Group Eleven IOM Cross-Country Championships – Sunday 12th January 2025 – Crossags

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The 2025 Isle of Man Cross-Country Championships take place at Crossags in Ramsey on Sunday 12th January, hosted by Northern AC. The event doubles as Round 3 of the four-round league, with the final round to be held at QEII School in Peel next month.

Any competitor who has not yet competed in the series must enter online by midnight on Thursday 9th January. Here is the Entry Form. There are no entries on the day, but your race number can be collected from registration if you have not competed in an earlier round. If you have not already paid for this round you need to do so by bank transfer (details on the entry form), or by cash or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics at registration between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

Those who have already competed in the series should wear the same race number. If you have lost your number, a replacement is available from registration from 12 noon to 1pm for a £2 charge. If you have your race number and have already paid your entry you do not need to attend the registration desk.

The minimum age for competitors in the under-nine races is seven years on the day of the race.

The under-nine and U11 races use the bottom field. The courses for all ages from U13 upwards take the runners onto challenging terrain including a significant climb through fields and woodland with a shallow stream crossing. The course this year is slightly shorter than usual due to crops growing in two of the fields, resulting in some re-routing. Please study the map which will be displayed and preferably allow time to walk the course beforehand.

There is no parking at the venue. Competitors are asked to park in the vicinity of Ramsey Grammar School on Lezayre Road and walk up Crossags Lane from Schoolhouse Corner. The tarmac lane crosses the golf course and leads to the pavilion at the campsite which will be race HQ. Allow 10 minutes for the walk.

A refreshment van will be on site selling tea / coffee etc, and there are toilet facilities, but the showers will not be in use.

The timetable is as follows:

12 noon to 1pm – Registration
1.00pm – U9 girls – 2 small laps – 920 metres
1.10pm – U9 boys – 2 small laps – 920 metres
1.20pm – U11 girls – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres
1.30pm – U11 boys – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres
1.45pm – U13 boys & girls & short course – 1 small lap, 1 large lap – 2,773 metres
1.45pm – U17 men & women – 1 small lap, 2 large laps – 5,086 metres
2.15pm – U15 boys & girls –2 large laps – 4,636 metres
2.15pm – U20/senior/veteran women – 3 large laps – 6,939 metres
2.15pm – U20/senior/veteran men – 4 large laps – 9,252 metres

Please report to the start line of your race at least five minutes before the start time. Spectators please keep off the racing line and follow instructions from marshals.

Course maps will be available on the day.

Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 4 & IOM Championships

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The local cross-country season reaches its climax on the afternoon of Sunday 14th January with the fourth and final round of the Law Trust sponsored Cross-Country League.

The event also doubles as the Isle of Man Cross-Country Championship for 2024, with medals at stake in all age groups (except the short course race which is non-championship but still part of the league). This year’s event is hosted by Manx Harriers and will be based at the Horses Home on Richmond Hill, just off the main Douglas to Castletown road. The venue has a big car park.

There is a team element to the championships event, with teams from clubs or schools competing for team medals in each category. Club members should wear club vests. All the medals for the Championships will be presented at the same time as the League awards – the date of the awards evening to be confirmed. Four are needed to form a team in each age group except U17 (three), U20 (three) and Senior Men (six).

The under-nine and U11 races use the small lap which includes a short hill, with the U9s completing one lap and the U11s two laps. The races for all ages from U13 upwards go onto the full course. The course has been slightly modified since it was first used last season, with a different start and finish point (away from the mud) and a longer lap which uses an extra field at the far end of the course. The big hill used last year has been split this time into two separate climbs with a short respite in between.

All runners should be sure to tie their shoes on very securely as the mud is very deep in places and will suck shoes off if they are not attached well to feet! Spectators are asked to keep the course clear during the races and listen to marshal’s instructions. Do not walk on the starting straight after 1pm.

The timetable is as follows:

12 noon to 1pm – Registration and course available for inspection.
1.00pm – U9 Boys and Girls, 1 Small Lap, 800 metres
1.10pm – U11 Boys, 2 Small Laps, 1,600 metres
1.20pm – U11 Girls, 2 Small Laps , 1,600 metres
1.30pm – U15 Boys & Girls, U17 Women, 1 Small Lap and 1 Long Lap, 4,050 metres
1.30pm – U20, Senior, Veteran Women, 1 Small Lap and 2 Long Laps, 7,300 metres
2.00pm – U13 Boys and Girls, 1 Large Lap, 3,250 metres
2.15pm – Short Course Men & Women, 1 Large Lap, 3,250 metres
2.15pm – U17 Men, 2 Large Laps, 6,500 metres
2.15pm – U20, Senior, Veteran Men, 3 Large Laps, 9,750 metres

Please ensure that you are at the start at least five minutes before your event.

If you have not yet competed in the series you will need to enter online by midnight on Thursday – the link is https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2023-2024. There are no entries on the day. If you have not already paid for this round you need to do so by bank transfer (details on the entry form), or by cash or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics Association at the venue between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

If you have already entered and paid for the series and have your race number there is no need to attend the registration desk, just go to the start line five minutes before your race wearing your number to the front. If you have lost your number and need a replacement (for a small charge) there will be a separate desk at registration at the venue.

Here are the course Maps.

David Griffiths
4 January 2024

Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 4 & IOM Championships

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The local cross-country season reaches its climax on the afternoon of Sunday 15th January with the fourth and final round of the Law Trust sponsored Cross-Country League.

The event also doubles as the Isle of Man Cross-Country Championship for 2023, with medals at stake in all age groups (except the short course race which is non-championship but still part of the league). This year’s event is hosted by Western AC and will be based at QE2 School in Peel.

There is a team element to the championships event, with teams from clubs or schools competing for team medals in each category. Club members should wear club vests. All the medals for the Championships will be presented at the same time as the League awards – the date of the awards evening to be confirmed.

The under-nine and U11 races use the school field only. The races for all ages from U13 upwards also use the school field, but then take the runners onto adjacent farmland which is undulating with some short sharp ups and downs. Unlike in recent years, each full lap takes the runners back round the school field, so the lap is longer.

Strictly no dogs are allowed on any part of the course. Spectators are asked to keep the course clear during the races.

The timetable is as follows:

12 noon to 1pm – Registration
1.00pm – U9 boys – 1 small lap – 800 metres
1.05pm – U9 girls – 1 small lap – 800 metres
1.10pm – U11 boys – 2 small laps – 1,660 metres
1.20pm – U11 girls – 2 small laps – 1,660 metres
1.30pm – U13 boys & girls & Short Course – 1 small lap, 1 large lap – 2,960 metres
1.30pm – U17 men & women – 1 small lap, 2 large laps – 5,160 metres
1.40pm – U15 boys & girls – 2 large laps – 4,300 metres
1.40pm – U20/senior/veteran women – 3 large laps – 6,500 metres
2.10pm – U20/senior/veteran men – 1 small lap, 4 large laps – 9,560 metres

If you have not yet competed in the series you will need to enter online by midnight on Friday – the link is https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2022-2023. There are no entries on the day. If you have not already paid for this round you need to do so by bank transfer (details on the entry form), or by cash or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics Association at the school between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

If you have already entered and paid for the series and have your race number there is no need to attend the registration desk, just go to the start line five minutes before your race wearing your number to the front. If you have lost your number and need a replacement (for a small charge) there will be a separate desk at registration at the venue.

Here is the course map and route information.

David Griffiths
9 January 2023