53-12 North Essex and South Suffolk Cross-Country League

RULES 2009/10 SEASON

EVENTS

The league will host a minimum of three events of around 8K over a multi-terrain course. Host clubs should avoid pure road courses.

Each event must have a permit issued by the South Of England Athletic Association.

A junior fun run over a shorter distance can be organised in conjunction with the main permitted event.

The events should take place between October and March.

Note - Dates will be arranged at the Annual General Meeting to be held before the start of each season. The programme should include a reserve date, in case an event has to be re-arranged. For guidance, host clubs should avoid clashes with championship events or other events organised by member clubs.

AGE GROUPS

The maximum age for the junior fun run is for those under 17. The minimum age is 8.

The junior age groups are under 11 (8-10), under 13 (11-12), under 17 (13-16) - all based on age at date of first race.

The minimum age group for the senior event is under 17s ie 16+.

Junior runners cannot take part in both events, therefore, on their 16th birthday, runners-16 will have the choice of either event.

POOLS

There are two pools, A and B. The top club in Pool B at the end of the season is promoted to Pool A. The bottom club in Pool A is relegated.

ENTRIES

All competing clubs must be affiliated to England Athletics, for both men and women.

No guest runners will be allowed to take part.

TEAMS

Clubs can enter any number of runners in a league event, provided that they are first first or second claim cross-country members of that club.

CLUB COLOURS

Competitors must wear club colours in league events. Runners who don’t will be disqualified and will not score.

ENTRY FEES

The entry fee for each event is £2 per runner. Entry to the junior fun run is free.

Events should be self-financing, but non-profit making for the host clubs. This means that host clubs should be able to lay on a free hot or cold drink for all runners from the entry fees.

Clubs must pay in full by club cheque or personal cheque on the day of the event. No cash will be accepted.

A club that fails to provide a cheque for the correct amount will lose their points for the race. If, due to exceptional circumstances, a club cannot provide a cheque on the day, the host club can allow 7 days grace. If no cheque is received by the deadline, the points penalty will be imposed.

SCORING

Scoring is on the basis of first man or woman to finish scoring one point, second two points, third three points and so on through to the last finisher.

For the 2009/10 season, a scoring team consists of 8 men and 4 women in Pool A and 4 men and 2 women in Pool B. Scoring runners’ points are added together to give each club a separate team total for men and women - the lowest aggregate is 1st and so on.

The men’s position will be aggregated to the ladies position to give an overall team score. So if the men come 4th and the ladies 1st, the score is 5. In the event of a tie, the result will be decided by the total number of points.

Clubs failing to field an incomplete team will incur penalty points. The total number of male or female runners will be added to their points as appropriate, plus 1 point for 1 missing runner.

Any men’s or women’s team with one missing runner will automatically be placed after all complete teams. Any men’s or women’s team with two missing runners will automatically be placed after teams with one missing runner and so on. This rule also applies when the overall team score is calculated.

In the event of a points tie between clubs at the end of the season, the overall league position will be decided by the result of the final event:

• If two clubs tie at the top of pool A or B, the club finishing highest in the final event wins the pool.
• If two clubs tie at the bottom of pool A, the club finishing lowest in the final event is relegated.

Note - In certain circumstances, member clubs have voted to allow smaller clubs to compete as combined teams for the coming season. A club representative must attend the pre-season meeting to present the case for combining. This arrangement is for one season only and is reviewed each season.

Updated August 2009