m), U13 (1 mile) U15 (2 miles) U17 (3 miles)
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16th December: North West XC, Gransha Park, Derry
11 30am U12 and Primary Schools 1600 metres
11 40am U14
11 55am U16
Boys and Girls all run together in above races , £1 50 entry fee
12 30pm Open Race……Male and Female 6K, start together.
Entry fee £7. Top 3 M&F Open Ind prizes, Winners M&F in usual age groups from U20 to 75+ and Team race winners Male-6 to score and Female -4 to score.
All entries taken on the day at race HQ in the U3A Foyle building in Gransha grounds.
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6th January: International XC, Greenmount Campus, Antrim
More info to follow
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3rd February: Stormont XC
More info to follow
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28th January: NI & Ulster Intermediate & Masters XC Championships,
More info to follow. Not part of ANI League
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10th February: North Down AC XC Relays, Bangor
More info to follow. Not part of ANI League
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24th February: NI & Ulster Senior XC Championships
More info to follow
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