2026 Wellington Cross Country Championships – SUNDAY 19 JULY – Harcourt Park
FULL INFORMATION INCLUDING COURSE MAP HERE
NOTE: Two key changes for 2026
1. Masters Women 50 will do the 8km race (was 4km last year)
2. Men Under 20 will do the 4km race (was 8km last year).
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course will b based on a 2km lap, which will be the same as used last year. The lap has a mixture of flat and undulating cross country running, and is suitable for spikes. It is likely that the course will be firm underfoot, unless there is heavy rain in the hours prior to the event in which case parts will get muddy and slippery. Each lap crosses a tar sealed road twice. The course will be marked with tape, cones and flags. Competitors are to run between flags / cones, and around the outside of the tape – no cutting corners!
Beware: The Park is open to the public, so beware of the potential for spectators, members of the public and dogs to venture onto the course while you are competing.
AGE GRADES & DISTANCES:
Wellington Championship grades are: U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, U20, Senior, Masters 35, 50, 60, 65 and 70.
For all grades except Masters, ages are at 31st December 2026. For Masters’ grades, ages are age on the day.
RUNNERS COMPETING OUT OF GRADE : Any competitor who wants to compete out of grade (including in the non-championship grades in the 4km & 8km races) must notify Daryl Bloomfield (daryl@fedude.co.nz) by Friday 17 July.
Championship Distances are:
8.0km: SW, SM, MW35, MM35, MW50 and MM50
4.0km: MW60, MM60, MW65, MM65, MW70 and MM70 Under 16, Under 18 & Under 20, All other Adult grades (non-championship)
2.0km: Under 12 and Under 14 Boys & Girls
1.0km : Under 10 Boys & Girls
RACE START TIMES AND DISTANCES:
11.00 am: 4.0km Races
11.30am: 1.0km* Races *The 1km loop will be the first half of the 2km lap
11.45am: 2.0km Races
12.00pm: 8.0km Races including other Adult grades (non-championship)
ENTRY AND ELIGIBILITY:
The event is open to any athlete registered in the Athletes NZ GameDay database as “Competitive” and “Active and Financial” as at 11.59pm on Friday 17 July 2026. Only “Competitive” members of an Athletics Wellington club will be eligible for championship medals and to count in teams’ races.
Competitive athletes from other Centres are welcome. They are to email their entry to Daryl Bloomfield (daryl@fedude.co.nz) by 17 July and pay their $16 entry fee direct to Athletics Wellington (deposit into 031-540-0009238-00).
ENTRY FEES:
Athletics Wellington clubs will be invoiced after the event for the competitors who finish:
$16 for all competitors aged 20+
$11.50 for all competitors under 20
RACE UNIFORM AND NUMBERS:
All competitors must wear their official club uniform and their Athletics Wellington race bib (as issued for the Dorne Cup and Vosseler Shield) on the front of their uniform. If you have misplaced / lost your race bib, please see Daryl Bloomfield on race day for a temporary bib (which must be returned after your race).
TEAM RACES:
There are team races for each championship grade, except Seniors where the team race will be Open (first 6 from each club in the 8km race to count for the Men, who will compete for the White & Mackay Shield, and first 4 from each club in the 8km race to count for the Women).Counting Individuals for teams: First six from each club to count for Open Men and four for all other grades.
MEDALS: Athletics Wellington championship medals are awarded for the first three registered Wellington athletes in each grade. These medals will be presented at the Soundshell as soon as possible after each race.
CONTACT DETAILS
Race Director: Todd Stevens
Email: toddstevens6@gmail.com
Entries,Timing and Results Manager: Daryl Bloomfield
Email: daryl@fedude.co.nz
