Cross Country Dates
SO it’s August and the last thing on your mind is the cross country season.
But the Hampshire Cross Country League season dates have been announced and new cross country secretary, Phil May, is hoping for a strong turn-out this winter.
The season opens at picturesque and hilly Farley Mount just outside of Winchester on Saturday, October 11th.
Car parking is going to cost £1 to offset the cost of hiring the course.
There are five races in the series. “All the league races are lap courses, two laps for ladies and between two and three for men,” explained Phil. “All the courses have a little hill in the middle and are fairly dry (watch it rain cats and dogs for the week before each race)!!!! Or they have been fairly dry for the last couple of years.
“The courses have to accommodate all age groups hence the lap courses.”
Stubbington will also be entering the Wessex Cross Country League whose races take place on a Sunday and details will be announced shortly of diary dates.
So, what of the race venues?:
- Farley Mount west of Winchester has a sprint start then up a hill and a down hill finish, sort of.
- Goodwood starts and runs around the car park at the race course and then an out and back into the woods.
- Ashe Meadows is on farm land near Overton and after a lap of the field the course goes up a long hill that is usually sticky as it’s clay, then over the hill down the other side around another field and start the lap again.
- Prospect Park is just off the A4 to the east of Reading and is a down hill start around a football pitch before going up a hill which the course goes over and then around the edge of the park before going round again. If you fancy this then maybe take in some shopping at the Oracle Centre in Reading.
- Salisbury is a new course and until it is known where it is then we'll put something on the web.
The club will also be entering the Hampshire Championships, Southern Championships and National Championships in the New Year.
Can you wait? For more details about cross country, then contact Phil May on: philmay@btinternet.com
Saturday, October 11th 2008: Farley Mount Winchester AC
Saturday, November 8th 2008: Goodwood Chichester AC
Saturday, December 6th 2008: Ashe Meadows Overton Harriers
Saturday, January 3rd 2009: Prospect Park Reading AC
Saturday, February 14th 2009: Salisbury tbc City of Salisbury AC