Cross Country History

[Witton Park]

I have old results from Mrs WP junior days which show a Northern Women's XC League that seemed to involve all clubs across the North in a series of 3 or 4 fixtures per year.
There were team and individual elements to this league with the top individuals being selected to represent the North.

Does anyone know any history of this league and what happened to it?

Was there a Men's equivalent?

I know that some of you on here have been around the sport a while so you may well know more about it.

there's a debate on another forum and it's quite interesting - along the lines of too many small local leagues, let's consolidate.

[XRunner]

The inaugural meeting of the Northern Women's Cross-Country League was 30 October 1965 at Cleckheaton (Athletics Weekly Nov. 13th, 1965 p6).

[Anorak]

No mens equivalent as far as I know.

Many 'local' leagues sprung up as a result of the running boom in the 1980s, although the 'Birmingham league' is / was more of a Midland Counties elite league - there were 5 divisions in it when I competed for Loughboro' against the likes of Tipton, Birchfield, Wolverhampton & Bilston, Coventry Godiva, Birmingham University, et al

[XRunner]

Manchester Cross Country Leagues:

Meeting of the East Lancashire Cross Country Clubs at the Y.M.C.A. in Manchester

Cross Country Leagues for the 1928-29 season
(Ref. Athletic News: 23 July and 30 July 1928)

Section 1: Rochdale H. Royton H. Middleton H. North Manchester H. Bury A.C.
This is the South East Lancashire League formed in 1913.
Note : A history of this League was issued in 1929 as part of the League Year Book

Section 2: Manchester H. Manchester A.C. Winton H. and Manchester YMCA H.
This was called the Manchester League.
Note : There was an earlier Manchester Junior League formed in 1899

Section 3: Horwich R.M.I.H. Walkden H. Proctors H. St. Patrick's H.
This was called the Central Lancashire League
Notes : There was also a Mid Lancashire League based in Lancaster
The existing Red Rose League was formed in 1970 Reference - Athletics Weekly, 24 October 1970, page 20

Section 4: Sale H. Manchester and Salford Lad's Club H. Broughton H. Salford H.
This was called the Lancashire League

Section 5: East Cheshire H. Bollington H. Crewe Alexandra H. Stockport H.
This was called the Cheshire League
Note : The former Cheshire Cross Country League was formed in 1977

Section 6. Leigh H. Bolton United H...etc.
I don't have much information about this section!

[mr brightside]

Some roadents are getting wet and muddy on BBC1 at 13.00 this aft, see if we can spot a Hunter's Bog Trotter it is Edinburgh after all.

[mr brightside]

Mo's had his arse handed to him, i'm surprised really- the course looked easy. I noticed Mo slipped crossing the beck coming into the home straight, that wouldn't have happened in PB Racers.

[molehill]

Mo running x country is a bit like a putting a Deby winner racehorse in the Grand National. Those spindly legs aren't meant for mud and crud, imagine if these races really did go x country instead of round a park.

[mr brightside]

Mo running x country is a bit like a putting a Deby winner racehorse in the Grand National. Those spindly legs aren't meant for mud and crud, imagine if these races really did go x country instead of round a park.

He's a bit of a mite compared to those big lads who've grown up on off-road. He tried to kick a couple of times but just got reined on. I was trying to see what his shoe choice was but couldn't make it out, i bet he went for track spikes.

[dominion]

I was trying to see what his shoe choice was but couldn't make it out, i bet he went for track spikes.

And so he should - absolutely hands down best choice for cross country racing. Every pair of "cross country" spikes I've ever owned have been rubbish, until I bought a pair of Brooks Mach last season - which are as light most track spikes anyway.

[anthonykay]

Spikes? Back in the days when I did a few cross country races, I wore Walshes for them just like for any other kind of race. I remember one year at the Leics County cross country champs, there was one section along a farm track: the track was hard tarmac, with rather rough, long grass on either side. I normally detest road running, but I was going along the tarmac noticeably faster than the spike-wearers on the rough grass!