Draft new XC page

Braintree and District Athletic Club is actively promoting running for all in the community, and to this end we have a Cross Country section within the club.

This is for all standards, from beginner to experienced runner. We have a team of experienced male and female, UKA Level 1 to Level 3 qualified coaches to support you as an individual and to ensure your needs are met. When you come along, our coaches will work with you to help you achieve what you want out of running.  We have a friendly, sociable and safe environment for all our runners, and most of all, we encourage respect, equality and support for everyone.  Running is great for fitness, wellbeing and also for meeting new friends. Come and give us a try, and you will be made very welcome.

For more information, contact Conor Culham at conorculham@googlemail.com

The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for varied training sessions listed under Training Times on our Training page or click here.

We participate as a club in local Cross-Country race leagues and several members also run in trail races.  Details of the leagues are below. For a list of local Trail Race fixtures, please refer to the Mid Essex Casuals website here.

Cross Country League Fixtures

Our Team Manager is Conor Culham. Please let him know whether you can come to each race using his contact details above. There is a minimum number needed for a team but everyone who turns up can run.  Come and represent your Club at Cross Country over the Winter in our team events but also run in county and other competitions. These races are real team events and by competing you really help your fellow club runners as the scoring system takes into account all runners in the field.  Experience the atmosphere, enjoy the challenge and camaraderie which comes with running in multi terrain in all kinds of weather.

We compete in two leagues:
    Mid Essex League on Sundays for ages 16 and above over courses of approximately 8k
    Essex League on Saturdays for school years 6 & 7 (racing as “Under 13”) and above. Ages 9 & 10 can run but do not score team points. Some races allow under 11s. Distances from 3k up to 8k for senior men.

Age is defined as your age in the summer prior to the cross country season.

Club Vests must be worn at all events. League matches are free to enter and do not require registration but please try and let our team manager Connor Culham know you are coming (his contact details are above). Other events usually require pre-entry and a fee applies.

Volunteers Please: Races marked *** below are our own and we are in need of volunteers to help marshal. Please contact Connor as above.

Mid-Essex League
  Start time 10:30
  05/12/21 GFDR, Dunmow
  09/01/22 BDAC, Great Notley Country Park ***
  23/01/22 MEC, Rivenhall
  13/2/21 LBRR, Little Baddow

Essex League
  25/09/21 Southend-on-Sea AC, Hockley
  30/10/21 To be decided
  18/12/21 BDAC, Great Notley Country Park ***
  15/01/22 To be decided, date may have to change
  19/02/22 Chelmsford AC and Springfield Striders jointly, Writtle College

Various age groups, distances and start times:
   10:15 U11 Boys & Girls 1.8K (only if stated against the fixture above)
   10:30 U13 Boys & Girls 3K
   11:00 U15 Boys & Girls 4K
   11:30 U17/20 Women 5K
   12:00 U17 Men / Senior Women 6K
   12:45 Senior Men 8K

 Note: different times for the Horseheath event:
   10.15 Under 13 Girls and Under 13 Boys  3k
   10.40 Under 15 Girls and Under 15 Boys  4k
   11.05 Under 17/20 Women  5k
   11.30 Under 17 Men/Sen Women  6k
   12.15 Senior Men  8k

Other events
  02/10/21 County XC Relays, Weald Park, Noon
  08/01/22 County XC Championships, Gloucester Park, Basildon
  29/01/22 Southern XC Championships, to be decided
  26/02/22 National XC Championships, to be decided

Course maps will be published where known although subject to last minute change due to ground conditions. Details of many of the event venues can be found here. 

A cross country trophy is awarded each year, one to each male and one to each female runner who is considered to have given most commitment to the Club’s programme of league matches. For details please click here.