The 2025/26 UK Athletics Cross Challenge Series is set to hit the mud this winter, bringing together Britain’s top endurance athletes, clubs, and aspiring juniors across four landmark events.

With a refreshed calendar that travels from Wales to Liverpool, then to London and Nottingham, this season promises to showcase the talent of UK cross-country runners.

The series kicks off on 8 November 2025 at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff, a fixture that hosts a local league and holds a prestigious Gold Label in the World Cross Country Tour.

Moving to Sefton Park, Liverpool on 22 November 2025 for the European Cross Country Championships trials, where athletes will be looking to book their spots on the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for Portugal in December.

After the Christmas break, the action returns to the capital on 7 February 2026 at the London Cross Challenge, held on the revered terrain of Parliament Hill, which hosts the Home Countries & Celtic Countries International.

The series concludes on 7 March 2026 at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, where we will crown the overall winner from the series, also incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Championships.

Entries are already open for Cardiff, Liverpool and Nottingham. Follow the links for entry details.

While the series retains its core structure of multiple rounds awarding points across age categories (Senior, U20, U17, U15, U13), a stand out elements include:

• The return to the capital for the iconic hills of Hampstead Heath in what is tipped to be a modern cross-country route!
• With fewer rounds than some previous seasons and no final, the intensity rises: every race counts.

• To be eligible for overall Series awards, Senior and Junior athletes must run in at least two of the four races being held in the series. Each athlete’s scores from the races they compete in will determine their overall placing.
• European Cross Country Trials for the senior and U23 races will be incorporated into the Liverpool race.

• There will be two para cross challenge races, the first in Liverpool and the second at the Nottingham event.

The UK Athletics Cross Challenge is a showcase of the depth of British endurance running, illustrates the pathway from club level to national representation. The series will build the atmosphere, community and competitive edge that fuels the sport.

How to get involved

Cardiff – Saturday 8 November 2025

Athlete sign up link and deadline for entries is 30/10/2025

Liverpool – Saturday 22 November 2025

Athlete sign up link and deadline for entries is 16/11/2025

London – Saturday 7 February 2026

More information can be found here 

Nottingham – Saturday 7 March 2026

Athlete sign up link and deadline for entries is 01/03/2026