The 2022/2023 British Athletics Cross Challenge Series returns in October as the best cross country runners in the UK will compete across the five event series which spans from Cardiff to Perth.

Starting in South Wales on the 15 October at the popular event at Llandaff Fields, an event hosted by Welsh Athletics, the series will then return to Teardrop Lakes in Milton Keynes which will also host the Home Countries International for the first time.

On Saturday 26 November, the series will reach Sefton Park in Liverpool for the European Cross Country Championships trials, where athletes will be looking to book their spots on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for Turin in December. Not only will the event host trials for the U20 and senior races, but it will once again include the trial for the mixed relay team.

Entries are open for the first three events in Cardiff, Milton Keynes and Liverpool. Follow the links for entry details.

Moving into 2023, we are delighted to host a fixture in Perth for the first time. Taking place in Scone Palace on the 14 January 2023, the series will return to Scotland for the first time since the 2019/20 season.

The British Athletics Cross Challenge Series Final will once again take place at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough at an event which also incorporates the UK Inter Counties Championships. The Final has been held at the venue since 2017 and will welcome back hundreds of athletes to the grounds in the New Year.

Cross Challenge points will be awarded to those athletes competing in the Senior, U20, U17, U15 and U13 races held at the British Athletics Cross Challenge events in Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Liverpool and Perth. Double points will be awarded in the Final, plus bonus points will be awarded to athletes competing in each of the first four events of the series.

UKA’s Strategic Lead for Major Events, Cherry Alexander, said, “We are delighted to see the return of the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series for 2022/23. There will be plenty of exciting and competitive racing across the five-event series throughout the age groups.

“The Cross Challenge series is a fantastic opportunity for those athletes developing in the sport, and it also provides competitive domestic racing opportunities for our British athletes to prepare them for Championships in the future.

“Thank you for all the stakeholders, officials and volunteers who make the staging of the series possible. And I wish the best of luck to all the competitors who are taking part in the series over the next few months.”

The British Athletics Cross Challenge dates & locations are as follows:

Saturday 15th October – Cardiff (Llandaff Fields) [World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold]

Saturday 12th November – Milton Keynes (Teardrop Lakes) [Incorporating Home Countries International]

Saturday 26th November – Liverpool (Sefton Park) [Incorporating European Cross Country Championships Trials]

Saturday 14th January – Perth (Scone Palace)

Saturday 11th March – Loughborough (Prestwold Hall) [Incorporating UK Inter Counties Championships]