When the shine of the summer season eventually fades, and the temperatures drop, it’s time to dig out your trail shoes and embrace the mud for… cross country racing!
For club runners in our area, we’re lucky to have two fantastic cross country leagues to get involved in: the Southern Cross Country League (SCCL) and the Hampshire League Cross Country (HLCC). Both offer exciting, challenging off-road races through beautiful countryside, and are open to a range of abilities.
You can expect:
Mud. Hills. Sweat. Cold feet. And huge grins.
A real sense of camaraderie – cross country is a team sport, and everyone’s result matters.
A brilliant winter focus – helping build strength and endurance for spring races.
And a chance to represent your club with pride in one of the sport’s oldest traditions.
The calendar of events for the 2025/2026 Cross Country season has not yet been released, but to give you an idea of when and where, see the list from last season:
Dates and venues from last season:
Southern Cross Country League
- 2 NOV 2025 – Benyons Enclosure
- 23 NOV 2025 – Bourne Woods
- 21 DEC 2025 – Lords Wandsworth
- 18 JAN 2026 – Chawton House
- 01 MAR 2026 – Alice Holt
- 08 MAR 2026 (TBC) – Fareham
Hampshire League Cross Country
- 12th October 2024: Popham Airfield Basingstoke
- 9th November 2024: Wellesley Woodlands Aldershot
- 30th November 2024: King’s Park Bournemouth
- 11th January 2025: Prospect Park Reading.
About the Southern Cross Country League (SCCL):
The Southern XC League is a friendly and inclusive league aimed at club runners of all levels. Races are typically:
5 to 5.5 miles long
Held from October to March, on Sundays
Run over muddy woodland, open fields, and twisting trails
Mixed, mass start
There are usually six races per season, hosted by different clubs across Hampshire and surrounding counties. There’s no registration on the day – just turn up in your club vest, collect your number, and enjoy the race. No chip timing, no stress – just great fun and a warm post-race cuppa.
Scoring:
- There’s no limit to the number of club members who can run in each race.
- As each runner crosses the finish line, they receive a token indicating their gender finish position.
- The top 4 female and top 4 male finishers’ positions are summed to provide a club score.
- Clubs are ranked based on their scores, with the lowest score at the top.
Inclusive Participation: It’s a misconception that only the top 4 men and women matter. Every runner counts! Non-scorers play a crucial role by finishing ahead of scorers from other clubs, boosting your club’s chances by increasing the sum of the opposing clubs’ points.
SCCL Rules:
- All runners must wear a club vest/t-shirt.
- The league emphasizes giving ordinary club members the chance to participate in multi-terrain events, excluding men with a pace faster than 5:30 minutes/mile (or women faster than 6:00 minutes/mile)
Website and social media for SCCL:
Website: southerncrosscountryleague.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SCCLUK
Instagram: @southerncrosscountryleague
Hampshire League Cross Country League (HLCC)
The HLCC is a bit more competitive, attracting club and county-level runners – but it’s still very welcoming to committed club athletes. Races are:
Slightly longer: 6k–10k for women and men respectively
Run on open courses with marked laps
Held monthly from October through February
Events are staged at venues like Popham Airfield, Fairthorne Manor, and Aldershot, offering varied terrain and a great test of stamina and pacing. Scoring is team-based, so every position counts – whether you’re near the front or hanging on at the back.
Races take place on Saturdays, starting with juniors at noon and finishing with seniors (women at 13:35, men at 14:30).
Key Highlights:
- Inclusive Participation: This league welcomes runners of all abilities.
- Multiple Divisions: Clubs are ranked in 3 divisions, but all runners compete together.
- Well-Marked Courses: All courses are clearly marked and marshalled, ensuring a smooth race.
Team Scoring:
There’s no limit to the number of participants per club in each race. Here’s how the team scoring works:
- Senior (Div. 1 & 2): Men – 5, Women – 3
- Senior (Div. 3): Men – 3, Women – 3
- Vets: Men – 3, Women – 3
Vets are included with seniors to form a scoring team, with separate scores for the club’s Vet team. Clubs are ranked based on the lowest combined scores.
HLCC provides individual results, considering age categories:
- Ladies: Senior, Vet35, Vet45, Vet55, Vet65
- Men: Senior, Vet40, Vet50, Vet60, Vet70
All individual results, including gun times, are published on the Power of 10. Clubs need to submit a list of runners with their UKA Affiliation number at the start of the season.
Rules:
- All runners must wear a club vest/tee shirt.
- First claim status follows England Athletics rules. Runners must represent their first claim club if it competes in the league. No competitor can compete for two affiliated clubs in one season.
Website SCCL
Website: Hampshire League | Hampshire Athletics
Join team HRR in the SCCL and HLCC to experience the camaraderie and support of team running.
