LOCAL RACES GUIDE
Triathlon & Multi-sports events in purple
Essex Championship Events in red
Trail and Off Road Runs in green
Cross Country in brown
Road races in black
Club Handicap Series races in dark blue
All runs in royal blue are Club Championship
NOVEMBER 21st— CHELMSFORD 10KM—Chelmsford AC, Melbourne Park, Salerno Way, Chelmsford—This is the Essex Championship 10km and is an undulating course at £5.50/£6.50 before and £2 more on the day. 2.00 p.m. start. 500 limit. STORTFORD 10—Bishops Stortford College, Maze Green Road, Bishop’s Stortford—This has been a popular run in the past with the club. It is an undulating but no too demanding course at £7/£8 before 15/11 or £9 on the day. 10.00 start. 800 limit.
NOVEMBER 28th - HADLEIGH 10— Hadleigh United FC, Duke Street, Hadleigh—This has always been a club favourite and is a good testing course through the Suffolk countryside. It’s £7/£8 before 21/11 or £1 more on the day. 11.00 start.
DECEMBER 5th— SWEATSHOP CROSS COUNTRY SERIES EVENT 3—Gosfield School—Halstead Road Runners will be our host. Club runners paid for with 11.00 start. Come and frolic in the Halstead mud. A tough heavy going vourse but well worth a try. 11.00 start. Let’s continue with that fine display at Ipswich.
DECEMBER 11th - ESSEX VETS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
DECEMBER 19th— SWEATSHOP CROSS COUNTRY SERIES EVENT 4—Hylands Park—This event will be hosted by Springfield Striders and general information as for Halstead. The course is a more pleasant, flatter course for those who like Cross Countries a little easier and very open pathways rather reminiscent of a trail run.
DECEMBER 26TH— WITHAM BOXING DAY 5—Witham Rugby Club, Spa Road, Witham—This event has always been an annual favourite of the cluband is a fast, flat course which is £5/6 before 18/12 or £1 more on the day. 11.00 start. T-shirt to all finishers. BUNGAY BLACK DOG BOXING DAY XC 5—Bungay Common, nr Clays Roundabout (A143), Bungay—Want to try another cross country? Well try this one. It is billed as flat/ undulating which is hedging bets at £3/£4 , c.d. 19/12 and same price on the day. 10.30 start. 150 limit.
DECEMBER 31st— ELY NEW YEARS EVE 10KM—Village Hall & Cricket Club, Little Downham, Ely—Ring out the old with this run. It’s an undulating course at £6/£7 before 17/12 and £2 more on the day. 11.00 start. 450 limit.
JANUARY 1st 2005— WYMONDHAM NEW YEARS DAY 10KM—Wymondham Central Hall, Wymondham—Ring in the new with this run and then pop down the road and see Norwich City lose in the afternoon. A pleasant undulating course that’s £7/£8 before 29/12 or an extra £1 on the day. 11.00 start. 400 limit.
JANUARY 2nd— 6TH APPLE JACK RUN—Hull Farm, Spring Valley Lane, Ardleigh (off A137) - This is a trail race with an apple juice and a piece of pie/cake for finishers. There is a 14 mile long course (9.30—10.30 start) with 1 drink stop or a short 5 miler (10.30—11.00 start). Only £3 to run and an ideal Grizzly / London run reading a narrative route so it can be an easy pace too.
JANUARY 9th— SWEATSHOP CROSS COUNTRY SERIES EVENT 5—Hadleigh—A welcome return of this tough but enjoyable Cross Country Course at Hadleigh FC where Hadleighs 10 is held. The info is the same as Halstead.
JANUARY 15th— ESSEX SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS—Club will pay for entries for this. Details from Jon and Nikki your Team Captains
JANUARY 23rd— FOLKESWORTH 15—Folkesworth Village School, Folkesworth Peterborough—This is a tough 15 mile 2-lapper and the course can get flooded in bad weather. A good run to try out to see how your London training is going. It’s £9 / £10 before 15/1. NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY. A t-shirt for finishers. 11.00 start. ESSEX CROSS COUNTRY RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS—Club will pay for entries for this. Details from Jon Bolton and Nikki Bennett the Club Captains.
JANUARY 30th— BENFLEET 15—Canvey Island Rugby Club, Canvey Island—This is another run that is good to find out how your London and Grizzly training is going. Particularly for the Grizzly runners. It is a cross country course and very muddy usually. It’s £5.50/£6.50 before 23/1 or another £1.50 on the day. 10.30 start.
FEBRUARY 6th— SWEATSHOP CROSS COUNTRY SERIES EVENT 6—This event is being hosted by Colchester & Tendring and is also being the last event Club Championship. They are being tight lipped over the event so full details to follow otherwise start etc as Halstead.
FEBRUARY 13th— ESSEX 20—Rochford, nr. Southend, Essex.- This is the flattest of the long distance runs to try out for London. Full details not known at time of printing. Will also be Essex Championship.
FEBRUARY 20th– GREAT BENTLEY 10—Great Bentley Village Hall—Yes our annual 10 is here again. £6/£7 before closing date and £2 more on the day. We will need lots of help so if you wish to run get your names down early for volunteering. The sooner we have enough helpers the more that can run. 11.00 start.
FEBRUARY 27th— MUSCULAR DISTROPHY BURY 20—Nowton Park, Bury-st-Edmunds—If you can complete this 20 you can complete the London Marathon I am sure. A very tough, hilly run all around the Suffolk roads and Nowton Park. £12/£13 before 20/2 or £4 more on the day. 10.30 start. 600 limit. There is also a nearly 10 race at £8/£9 or £11/£13 on the day. 10.30 start also. RODING VALLEY HALF MARATHON—Full details not known. Essex Championship.
MARCH 6th— WYMONDHAM 10/20—Central Hall, Wymondham—This is a 1/2 lap course which is fairly flat all round apart from the big hill 2 miles from the end which you come down on the first mile.. It’s another great London training course. It’s £8/£9 for the 10 or £9/£10 for the 20 before 3/3 or £1 more on the day. 10.15 start for the 10 and 10.30 start for the 20 with a 200 limit for the 10 and 400 limit for the 20.
MARCH 12th - ESSEX SENIOR ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
MARCH 13th - SWEATSHOP CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE RESERVE DATE - Let's hope it's not needed however if any event has to be changed this is the reserve date.
MARCH 20th - ESSEX VETS ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
MARCH 27th— STOWMARKETSTRIDERS JOE COX 10—Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stow market— This is a very pleasant out and back course through some lovely countryside. It’s £6/£7 before 21/3 or £1 more on the day. 11.00 start.
APRIL 3rd— BUNGAY BLACK DOG MARATHON & HALF MARATHON—Old Grammar School Field, Hillside Road, Bungay—Did not get into London? Try this run. A little tougher than London but lovely scenery in the Waveney countryside. The Marathon and Half Marathon are £11/£12 before 27/2 or £2.50 extra on the day. 10.00 start for the Marathon and 12.00 for the half.
Other clubs - If you would like your run featured in our site please contact us with details through dean.king@ntlworld.com
