Cross Country 2017/18

[Graham Breeze]

At the Mountain running trials races (and indeed the international championships) the women do less distance and climb than the men, though this is often through missing an earlier loop (i.e. around Latrigg when using Skidda)

Indeed. I used to be FRA International Selection Chairman and this was never a burning issue with anyone. It can be argued that the men's race is the men's race and the women's similarly and the respective heights/distances don't matter a fig. If the distances in XC are made the same (and I am completely indifferent) then what exactly would have been proved?

This is not the same point as, say, completing a classic course like a marathon or Ennerdale, where to only run 7/8th of Ennerdale doesn't have quite the same cachet (apart from other practical difficulties).

But XC? It's only a glorified park run.