The English Cross Country Association

Home of the English National and Relay Cross Country Champs, and national team

THE NATIONAL, PARLIAMENT HILL 2025; FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are there cut offs / time limits for entrants to The National?

There are no cut off times etc as such, but we would ask that when you are considering an entry, you take into consideration the fact that the senior races may be multi-lap, and that it is a National Championship.

Is there car parking?

There is no car parking provided at Parliament Hill for this event

How do I book coach parking?

Parking is provided for coaches, the parking being about a half mile walk from the course; a permit to park a coach can be purchased for £40, via a link on the SportsSoft entry portal (this appears directly under the main entry link). No coaches will be admitted without a permit.

Do you accept late entries?

No, late entries are not accepted under any circumstances. Technological advances mean that we are now able to set the closing date much closer to the event date than was previously the case.

Can you run up/down age groups?

No, all athletes must run in the age groups for which they are qualified.

Can you run second claim?

Second claim entrants are not allowed. You must compete for your EA-affiliated first claim club only.

Can Scottish, Welsh or Irish affiliated athletes enter the English National?

Only athletes who are first claim registered members of a club that is affiliated to England Athletics may enter the English National CC. Members of clubs that are affiliated to the other three Home Countries may not enter the English National.

Is there a drop off point for club tents?

As there is no dedicated parking, and the venue relies almost entirely on public transport, we cannot provide a designated drop-off facility for club tents.

Can entries be transferred?

No, entries cannot be transferred under any circumstances

Should I enter as an individual, or through my club team?

In the first instance you should enter via your club team if possible. If your club is not entering a team, you may enter as an individual. Note that for team entries, the ECCA meet the admin costs associated with processing the entry, so you will pay just the headline figure of £15 per athlete. Whereas individual entries are charged a small admin fee on top of this £15.

What if our club has some athletes entered as individuals, and others via a team entry for the same race? Will they all score for the team?

Provided that the club name is correctly entered on an individual entry, those individuals will be included in their club’s team score if applicable. However, we advise entering as a team entry wherever possible (see above)

When are the age groups determined from?

All age groups are taken from the athlete’s age on 31st August 2024