McCain UK Cross Challenge returns to its roots

29 September 2011

The McCain UK Cross Challenge returns this autumn with five high quality events and kicks off in its place of origin in Bristol (Sunday 13 November).

Bristol played host to the inaugural Cross Challenge meeting in 1997 and will be the perfect starter to the cross country series which once again features five events in Liverpool, Cardiff, Antrim and the series final in Birmingham.

Happy to see the homecoming, UKA Events Manager Paul Aldridge said, “The addition of Bristol to the series is a real bonus. There is a long history associated with Bristol and Cross Country running and with the fixture just a couple of weeks prior to the European Trials at Liverpool, a very valuable competition for all aspiring athletes.

"With the series now consisting of five events there are great opportunities for athletes to achieve their ambitions across the Cross Country season. The McCain series offers invaluable support to event organisers and also the athletes with over £30k in prize money. As a result the series has become incredibly popular and we’ll be aiming for a record number of participants this season!”

Staged by runbristol, in partnership with Bristol & West AC and UKA, Ashton Court Estate will welcome UKA affiliated club runners from under 13 years through to junior and senior elite athletes and will also incorporate the Mike Sully Championships and Gemma Butler Bowl.

The second meet will take place at the established venue Sefton Park, Liverpool, and will incorporate the Trials for the Aviva GB & NI team ahead of the European Cross Country Championships in Slovenia in December (Sunday 11 December).

Councillor Wendy Simon, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Culture and Tourism said:

“I am delighted that the city will once again be staging the McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge and European Cross Country Championships Trials.

“The event is one of the highlights of the city’s sporting calendar and we are looking forward to a great day of top class sporting action at Sefton Park.”

The third event in the McCain UK Cross Challenge Series will take place at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, supported by TATA and will feature a total prize value in excess of £5000.

Incorporating the Northern Ireland and Ulster Senior Championships, the Cross Challenge moves to Antrim, Cafre at Greenmount Campus in January where the fixture is once again an IAAF Permit Meeting and expected to include a good quality international field in addition to a domestic entry.

The McCain Cross Challenge Final - incorporating the McCain UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships – will be hosted for the third successive year hosted by Birmingham City Council and UKA in Cofton Park, Birmingham in March.

Confirmed events and fixtures:

13 November: Bristol

26 November: Liverpool

15 January: Cardiff

21 January: Antrim

10 March: Birmingham