EA Cross Country Consultation/Survey
The question of equal gender race distances with respect to the BBO Cross Country Championships was dealt with at the 2019 AGM; the men and women’s race race distances having been confirmed as 8km from 2020 onwards. In respect of the other age categories all race distances were already equal.
In the meantime England Athletics has distributed the following survey encouraging feedback and provides an opportunity for clubs and club members to voice their views - see Cross Country Consultation below. Further information may be found on the UKA website, as well as in the athletics press and online forums.
Cross Country Consultation
Following the announcement in December from UK Athletics regarding cross country, England Athletics is supporting the consultation with cross country clubs and their athletes, cross country competition providers and the cross country community to capture thoughts on how cross country can provide equal opportunities for all participants at all levels in the future.
You are receiving this survey link as a registered athlete of a club that offers cross country as a discipline. If cross country is not your thing then the survey may not be applicable to you.
Whilst athletics is an incredibly inclusive sport, there could be greater equity in some cross country races and competitions by enabling all athletes access to the same opportunities through the race distances available to them.
Recognising that there are differences of opinion as to how best to achieve equality within cross country, the following the survey will enable us to better understand the views of clubs, their athletes, volunteers and organisations as to what greater equity in cross country should look like and how to deliver it.
World Athletics competitions currently have the same distances for male and female participants, Scottish Athletics have already equalised all their events along with some leagues throughout the UK. In addition, leagues, county, area and national championships in England have had equal distances at under-11, under-13 and under-15 age groups for the last 10 years.
To move this forward in the most practical way, it is important that we engage and listen to cross country clubs and their senior athletes, cross country competition providers, cross country leagues and other cross country stakeholders to understand what equal access means to them and then act on the feedback received in fulfilling our aspiration for greater equity in cross country in the future.
The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete and is designed to get the views of clubs/organisations and individual athletes. We will also be promoting the survey link separately to our affiliated clubs that offer cross country and member bodies so you may receive the survey from them too. The survey will close on 29 January.
Thanks for your help,
England Athletics, working with UK Athletics