Competitions

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DATE: WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2024

VENUE: PENLAN ARENA, BRECON 

A course map & timetable can be found HERE 

Start Pens for 2024 can be found HERE

A Competitors List can be found HERE

The Event Programme can be found HERE

Please note changes to the course were neccesary due to an additional fence line at the venue.

 

RACE DESCRIPTION
The 61st edition of the Welsh Schools National Cross Country Championships will take place at Penlan Arena in Brecon on Wednesday 28th February. The course and event logistics remain mainly unchanged from the 2023 edition. 

Athletes are selected by their School District (eight districts) to compete at the Championships where both individual and team awards will be issued. 

ARRIVAL
If you are not arriving on a team coach, ample parking is available at Brecon High School and further parking is available at Brecon Leisure Centre. Both are only a short walk from the venue. Please do not park on the grass verges along Cerrigcochion Road, outside the entrance to the track - Vehicles may be booked if they do so.

Each School District will be allocated an area to congregate, displayed with the corresponding team's feather flag. Districts are welcome to bring team tents which can be erected in the main field as marked on the course map.

REGISTRATION
A Race Administation area is indicated on the course map. District Team Managers only are required to collect race numbers from the administration marquee unless they have arranged collection of numbers in advance. This area will remain in place throughout the day as Event HQ.

With these numbers, team managers will also collect;  Full team declaration sheets – 2 pages, 4 course maps, start pen sheet and an athlete change sheet, if required. We do need all changes to be recorded and not passed on by word of mouth as this could be lost in translation. Your numbers are colour coded closely to your district colours, and the race number and age group are printed too.

FACILITIES
A caterer will be in attendance, selling hot and cold refreshments. Toilets and changing are available at the venue. Further catering and toilets / changing are available for use at the Leisure Centre.

THE START
Competitors need to be close to the start at least 10 minutes before the start of their race BUT not take off their outer gear until told to do so by their team manager or the start team. The Start Co-ordinator will sound a whistle at two minutes to the start when competitors should enter their allocated start pen.

The allocated pen order can be found HERE

THE COURSE
Races will use an undulating and winding course, adjacent to the Athletics track. The course used will be similar to that used at the 2022 & 2023 editions with a changed section on the bank due to the addition of a new fenceline and one additional other section neccesary to find distance. It is a competitors responsibility to walk the course but please also make yourself familiar with the changes on the updated map.

The event risk assessment requires that ALL competing athletes walk the course before they race.  This is partly to make sure that they know where they are going but, more importantly, so that they can check that the course is, in their opinion, free of hazards.  If there are any concerns, athletes and their team managers will need to contact Derek Price (Clerk of Course), the Race Referee or Alex Donald (Event Manager). This can be done by enquiring at the Registration desk.

The course can be walked at any time but please do not impede on the course during a race.

A course map & timetable can be found HERE

THE FINISH
A barcode timing system will be in use and will replace the disc system used at previous editions of these championships.

RESULTS
Provisional results are available “LIVE” from the Opentrack Website and can also be found via the Welsh Athletics website.

PRESENTATIONS
Race presentations will take place as soon as possible after each race. The presentation area is near the finish area. Awards will be made to the first three athletes in each race and to the first three teams (the first six scoring athletes).

RETAIL STORE
Our retail store will be open at the event. Card payments are preferred.

SELECTION FOR THE SIAB CROSS COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL
This will be the official selection race for the SIAB Cross Country International in Santry, Dublin on 23rd March. 

You can read the selection policy HERE

VOLUNTEER WITH US

We need more course marshals, register here to volunteer at the event

You can gain Time Tempo Credits by volunteering at our Championship events. Sign up here to Tempo Time Credits as a volunteer to gain credits at our events.

Tempo Time Credits can be exchanged for a wide variety of products, services and activities. Fun activities include entry to castles, bowling vouchers, tickets to music or sporting events.