English National Cross Country Championships

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English National Cross Country Championships
Athletics (middle-long distance running) pictogram.svg
Frequencyannual
CountryEngland
Inaugurated1876
Organised by English Cross Country Association

The English National Cross Country Championships is an annual English cross country running event which takes place in late February following the regional championships (Southern, Midlands and Northern) which all take place on the same weekend usually in late January. The event is the oldest national cross country championship in the world, having been first run in 1876. [1] The English, Welsh and Scottish National Cross Country Championships are all usually held on the same day.

Contents

Format

There are categories for senior men and women, junior men and women, U17, U15, U13 and club teams. The course is 12 km for men and 8 km for women and the fact that the distances for senior men and senior women is different has recently been a topic for discussion and review. Following a review of various surveys the English Cross Country Association voted to keep the race distances at 12 km for the senior men and 8 km for the senior women for the 2019 championship. [2]

The event is organised by the English Cross Country Association and currently sponsored by Saucony UK. As well as individual competition, senior athletes represent their athletics club for points scoring and team awards. Club teams consist of six senior men or four senior women.

Venues

The venue for the English National Cross Country Championships is not fixed and is usually hosted in turn by the regional associations. The men's and women's venues were held at different locations until 1995, when both were held at the same venue for the first time.

History

The first championship in 1876 was known as the 'National' and was declared void because all 32 runners went off course. The women's event was first held in 1927. [1] The senior event winners are shown in the table. Up to 1994, the women's event was run separately at a different location from the men's race. [3] [4] [5]

