Editor’s notes: Well, British cross-country is real cross-country! RunBlogRun will cover these three races and request photos so you can enjoy them!
Yusuf Bizimani, a British 800m runner (1:43.31 PB outdoor/1:46.02 indoor), told this writer last November that British cross-country is “real”!
We want to see real cross country! We love real cross country!
#inthemixedzine, Yusuf Bizimani, GB, 800m specialist told #runblogrun that GB cross-country is real: mud, hills, rain! Yusuf provided a tip for 800m runners who are considering cross-country! Thanks Yusuf! #nikeswooshtrackclub, #swooshtrackclub, #nike, #nikerunning, #yusufbizimani, #eastLondon, #victoriaathleticclub , #thejourneytocompete, #runblogrun , #nxrsouthwest,
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 23, 2025
BRITISH ATHLETICS CROSS CHALLENGE SERIES SPONSORED BY SPORTSHOES X NIKE RETURNS FOR THE 2026/27 SEASON
The British Athletics Cross Challenge Series returns this winter, sponsored by Sportsshoes x Nike, as the UK’s leading endurance athletes take on the mud in Cardiff, Liverpool, and Nottingham.
From international medallists and Olympians to aspiring junior athletes, the Cross Challenge offers competitors of all levels the chance to test themselves on the same demanding courses, tackling the mud, hills, and winter conditions that make cross-country one of running’s toughest disciplines.
The series gets underway at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff, on Sunday 8 November, with the Welsh venue once again hosting a high-quality day of racing. The fixture holds World Cross Country Tour Silver status, attracting some of the best endurance athletes from across the UK and beyond.
Attention will then turn to Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday 28 November, where athletes will compete for Cross Challenge honors plus bid for selection to the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2026 European Cross Country Championships in Serbia in December. The event will serve as the official trial race.
The season concludes at the iconic Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Sunday 13 March 2027, where the British Cross Country Championships will be staged alongside the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships, bringing together the country’s strongest athletes, counties and clubs for a spectacular finale.
Throughout the series, we can expect outstanding racing featuring international athletes, ambitious club competitors and the future stars of British athletics, all racing shoulder-to-shoulder on the same challenging courses.
The British Athletics Cross Challenge has long been recognised as a key pathway for endurance athletes, providing invaluable competitive opportunities while showcasing the strength and depth of cross country running across the UK.
2026/27 Series Dates
Cardiff – Llandaff Fields
Sunday 8 November 2026
World Cross Country Tour Silver
Liverpool – Sefton Park
Saturday 28 November 2026
European Cross Country Championships Trial Race
Nottingham – Wollaton Park
Sunday 13 March 2027
British Cross Country Championships and UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships
Entries for the Cardiff and Liverpool fixtures are now open, and we’ll release more information about athlete registration for Nottingham in the new year.
Same course. Same challenge. The British Athletics Cross Challenge Series presented by Sportsshoes x Nike is back.
END
- Please see the full British Athletics cross-country winter fixture list attached here!
About UKA
UK Athletics is the National Governing Body of the leading Olympic and Paralympic sport in Britain. British Athletics represents the sport, the people, the athletes, the fans, and the team.
We work closely with the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) to develop and grow all areas of the sport, including elite performance, coaching, major international events, competition and grassroots programs within schools and clubs.
Find out more: www.britishathletics.org.uk and uka.org.uk
