England Cross Country is in fact the ECCA (England Cross Country Association) and the full funding of the trips that we go on are a result of the income from both the National Cross Country Championships and the National Cross Country relays (held annually at Mansfield).
This is the only regular opportunity to run internationally and be offered an England vest for those athletes who are both interested in cross country, and interested in using cross country to progress their own performances ie on the road or track. Without these opportunities many athletes on the ‘fringe’ would not get the chance to fulfil their promise or test themselves internationally.
The 4 England Team Managers, Eamonn Martin, Sue Lamb, Keith Holt and Jo Newcombe are all volunteers and spend a lot of their own time selecting then re-selecting due to various reasons such as injuries, illness and withdrawals. Some of these withdrawals are through lack of advanced planning or realisation of fixture clashes when the England event comes round having not been spotted sooner by athlete or coach.
2025
Jan 5th 2025 – Elgoibar, Northern Spain (final selection date Sunday 8th December) We will fly to Bilbao, Northern Spain. Best flights TBD. However, we are unlikely to get a return flight until Monday morning due to limited number of flights to the UK on Sunday post-race.
Selection – based on Liverpool European Cross Trial and current form this winter
Jan 25th 2025 – Hannut, Belgium (final selection date Sunday 5th January) We will travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels. Traveling out Saturday lunchtime returning Sunday evening
Selection – based on Liverpool Trial and current form this winter
Feb 8th 2025 – Temple Newsam, Leeds. (final selection date Sunday 25 th January) Home Countries International and Area Match in conjunction with UK Cross Challenge. Self-transport within the UK ECCA travel expenses to be paid
Selection – based on Liverpool Trial and current form this winter