Past winners

Men

YearLocation (m/w)Men's senior teamMen's senior individualNote/Ref
1876Buckhurst Hilldeclared void (32 ran)
1877RoehamptonThames Hare & HoundsPercy H Stenning (Thames H&H)
1878RoehamptonSpartan HarriersPercy H Stenning (Thames H&H)
1879RoehamptonThames Hare & HoundsPercy H Stenning (Thames H&H)
1880Roehampton Birchfield Harriers Percy H Stenning (Thames H&H)
1881RoehamptonMoseley HarriersGeorge A Dunning (Clapton Beagles)
1882RoehamptonMoseley Harriers Walter George (Moseley H)
1883RoehamptonMoseley HarriersGeorge A Dunning (Clapton Beagles)
1884Four Oaks, Sutton ColdfieldMoseley Harriers Walter George (Moseley H)
1885Manchester Liverpool Harriers William Snook (Birchfield H)
1886Croydon Birchfield Harriers J E 'Flyer' Hickman (Godiva H)
1887Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield Birchfield Harriers J E 'Flyer' Hickman (Godiva H)
1888Manchester Birchfield Harriers Edward W Parry (Salford H)
1889Kempton Salford Harriers Edward W Parry (Salford H)
1890Sutton Coldfield Salford Harriers Edward W Parry (Salford H)
1891Prenton, Birkenhead Birchfield Harriers James Kibblewhite (Spartan H)
1892Ockham Birchfield Harriers Herbert A Heath (SLH) [a]
1893Redditch Essex Beagles Herbert A Heath (SLH)
1894Blackpool Salford Harriers George Crossland (Salford H)
1895Wembley Birchfield Harriers Steve Cottrill (Thames Valley H)
1896Water Orton Salford Harriers George Crossland (Manchester H)
1897Trafford Park Salford H & Manchester H Sidney Robinson (Northampton & County AC) [b]
1898Horton, Northants Salford Harriers Sidney Robinson (Northampton & County AC)
1899Wembley Highgate Harriers Charles Bennett (Finchley H)
1900Rotherham Finchley Harriers Charles Bennett (Finchley H)
1901Leicester Essex Beagles Alfred Shrubb (SLH)
1902Lingfield Highgate Harriers Alfred Shrubb (SLH)
1903Haydock Birchfield Harriers Alfred Shrubb (SLH)
1904Wolverhampton Highgate Harriers Alfred Shrubb (SLH)
1905Lingfield Highgate Harriers Albert Aldridge (Highgate H)
1906HaydockSutton H & ACCharlie J Straw (Sutton H & AC)
1907Colwall Birchfield Harriers George Pearce (Highgate H)
1908NewburyHallamshire Harriers Arthur Robertson (Birchfield H)
1909Haydock Birchfield Harriers James Murphy (Hallamshire H)
1910DerbyHallamshire HarriersFred C Neaves (Surrey AC)
1911TaplowHallamshire HarriersFred N Hibbins (Thrapston H & AC)
1912HaydockHallamshire HarriersFred N Hibbins (Thrapston H & AC)
1913Wolverhampton Birchfield Harriers Ernest Glover (Hallamshire H)
1914Chesham Surrey AC Charles Ruffell (Highgate H)
1915-1919 cancelled due to the World War I
1920Windsor Great Park Birchfield Harriers Charlie Gibbon [c]
1921Doncaster Birchfield Harriers Wally Freeman (Birchfield H)
1922Hereford Birchfield Harriers Harry Eckersley [d]
1923Beaconsfield Birchfield Harriers Joe Blewitt (Birchfield H)
1924Doncaster Birchfield Harriers Cpl Bill Cotterell (Royal Corps of Signals)
1925Hereford Birchfield Harriers Cpl Bill Cotterell (Royal Corps of Signals)
1926Wolverton Birchfield Harriers Jack Webster (Birchfield H)
1927Crewe/LutonHallamshire Harriers Ernie Harper (Hallamshire H)
