FOUNDED 2001


Wednesday 25 September 2019

A&T 2019-2020 Cross Country Championship

Here it is, the A&T 2019-2020 Cross Country Championship race line up.

I've decided to reduce the number of races this season and the minimum number to qualify for prizes 🏆. I have also removed the races that are just a bit too far to travel to. eg: 3 hour round trip to Ulverston for a 5k/10k is just a bit too much IMO. (Although if you want to use them as training runs your race bibs are valid for them - just let me know if you decide to go).

So feast your eyes on this. I hope you like the line up. I have pre-registered those of you who have contacted me. If you didn't tell me - don't worry it's not too late to enter just let me know asap and I can sort something out for you with the organisers.
 
I will post up a Facebook event for each race so you know what to do and where to go.
Excited and looking forward to our first race at Leigh. If you're not racing it's always great to see supporters out on the course here too. 💙

I'd be grateful if you could spread the word to any members not on Facebook or who don't see the blog updated.

As always please contact me if you want to discuss anything. Happy to help if I can. 

1.       Races (all Saturdays)


Date
League
Venue
12/10/2019
Red Rose
Leigh – Leigh Sports Village
19/10/2019
South East Lancs
Manchester – Heaton Park
26/10/2019
Red Rose
Bolton – Leverhulme Park
09/11/2019
Red Rose
Todmorden – Centre Vale
23/11/2019
Mid Lancs/British Athletics
Liverpool – Sefton Park
30/11/2019
Red Rose
Rossendale – Marl Pitts
11/01/2020
Mid Lancs
Burnley – Towneley Park
18/01/2020
South East Lancs
Oldham – Tandle Hill
15/02/2020
South East Lancs
Chorley – Yarrow

 

2.       Start Times


Red Rose - women 1:35pm / men 2:15pm

Mid Lancs - women 1:30pm / men 2:15pm

South East Lancs – women 1:40pm / men 2:20pm

 

3.       Websites




South East Lancs  www.selcc.co.uk                                                                                     

 

4.       Cost


Red Rose - £6.00 for all four races payable to Michelle Fairclough at first fixture.

Mid Lancs  - no cost to individuals.

South East Lancs  - £6.00 for the full season payable direct to the race organiser at the first fixture.

Additional fee for a timing chip at Liverpool British Athletics Challenge to be paid to Michelle Fairclough prior to the race (£1.50 tbc).

Lost numbers incur a replacement charge.

 

5.       Championship Categories


 Under 45 women / Under 45 men / 45 & over women /45 & over men.

The UK athletics rule regarding age groups & ruling date 31 August (midnight)/1 September to apply.  Please note that while each league will have the standard age group categories displayed on their results, Astley & Tyldesley age grading for scoring purposes, has been decided by the Committee that ‘Senior’ is under 45 and ‘Vet’ 45 and over for both men and women.

 

6.       Scoring


 In all championship age categories 1st place 30 points, 2nd place 28 points, 3rd place 27 points etc.

Scoring is based on BEST 6 races from 9. Runners must complete at least 6 races to qualify for prizes.
 

7.       Championship Awards


 
Perpetual trophies will be awarded to first man and woman in each category.

Championship trophies to first 3 men and women in each category.

Additional award will be presented to runners who complete all 9 races.


8.       Contact


Michelle Fairclough

(m) 07971 993903

Email: michef1975@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesday 17 September 2019

Lost Shepherd Fell Race by Tim Campbell

This 14.9 mile race followed a picturesque course beginning from “that” slanted field just outside of Mytholmroyd which is also the start of the infamous Coiners race. It first wound its way through some woods and bracken fringed tracks, before gradually climbing up and over Stoodley Pike down an easy descent and a short road section, before heading across the moors mainly on the paved sections. The monument at the top of Stoodley Pike dominates the local skyline, being visible from a good distance, which is useful for the navigationally challenged fell runner. And although the original structure was built to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo, no Wellingtons were required for this race, as the weather was fine and the bogs were relatively dry being only around 4 or 5 inches deep. Turning right at the herd of cows near Todmorden we completed a figure of 8 course by eventually heading back up Stoodley Pike from the steep side and then retracing the way back to the start/finish field.
At the time of going to press, the results were yet to be issued, but I definitely finished and so did Carl Murray, who in typically extreme style hadn’t experienced enough pain that weekend and so headed straight over to Anglesey for the Sandman Triathlon!
All in all this was a brilliant course for someone who’s already done a couple of fell races and wants to try something a little bit more challenging. It was clearly marked all the way around and did not have anything too technical or steep, so very doable – take a note for next year. And it must be said that the choice of 3 different soups at the end of the race was definitely a plus!

Saturday 14 September 2019

Cross Country 2019-2020 Are you in ?

Darkness setting in earlier in the evening. Rainy days making paths muddy. That bite in the air on the way to work in the morning. Belting evening TV dramas. Can only mean one thing..... It's Cross Country time 👏👏👏



The fixtures are out for the three leagues we race in. I'm conscious there are quite a few that are a bit of a mooch to get to, so what I'm looking for are two bits of feedback from you all.

1) Would you like me to register your interest for cross country (fees are very small usually about £6 per full league, Liverpool also has its own small fee for the British Athletics chip timing) you must be a fully paid up member of A&T with UKA/EA registration up to date to enter XC races.

2) are there any races that clash with other events you are doing - or you feel are just that bit too far away this year.

Personally I'd rather we had a great turnout at the more local events - fly the A&T flag. I'll set the club champs races based on the feedback I get.

Please let me know asap as the registrations take quite a while to load, so the sooner the better so I can then get us all on the lists.

Please reply on this post or contact me on messenger, WhatsApp, email or mobile.
michef1975@yahoo.co.uk 07971993903


Cross country fixtures 2019-2020
28/09/19 - Ulverston GSK - ML
12/10/19 - Leigh LSV - RR
19/10/19 - Manchester Heaton - SELCC
26/10/19 - Bolton Leverhulme - RR
09/11/19 - Todmorden Centre Vale - RR
09/11/19 - Hyndburn Wilson - ML (Clash)
23/11/19 - Manchester Heaton - SELCC (clash - this race won't be in the champs league but you can still run it if not doing Liverpool)
23/11/19 - Liverpool Sefton - ML & British Athletics Challenge (sep entry fee/chip timed and this will be on the club champs list)
30/11/19 - Rossendale Marl Pitts - RR
11/01/20 - Burnley Towneley - ML
18/01/20 - Oldham Tandle Hill - SELCC
08/02/20 - Blackpool - ML
15/02/20 - Chorley Yarrow - SELCC
29/02/20 - Lancaster Rylands - ML
28/03/20 - Leigh LSV - ML (reserve fixture only)


Anyone can run cross country. Ideally XC spikes would be best, trail or fell shoes would be ok, the flatter less muddy races like Leigh you could manage in road trainers at a push. Any questions please do ask me.