Killerton House to hold athletics event
The Killerton House estate, near Exeter, has been named as the new venue for the 2014 England Athletics South West Club and Cross Country Championships.
On Sunday 5 January, over 700 athletes will arrive at Killerton house to compete in the Championship. Runners clubs from 7 counties will take on a challenging course as part of the region’s largest cross country event.
The course is spilt into varying distances to cater for the wide age range of athletes competing.
The event incorporates both club and county championships for U13s up to Senior age categories and race organisers recognise that for many runners this will be their first introduction to an inter-county race.
England Athletics and SW Athletics Academy are also keen to encourage junior runners to take part, so this year there will be a Development Race for 8-10 years old where every finisher will receive a medal.
The Championship event is organised by South West Athletics Academy on behalf of England Athletics. Anyone born or who is resident in the South West is welcome to enter.
Organiser, Sonya Ellis from South West Athletics Academy said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the National Trust for the first time to host such a key sporting event for the region.
“Killerton is the perfect Championship venue and the team at Killerton have been a pleasure to work with. Together we have designed a pretty challenging race but the most beautiful course ever.”
Helen Trebble from Killerton’s countryside team added: “Killerton presently hosts the Devon Inter-Primary School Cross Country Competitions and the County Secondary Schools Cross Country competition, as well as our weekly parkrun and annual off-road half marathon series.
“The Killerton estate offers miles of trails and acres of Devon countryside to run off the beaten track so this was a natural partnership for us to make.”
Helen continued: “This approach to the championships really appeals to Killerton’s aspiration to increase community sports on the estate. We look forward to encouraging runners of all levels, particularly those who aren’t affiliated with a running club, to use this event to give cross country a try.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to compete alongside regional athletes while seeing parts of Killerton you may not have already explored.
“Our competitors will be well looked after. A team of Gamesmakers from the 2012 London Olympics are volunteering their support on the day and the newly formed Exeter Police Cadets will be marshalling our course.”
The closing date for registration is Sunday 15 December 2013. For full details and how to enter visit: sw-athletics-academy.co.uk/sw-championships