1928Leamington/Chigwell Birchfield Harriers Jack Webster (Birchfield H)
1929Beaconsfield/Perivale Birchfield Harriers Ernie Harper (Hallamshire H)
1930Sheffield/Wolverton Birchfield Harriers Wally B Howard (Kettering Town H)
1931Kettering/Epsom Birchfield Harriers Jack Potts (Saltwell H)
1932Wolverton/Coventry Birchfield Harriers Alec Burns (Elswick H)
1933Alderley Edge/Warwick Birchfield Harriers Tom Evenson (Salford H)
1934Dudley/Kettering Birchfield Harriers Sam Dodd (Wirral AC)
1935Beaconsfield/Longbridge Belgrave Harriers Frank Close (Reading AC)
1936Alderley Edge/Chidwell Row Birchfield Harriers Jack Potts (Saltwell H)
1937Stratford-upon-Avon/Perry Barr Birchfield Harriers Herbert D Clark (York H)
1938Reading/Luton Mitcham AC Jack Holden (Tipton H)
1939Worsley/Rugby Belgrave Harriers Jack Holden (Tipton H)
1940-1945 cancelled due to the World War II
1946Leamington Spa/Cheltenham Belgrave Harriers Jack Holden (Tipton H)
1947Apsley/OxfordSutton H & ACArchie A Robertson (Reading AC)
1948Sheffield/Sutton Coldfield Belgrave Harriers Sydney Wooderson (Blackheath H)
1949Birmingham/WorsleySutton HarriersFrank E Aaron (Leeds St Marks AC)
1950Aylesbury/Parliament HillSutton HarriersFrank E Aaron (Leeds St Marks AC)
1951 Richmond/TadcasterSutton HFrank E Aaron (Leeds St Marks AC)
1952Great Barr/Perry BarrVictoria Park AACWalter Hesketh (Manchester A & CC)
1953Reading/Birmingham Birchfield Harriers Gordon Pirie (SLH)
1954Birkenhead/AylesburyBolton United H & AC Gordon Pirie (SLH)
1955Bedford/Leeds South London Harriers Gordon Pirie (SLH)
1956Warwick/Sutton ColdfieldSheffield United H & AC Ken Norris (Thames Valley H)
1957Parliament Hill/Enfield South London Harriers Frank Sando (Aylesford PMSC)
1958Birkenhead/Winton South London Harriers Alan F Perkins (Ilford AC)
1959Peterborough/BirminghamSheffield United H & AC Frederick Norris (Bolton United H & AC)
1960West Bromwich/Morden ParkDerby & County AC Basil Heatley (Coventry Godiva)
1961Parliament Hill/SheffieldDerby & County AC Basil Heatley (Coventry Godiva))
1962 Blackpool/WolverhamptonDerby & County ACGerry North (Blackpool & Fylde AC)
1963Cambridge/Richmond Park Coventry Godiva Basil Heatley (Coventry Godiva)
1964Leicester/BuryPortsmouth AC Mel Batty (Thurrock H)
1965Parliament Hill/BirminghamPortsmouth AC Mel Batty (Thurrock H)
1966Sheffield/WatfordNorth Staffs & Stone HAC Ron Hill (Bolton United H & AC)
1967Norwich/BlackburnPortsmouth AC Dick Taylor (Coventry Godiva)
1968Sutton Coldfield/Coventry Coventry Godiva Ron Hill (Bolton United H & AC)
1969Parliament Hill/Aldershot Tipton Harriers Mike Tagg (Norfolk Gazelles)
1970Blackpool/BlackburnCity of Stoke ACTrevor Wright (Hallamshire H)
1971Norwich/WolverhamptonShettleston Harriers Dave Bedford (Shaftesbury H)
1972Sutton Coldfield/High Wycombe Tipton Harriers Malcolm Thomas (Thames Valley H)
1973Parliament Hill/Rawtenstall Gateshead Harriers Dave Bedford (Shaftesbury H)
1974Sheffield/LeicesterDerby & County ACDave Black (Small Heath H)
1975Stopsley/Parliament Hill Gateshead Harriers Anthony Simmons (Luton United AC)
1976Leicester/Blackburn Gateshead Harriers Bernie Ford (AFD)
