Important Updates - 2026/27 Cross County Season

The 2026 cross-country season is almost upon us, with the Athletics Wicklow County Championships kicking off in October.

Even Ages, U20 (Junior) and Novice Championships

The first championship fixture of the season takes place on Sunday, October 4th at 10am at Russborough House, Blessington (W91 W284), hosted by Lakeshore Striders A.C.

The programme is as follows:

• U07/U08: 500m – non-championship; team medals only

• U09/U10: 1000m – non-championship; team medals only

• U11/U12: 2000m

• U13/U14: 3000m

• U15/U16: 4000m

• U17/U18: 5000m

• U20 (U17/U18/U19/U20): 5000m

• Novice Women: 4000m

• Novice Men: 6000m

Athletes in the U17 and U18 age groups must enter the U20 race separately if they wish to score in the U20 championship.

Uneven Ages and Intermediate Championships

A week later, the championships move to Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum (A67 P303) for the Uneven Ages and Intermediate Championships on Sunday, October 11th at 10am, hosted by Parnell A.C.

The race distances are:

• U06/U07: 150m – non-championship; team medals only

• U08/U09: 800m – non-championship; team medals only

• U10/U11: 1500m

• U12/U13: 2500m

• U14/U15: 3500m

• U16/U17: 4500m

• U18/U19: 4500m

• Intermediate Women: 4000m

• Intermediate Men: 7000m

There will be no individual medals awarded in the U06/U07, U07/U08 and U08/U09 non-championship races; these events are for team medals only.

Entries

• €5 (plus transaction fees) for all Juvenile races

• €5 (plus transaction fees) for the U20 (Junior) race

• €10 (plus transaction fees) for the Novice and Intermediate races

• Entries are now open for both events on the Entry4Sports platform: https://entry.athleticsireland.ie/

• Entries for both events close at 8pm the preceding Thursday. This applies to everyone, including seniors and masters!

New Bib Number System for 2026/27

Athletics Wicklow is also trialling a new bib-number system for the coming season.

Under the new system, athletes will receive a single bib number that they will retain throughout the year, from the autumn cross-country season through to the summer Track & Field championships.

The system will apply to juveniles, seniors and masters, and will cover:

• Cross Country

• Juvenile League

• Indoor Championships

• Outdoor Track & Field Championships

• Road and Off-Road competitions are excluded.

Athletes will receive their bib number at their first competition and will retain it for subsequent competitions through to the end of the Track & Field championships.

• Official bibs will be mandatory for all our events

• It will be the responsibility of the clubs to ensure that their athletes present to the start line wearing their official bib

• Any athlete competing with an unofficial bib will not have their result counted

• Any athlete who competes (with correct bib) but has not entered the event will not have their result counted

Volunteers Required

As agreed at this year's Athletics Wicklow AGM, county championship events require both experienced officials and general helpers.

The Board will require volunteers to assist with:

• Setting up and dismantling courses

• Marshalling

• Officiating

The number of volunteers required for each event will be communicated to clubs during the week of the relevant championship.

Clubs are reminded that, in accordance with the AGM decision, names of officials and helpers must be provided at least 48 hours before the event.

Novice and Intermediate Eligibility

Athletes are also reminded of the Athletics Wicklow By-Laws governing eligibility for the Novice and Intermediate championships. Under the current rules:

• The winner of the County Novice, Intermediate or Senior Cross-Country Championships shall be ineligible to compete in County Novice Cross-Country Championship again

• The winner of the County Intermediate or Senior Cross-Country Championships shall be ineligible to compete in the County Intermediate Cross-Country Championship for three years

• The winner of the Regional or National Novice, Intermediate and Senior Cross-Country Championships are ineligible to compete in County Novice again

• The winners of the Regional and National Intermediate and Senior events are ineligible to compete in County Intermediate again

• Athletes made ineligible by the above County by-law may apply to the County Board for re-grading, such application to be made in writing for the April and September meetings of the Co. Board in any calendar year and will not be considered at any other time. Where an application is rejected, the athlete may re-apply at the next available window

• That an athlete who wins a medal in a Senior, Intermediate or Novice event, where there are less than three athletes, remains eligible for competition the following year