AGE GROUPS FOR DOMESTIC COMPETITION

For the SEASON 2025-2026

AGE GROUP	AGE REQ. AT/ON 31st AUGUST 2024
Under 17 Women	Ages 15 & 16 years
Under 15 Boys	Ages 13 & 14 years
Under 13 Girls	Ages 11 & 12 years
Under 17 Men	Ages 15 & 16 years
Under 13 Boys	Ages 11 & 12 years
Under 15 Girls	Ages 13 & 14 years
Junior Women	Ages 17, 18 & 19 years
Senior Women	Age must exceed 20 years
Junior Men	Ages 17, 18 & 19 years
Senior Men	Age must exceed 20 years

 

The above age groups are for domestic competition and are the age groups rules as per UK Athletics and recognised by the English Cross Country Association and are the rules used for The English National Cross Country and Relay Championships. Also the North, South and Midland Championships and many of the League and inter Club Competitions.

UK Counties Athletic Union Championships and several; County Championships and currently the UK Cross Challenge series, then a different criteria is used for Junior Women, Junior Men, Senior Women and Senior Men.

As very often these races are chosen as selection for European and World Cross Country Championships and any other event being held under IAAF rules age groups are used with the 31st December/1st January as the date.

Having said the above for Under 13 girls, under 13 boys, Under 15 Girls, Under 15 Boys, Under 17 women and under 17 men, the Age Groups listed above are used for all Cross Country Competitions other than Schools’ Competition which uses different years as their criteria.