1977Parliament Hill/Stoke Gateshead Harriers Brendan Foster (Gateshead H)
1978Leeds/High Wycombe Tipton Harriers Bernie Ford (AFD)
1979Stopsley/Runcorn Gateshead Harriers Mike McLeod (Elswick H)
1980Leicester/Rugeley Tipton Harriers Nick Rose (Bristol AC)
1981Parliament Hill/Colchester Tipton Harriers Julian Goater (Shaftesbury H)
1982Leeds/Carlisle Tipton Harriers Dave Clarke (Hercules Wimbledon AC)
1983Stopsley/Warwick AFD Tim Hutchings (Crawley AC)
1984Newark/Knebworth AFD Eamonn Martin (Basildon AC)
1985Milton Keynes/Birkenhead AFD Dave Lewis (Rossendale H & AC)
1986Newcastle/Leicester Tipton Harriers Tim Hutchings (Crawley AC)
1987Stopsley/Bexley Gateshead Harriers Dave Clarke (Hercules Wimbledon AC)
1988Newark/Leeds Birchfield Harriers Dave Clarke (Hercules Wimbledon AC)
1989Epsom/Birmingham Tipton Harriers Dave Lewis (Rossendale H & AC)
1990Leeds/RickmansworthValli Harriers Richard Nerurkar (Bingley H & AC)
1991Luton/BirkenheadBingley H & AC Richard Nerurkar (Bingley H & AC)
1992Newark/Cheltenham Tipton Harriers Eamonn Martin (Basildon AC)
1993Parliament Hill/LutonBingley H & AC Richard Nerurkar (Bingley H & AC)
1994South Shields/Blackburn Blackheath Harriers Dave Lewis (Rossendale H & AC)
1995Luton Blackheath Harriers Spencer Duval (Cannock & Stafford A)
1996NewarkBingley H & AC John Nuttall (Preston H & AC)
1997Havant Tipton Harriers Steffan White (Coventry Godiva)
1998LeedsBingley H & ACDominic Bannister (Shaftesbury Barnet H)
1999Newark Tipton Harriers Justin Pugsley (Birchfield H)
2000Stowe Tipton Harriers Glynn Tromans (Coventry Godiva)
2001DurhamBingley H & ACMike Openshaw (Birchfield H)
2002BristolBingley H & ACSam Haughian (WSEH)
2003Parliament HillLeeds City ACMatt Smith (Tipton H)
2004Leeds Belgrave Harriers Glynn Tromans (Coventry Godiva)
2005Birmingham Salford H & AC Glynn Tromans (Coventry Godiva)
2006Parliament HillLeeds City ACPeter Riley (Leigh H & AC)
2007SunderlandLeeds City AC Frank Tickner (Wells City H)
2008Alton TowersLeeds City ACTom Humphries (Cannock & Stafford AC)
2009Parliament Hill Newham & Essex Beagles Frank Tickner (Wells City Harriers])
2010Leeds AFD Andy Vernon (AFD)
2011Alton TowersLeeds City ACSteve Vernon (Stockport Harriers & AC)
2012Parliament HillLeeds City ACKeith Gerrard (Newham & Essex Beagles)
2013SunderlandMorpeth Harriers & ACKeith Gerrard (Newham & Essex Beagles)
2014NottinghamBedford & County ACSteve Vernon (Stockport Harriers & AC)
2015Parliament HillNotts ACCharlie Hulson (Sale H)
2016Donington ParkMorpeth Harriers & AC Jonathan Hay (AFD)
2017NottinghamTonbridge AC Ben Connor (Derby Athletic Club)
2018Parliament HillTonbridge ACAdam Hickey (Southend-on-Sea AC)
2019Harewood House, LeedsLeeds City AC Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton AC)
2020NottinghamTonbridge ACCalum Johnson (Gateshead H)
2021 cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022Parliament HillSouthampton AC Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton AC)
2023Bolesworth CastleLeeds City ACJames Kingston (Tonbridge AC)
2024 Weston Park Bristol & West AC Hugo Milner (Derby AC) [6]
2025Parliment HillBristol & West ACLeeds City AC [7]

