The Cross Country (XC) Season is upon us and the key dates are:
- Dublin League 1 26th September.
- Dublin League 2 10th October.
- Dublin Championship even ages 17th October.
- Dublin Championship uneven ages 31st October.
- Dublin League 3 28th November.
- National Championship*** even ages 21 November.
- National Championship*** uneven ages 5 December.
Note: there are 2k juvenile park runs every Sunday morning in Deerpark and Cabinteely and other venues around the city.
Dublin League Competition
The Dublin Leagues are a great way to start the XC season. The distances for League 1 are the shortest and gradually build up over each league. The leagues are a great way for the athletes to build up their strength and endurance in time for the Dublin Champs.
Athletes participating in the leagues are awarded 10 points for each league they run. The top 20 finishers in each race score points, with 21 points for 1st place, 20 for 2nd, 19 for 3rd and so on down to 1 point for 20th place.
Awards are made after the 3 leagues are finished to the top 6 athletes in each age group.
Athletes must run in at least 2 leagues in order to qualify for an award.
Dublin Championship Competition
The Dublin Championships are run over two dates. The Even and Uneven Age Groups.
The Dublin Championships for Even Age Groups start at Under 10 and include Under 12,14,16,18.
The Dublin Championships for Uneven Age Groups start at Under 9 and include Under 11, 13,15,17 & Under 19.
The Even and Uneven Champs are run on two separate dates so athletes can choose to also run up an age group. e.g a 9/10-year-old born in 2011 runs in the U11 Uneven Champs. The 9/10 born in 2011 can also run the Even Champs U12 and form part of a team. This would also be good experience for their own race.
A 10/11-year-old, born in 2010 can run in their own U12 race on the evens race day and can also run up an age in the U13 race at the Uneven Champs and be counted in the U13 team. You can qualify as an individual and/or as part of a team.
Cross Country Medals
The top 12 individuals in each age group are awarded medals and in the age group U11 to 19 they also qualify to represent Dublin County in the National Championship. The top 4 scores in a team of 6 athletes from the team score and the top 3 teams qualify for medals.
The Nationals are held in December and again are on different dates for Even and Uneven. However, there is no national event for Under 9s and Under 10s (Dublin Champs only).
Clearly, the more athletes we have running the greater the race experience for them and the chance of a team qualifying for the Nationals as it is the first 4 over the line that contributes to the team score. To represent your county in any sport at any level is a great achievement. To represent Dublin is especially prestigious.
Blackrock Athletic Club Competition
To encourage participation in the XC season this year the Club is also awarding prizes in 2021 based on participation and achievement. In addition to some random spot prizes based on race numbers there will be cash/voucher prizes for the 10 athletes across all age groups with the most club points at the end of November.
- 1st prize cash/ voucher to the value of €100,
- 2nd prize €90
- 3rd prize €80
- 4th prize €70
- 5th prize €60
- 6th prize €50
- 7th prize €40
- 8th prize €30
- 9th prize €20
- 10th prize €10
Athletes score 10 club points for each race they enter. The total participation points is 50. (Nationals excluded).
Athletes score also Club points based on where they come in their race in their club age group so the 1st Blackrock athlete across the line in an age group scores 10 points, the next scores 9, the next 8 points down to 10th Blackrock athlete gets 1 point.
After League 3 the Club points are totalled and the top 10 athletes win. In the event of a tie, we will average those two prizes.
Let’s Do This
The coaches put a lot of effort on a voluntary basis to train the athletes. It is very frustrating for them when the athletes do not then make an effort to travel to competitions. It makes for a much better day out for all when we travel in force. Yes, some kids aren’t the fastest and don’t like competing but when they are there in a group this is less important. Competition is good for them.
Blackrock A.C. is the largest juvenile club in the country but has the worst participation in the cross country league. We would implore all parents to give their athletes the dates and get them to pick at least one league or park run and at least one championship run this season. Pick a date and commit to it, skip the hockey/rugby and whatever else is on and get out and represent the Club.
Many thanks
Nuala and Mark
Juvenile/Junior Captain
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