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Cross Country
CROSS-COUNTRY - A NEW SEASON TO LOOK FORWARD TO
It is with a great deal of optimism that we head into
the new cross-country season. The enthusiasm, work rate and commitment
of the Endurance Squad has been terrific over the summer and, as
reported elsewhere, they have been reaping their rewards on the track.
Four middle distance club records were broken, but the club records for
those four events were broken 10 times (I think), it was hard to keep
track! Our non-record breakers made good progress too, and we are
looking forward to carrying all that new-found speed over the hills and
across the fields.
I’m hoping that joining our hardcore of middle distance
runners we can encourage, entice and cajole some of our other track and
field athletes to come along and build up their stamina over the winter,
to add to the speed or strength they already have. From the roadrunners
it is hoped that we can encourage them to get involved so they can add
some speed to their running. (The cross-country races are over shorter
distances than most roadrunners are used to.)
The cross-country league fixtures have been announced (see
below) and it is great to see that the distances we have to travel
to get to races will be reduced this year. We compete in two
cross-country leagues which are quite different in character to each
other.
The Wessex
League is the more local and low key of
the two, and this offers a great opportunity to those taking their first
steps in cross-country running. It also allows us to field our youngest
athletes as there are races for the under-11s right through to the
seniors. We play a significant part in hosting two of the Wessex League
races, so we are looking for volunteer marshals at Canford on 30
October, and again at King’s Park on 26 February. Please contact me if
you are able to help – ian@wimborne10.co.uk.
The Hampshire League allows us to pitch our
runners into a higher level competition and it provides a great test for
our improving squad. The first race of the season is the Hampshire
League fixture in the beautiful setting of Farley Mount near Winchester.
This race also forms part of the WAC roadrunners club championships and
it is hoped that we will see some senior roadrunners making their
cross-country debuts there, as well as those from amongst our junior
ranks.
It has felt like a long wait since the end of last
season … bring it on!
Ian Kennedy

Wimborne AC has long been committed to the Wessex League cross-country
season, and this continues into the 2011/2012 season. We are also
competing in our fourth season in the Hampshire Cross-Country League. The
Hampshire League consists of a series of five races and includes some
terrific venues. Hampshire League races are for those of 11 years-old
upwards, right through to the seniors and veterans. Hampshire League
races take place on Saturdays.
Hampshire
League
Your age category is decided by your age on 31st August. You must
have reached your 11th birthday to compete in the Hampshire League.
The fixtures for 2011/2012 season, all held on
Saturdays, are:
8 Oct 2011
– Farley Mount, Winchester
Click Here for Report & Results
12 Nov 2011 – Goodwood, Chichester
Click Here for Report & Results
3 Dec 2011 – Popham, near Micheldever
Click Here for Report and Results
14 Jan 2012 – King’s Park, Bournemouth
Click Here for Report and Results
11 Feb 2012 – Hudson’s Field, Salisbury
Wessex
League
The fixtures for the
2011/2012 season, all held on Sundays, are:
30 Oct
2011 – Canford School, Canford Magna
Click Here for Report & Results
27 Nov 2011 – Hudson’s Field, Salisbury
Click Here for Report and
Results
22 Jan 2012 – Ham Hill, Stoke-sub-Hamden
4 Mar 2012
– Kingston Lacy, Nr Wimborne
(NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND VENUE)
The League holds races for nine
age-groups at each fixture. Race distances conform to the following guidelines:
Category Distance
Under 11 1500-2000
Under 13 girls 2500-3000
Under 13 boys 2500-3000
Under 15 girls 3000-3500
Under 15 boys 3000-3500
Under 17 women 4000-5000
Under 17 men 4000-5000
Senior women 5000-7000
Senior men 8000-10000
Each meeting commences with the races for
Senior athletes. Where courses and athlete numbers permit, age-categories
may be combined to increase competition. The
order and approximate race timetable is as follows:
12:00 SM, including U20M, M40, M45, M50, M60
SW, including U20W, W40, W45, W50, U17M + U17W
(all the above start together with the men from U20
upwards doing a longer distance)
12:50 U11G + U11B
13:00 U13G
13:10 U13B + U15G
13:20 U15B
Your age category is decided by your age on 31st August.
Other
Races
10 Dec 2011 Dorset County XC Championships,
Ferndown Click
Here for Report and Results
8 Jan 2012 South-West XC
Championships, Bicton
Click Here for Report and
Results
28 Jan 2012 South of England XC Champ's,
Stanmer Park Click
Here for Report and Results
If you
would like any further information about the cross-country
season contact Ian on 01202-577081 or
ian@wimborne10.co.uk
Click Here for WAC
Cross-Country Reports for 2010 - 2011
Click Here for WAC Cross-Country Reports for 2009
- 2010
Click
Here for WAC Cross-Country Reports for 2008 - 2009
Click here
for WAC Cross-Country Awards for 2011
Click here
for WAC Cross-Country Awards for 2010
Click
Here for WAC Cross-Country Awards for 2009
Click Here
for WAC Cross-Country Awards for 2008

When competing in cross-country races it is important
to walk the course in advance – give yourself enough time to do this. The
races are marshalled but it is important to know where you will be going.
It will also allow you to recognize any potential hazards or places where
overtaking opportunities may be limited – this information can be used to
your advantage during the race.
Walk the course in a pair of old trainers so that the shoes you will be
using during the race will be dry and mud free on the start line. Most
cross-country races are best run in cross-country studs or spikes (either
9, 12 or 15mm depending on conditions). Note that for cross-country
training sessions at QE on Saturdays we ask that you wear multi-terrain or
training shoes as there may be sections of hard surface (tarmac/gravel) to
be negotiated during the session (see below).
It is always a good idea to take a change of kit, the cross-country races
do not always have changing rooms but there are always toilet facilities.
It is not much fun going home from a meeting in mud-splattered wet kit.
If you require help with transport to the venue contact
Ian Kennedy on ian@Wimborne10.co.uk
or 01202-577081.

Endurance training every Saturday at QE from
10.00am with coaches Ian Kennedy, Jon Braund, Jeff Hinsley, Kim Jolliffe,
Dan Moody and Nick Solomon. These sessions are aimed
specifically at the 11-17 year olds.
We use the leisure centre as our base but our training runs take place
at a number of locations nearby including Badbury Rings, Cowgrove,
Pamphill Green, tracks on the Kingston Lacy Estate and Canon Hill
Plantation.
Each session lasts about 1 hour 45 mins. The session coaches are Ian
Kennedy and Dan Moody (both Level 2) and Level 1 coaches Jon Braund, Jeff Hinsley, Kim Jolliffe and Nick
Solomon.
What kit do I need?
Shorts, t-shirt, running shoes (not spikes).
Sweatshirt and tracksters/leggings are good for the warm-up/cooldown.
If you have a lightweight showerproof jacket (preferably breathable)
then bring that also.
It is essential you bring a bottle with water or sports drink in it.
But most of all you need to bring your commitment and enthusiasm.
Time Trials
King Down 5k XC time trial – 26 September
2009 - Click
here for a report

To keep up with the latest news and for a full
results service for the Hampshire League races visit:
www.athletics.hampshire.org.uk/events/hxcl.html To keep up with the latest news and for a full
results service for the Wessex League races visit:
www.wessexleague.com

Need more information?
If you would like to have a chat about cross-country or
require any further information contact:
Ian on 01202 577081 or by e-mail
ian@Wimborne10.co.uk
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