Women

YearLocation (m/w)Women's senior teamWomen's senior individualNote/Ref
1927Crewe/Luton Middlesex Ladies Anne M A Williams (Littlehampton Ladies)
1928Leamington/Chigwell Middlesex Ladies Lilian D Styles (Littlehampton Ladies)
1929Beaconsfield/Perivale Middlesex Ladies Lilian D Styles (Littlehampton Ladies)
1930Sheffield/WolvertonWestbury HarriersLilian D Styles (Littlehampton Ladies)
1931Kettering/Epsom London Olympiades AC Gladys Lunn (Birchfield H)
1932Wolverton/Coventry Birchfield Harriers Gladys Lunn (Birchfield H)
1933Alderley Edge/WarwickAiredale HarriersLilian D Styles (Haywards Heath Ladies AC)
1934Dudley/Kettering London Olympiades AC Lilian D Styles (London Olympiades AC)
1935Beaconsfield/Longbridge London Olympiades AC Nellie Halstead (Radcliffe H & AC)
1936Alderley Edge/Chidwell RowSmall Heath Harriers Nellie Halstead (Radcliffe H & AC)
1937Stratford-upon-Avon/Perry Barr Birchfield Harriers Lilian D Styles (London Olympiades AC)
1938Reading/Luton Birchfield Harriers Evelyne Forster (Civil Service AC)
1939Worsley/Rugby Birchfield Harriers Evelyne Forster (Civil Service AC)
1940-1945 cancelled due to the World War II
1946Leamington Spa/Cheltenham Birchfield Harriers Pat Sandall (Birchfield H)
1947Apsley/Oxford Birchfield Harriers Ruby M Wright (St Gregorys Ladies AC)
1948Sheffield/Sutton Coldfield Birchfield Harriers Ivy Kibler (Birchfield H)
1949Birmingham/Worsley Birchfield Harriers E Johnson (Airedale H)
1950Aylesbury/Parliament Hill Birchfield Harriers Avery Gibson (North Shields Poly Ladies AC)
1951 Richmond/TadcasterIlford AC Phyllis Green (Ilford AC)
1952Great Barr/Perry BarrIlford AC Phyllis Green (Ilford AC)
1953Reading/Birmingham Birchfield Harriers Diane Leather (Birchfield H)
1954Birkenhead/Aylesbury Birchfield Harriers Diane Leather (Birchfield H)
1955Bedford/LeedsIlford AC Diane Leather (Birchfield H)
1956Warwick/Sutton ColdfieldIlford AC Diane Leather (Birchfield H)
1957Parliament Hill/EnfieldIlford ACJune Bridgland (Southampton AC)
1958Birkenhead/Winton Highgate Harriers Roma Ashby (Coventry Godiva)
1959Peterborough/Birmingham London Olympiades AC Joyce Byatt (Hampstead Heath H)
1960West Bromwich/Morden ParkIlford AC Joyce Byatt (Hampstead Heath H)
1961Parliament Hill/Sheffield London Olympiades AC Roma Ashby (Coventry Godiva)
1962 Blackpool/Wolverhampton London Olympiades AC Roma Ashby (Coventry Godiva)
1963Cambridge/Richmond Park Mitcham AC Madeleine C Ibbotson (Longwood Ladies)
1964Leicester/BuryBury & Radcliffe ACMadeleine C Ibbotson (Longwood Ladies)
1965Parliament Hill/BirminghamMaryhill Ladies ACPamela Davies (Selsonia AC)
1966Sheffield/WatfordMaryhill Ladies ACPamela Davies (Selsonia AC)
1967Norwich/BlackburnBarnet & District ACPamela Davies (Selsonia AC)
1968Sutton Coldfield/CoventryCambridge HarriersPamela Davies (Selsonia AC)
1969Parliament Hill/AldershotBarnet & District AC Rita Lincoln (Essex Ladies AC)
1970Blackpool/BlackburnCambridge Harriers Rita Lincoln (Essex Ladies AC)
1971Norwich/Wolverhampton Coventry Godiva Rita Lincoln (Essex Ladies AC)
1972Sutton Coldfield/High WycombeCambridge Harriers Rita Lincoln (Essex Ladies AC)
1973Parliament Hill/RawtenstallCambridge Harriers Joyce Smith (Barnet Ladies AC)
1974Sheffield/LeicesterBarnet & District AC Rita Ridley (Essex Ladies AC)
1975Stopsley/Parliament HillCambridge Harriers Christine Tranter (Stretford AC) [e]
1976Leicester/Blackburn London Olympiades AC Ann Ford (Hounslow AC)
1977Parliament Hill/Stoke Sale Harriers Glynis Penny (Cambridge H)
1978Leeds/High Wycombe Sale Harriers Mary Stewart (Birchfield H)
1979Stopsley/Runcorn AFD Kathryn Binns (Sale H)
1980Leicester/Rugeley Birchfield Harriers Ruth Smeeth (AFD)
1981Parliament Hill/Colchester Sale Harriers Wendy Smith (Hounslow AC)
1982Leeds/Carlisle Sale Harriers Paula Fudge (Hounslow AC)
1983Stopsley/Warwick Sale Harriers Christine Benning (Southampton AC)
1984Newark/Knebworth AFD Jane Furniss [Shields] (Sheffield AC)
1985Milton Keynes/BirkenheadCrawley AC Angela Tooby (Cardiff AC)
1986Newcastle/Leicester Sale Harriers Carole Bradford (Clevedon AC)
1987Stopsley/Bexley Sale Harriers Jane Shields (Sheffield AC)
1988Newark/Leeds Birchfield Harriers Helen Titterington (Leicester Coritanian)
1989Epsom/BirminghamParkside Harrow AC Angie Pain (Leeds City AC)
1990Leeds/RickmansworthParkside Harrow AC Andrea Whitcombe (Parkside Harrow)
1991Luton/BirkenheadParkside Harrow AC Andrea Whitcombe (Parkside Harrow)
1992Newark/CheltenhamParkside Harrow ACLisa York (Leicester Coritanian)
1993Parliament Hill/LutonParkside Harrow ACGillian Stacey (Bromley Ladies AC)
1994South Shields/BlackburnParkside Harrow AC Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County AC)
1995LutonParkside Harrow AC Katy McCandless (Parkside Harrow) AC)
1996NewarkParkside Harrow AC Alison Wyeth (Parkside Harrow) [f]
1997HavantLeeds City AC Andrea Whitcombe (Parkside Harrow)
1998Leeds Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Mara Myers (Parkside Harrow)
1999Newark Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Angela Newport (Basingstoke & Mid Hants)
2000Stowe Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Tara Kryzwicki (Charnwood AC)
2001Durham Sale Harriers Liz Yelling (Bedford & County AC)
2002Bristol Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Liz Yelling (Bedford & County AC)
2003Parliament HillChester-le-Street & District AC Hayley Yelling (WSEH)
2004LeedsBristol AC Birhan Dagne (Belgrave H])
2005BirminghamBristol & West AC Hayley Yelling (WSEWH)
2006Parliament HillCharnwood AC Elizabeth Hall (Herts Phoenix)
2007SunderlandWinchester & District AC Liz Yelling (Bedford & County)
2008Alton TowersWinchester & District AC Liz Yelling (Bedford & County)
2009Parliament HillCharnwood AC Hatti Dean (Hallamshire H)
2010LeedsCharnwood AC Stephanie Twell (AFD)
2011Alton TowersCharnwood ACLouise Damen (Winchester & District)
2012Parliament HillHallamshire Harriers Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC)
2013Sunderland AFD Louise Damen (Winchester & District)
2014Nottingham AFD Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC)
2015Parliament Hill AFD Lily Partridge (AFD)
2016Donington Park AFD Lily Partridge (AFD)
2017Nottingham AFD Jessica Judd (Chelmsford AC)
2018Parliament Hill Sale Harriers Phoebe Law (Kingston & Poly AC)
2019Harewood House, LeedsLeeds City ACEmily Hosker Thornhill (AFD)
2020Nottingham AFD Anna Moller (AFD)
2021 cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022Parliament HillLeeds City AC Jessica Gibbon (Reading AC)
2023Bolesworth CastleCharnwood ACSarah Astin (Belgrave Harriers)
2024 Weston Park AFD Niamh Brown (AFD) [8]
2025Parliment HillLeeds City AC Jessica Gibbon (Reading AC) [7]
Notes
  1. Tie between Birchfield Harriers and Essex Beagles, in the subsequent run-off Birchfield won by 35 pts to 43 pts
  2. Tie between Salford H and Manchester H
  3. race won by Joseph Guillemot (guest)
  4. race won by Joseph Guillemot (guest)
  5. Guest D Nagle (Guinness AC) 1st
  6. Nnenna Lynch (Oxford University AC) 1st – disqualified non-registered foreign athlete

References

  1. 1 2 Matthews/Morrison, Peter/Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and results, pages 73. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN   0-85112-492-5.
  2. "ECCA decides on National Cross Country Championship Distances for Senior Men and Women for 2019 | English Cross Country Association". 21 May 2018.
  3. "Past Winners". English Cross Country Association. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. "Past Winners (senior men)". English Cross Country Association. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  5. "Past Winners (senior women)". English Cross Country Association. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. "Niamh Brown and Hugo Milner win English National titles". Athletics Weekly. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Results – English National XC Champs 2025". English Cross Country Association. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. "Niamh Brown and Hugo Milner win English National titles". Athletics Weekly. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.