Contents
- 1 mile and 5k races at Bodington on Tuesday 27 October replace all training sessions
- Leeds Schools cross country league first meeting 7 November
- Peco cross country league first meeting 8 November
- West Yorkshire cross country league next meeting 14 November
- New event – junior races at West Park on 21 November
- Club Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 4 November
- Recent cross country results
NB please reply to [email protected] as the gmail address that I’m sending from isn’t monitored regularly
Most of this information is on our club website pagehttps://www.valleystriders.org.uk/events-for-juniors-autumn-winter-2026-27/
and it will be updated there as the season progresses.
Not training 27 October – we will all be at the Brownlee Cycle Track at Bodington
This will be the fourth occasion in 12 months that the club has put on 1 mile races for juniors and a 5k club handicap for those aged 11 and over (including adults).
Note that juniors 11 and over can choose either but can’t run both.
We have the whole cycle track booked from 7pm to 8:30pm and this is being paid for by the club, so don’t pay £2.50 at reception.
Those wanting to run the 1 mile should arrive about 6:45pm to 6:50pm. We’ll be looking for a few parents to volunteer for marshalling duties around the track and on the finish line and we’ll need them in position by 7:05pm
We’ll have a briefing for runners at 7:05pm and intend to start the 1 mile race soon after.
There will be medals for top-placed finishers and maybe some other medals too so don’t go home straight away.
The 5k club handicap is for runners minimum age 11. Runners set off, slowest first, fastest last, the idea being that everyone finishes at a similar time. Each runner’s start time depends on recent race times, including parkruns. If you not run any races (or any parkruns) then you’ll be asked for an estimated time. Runners providing their own estimates may not win the parkrun trophy.
It’s not essential to sign up in advance but we will put one of the usual “Names for” posts on Facebook and on the website.
Here’s a link to information about the cycle circuit (for satnav use LS16 8NA)
https://sport.leeds.ac.uk/bodington-cycle-circuit/
*** apologies, I know that about one-third of you won’t be able to come because you are away for half term but this is the only week that we can book the cycle track – normally there is a cycling club who book it at this time every week … except school holidays ***
Leeds Schools Cross Country League
Just over 2 weeks to the first meeting which is at Cardinal Heenan on Saturday 7th November.
Not all schools have entered for this, but for those schools who have, if you have been selected to run, this should be your priority over the Peco League the following day.
If you run and you still feel you have 1.2 miles in your legs (primary school) or 1.7 miles in your legs (secondary school) then come to Peco and give it a go.
Peco Cross Country League
Just over 2 weeks to the first meeting which is at Temple Newsam on Sunday 8th November
Quick reminder
- Sunday mornings
- 6 dates, first date 8 November
- 10a.m. approx. 1 mile race for those aged 7 to 11 on 31 August 2027 i.e. school years 2 to 6
- 10:20a.m. approx. 2 mile race for those aged 12 to 16 on 31 August 2027 i.e. school years 7 to 11
- We usually have about 70 runners entered
- 35 have entered so far
- £8 for the whole series
- NB the final date is relay races for teams of 3
Race information https://pecoxc.co.uk/pages/race1.html
Enter before Friday 30 October and you will get your name printed on your number bib!
Entry link https://racebest.com/races/8w7su
If you run in 4 or more of the 5 races you will get a league memento at the end of the season.
West Yorkshire Cross Country
Quick Reminder
- Some Saturdays, some Sundays, 5 dates
- Races at 11:30 for U12 (school years 5 and 6)
- Races at 11:55 for U14 (school years 7 and 8)
- We have 34 junior athletes so far entered for the Series
- First date was 11 October, U12 girls were 2nd, U12 boys 3rd, U14 girls 4th , U14 boys 3rd
- Race results below
- Next is 14 November at Wakefield
- Next race entry at https://www.race-results.co.uk/onlineentries/user/login.php?raceid=6173
- £25 to enter and you also need England Athletics affiliation
- Entries for race 2 close 11 November which means you can wait and see how you get on at Leeds Schools and/or Peco before you decide.
- If you entered race 1 you don’t need to enter again
- If you entered race 1 and didn’t run your number will be at the club flag on 14th
New event – Junior Races at West Park on Saturday 21 November
The main event is the men’s and women’s cross country relays for teams of 3 and promoted by Leeds University.
Prior to this, and for the first time, they are organising some junior races
- 1 mile races for U10 (years 3&4) and U12 (5&6)
- 2 mile races for U14 (years 7&8) and U16 (9&10)
The race HQ is the track at Beckett Park and the races are run at West Park which is just under a mile away to walk, 2 miles to drive.
I’ve put more information including a link to enter details on our website
https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/events-for-juniors-autumn-winter-2026-27/
Club Annual General Meeting Wednesday 4 November 6:30pm at Leos
This is the AGM for the whole club including juniors and it will include presentations by myself, Richard and Nic, amongst others.
All parents of juniors are entitled to attend and I hope a few will represent the juniors – we do make up about 40% of the membership.
Race Results
Northern Road Relays at Sunderland
U14 Girls
Dora Walmsley 16:36
Niamh Archbold 17:53
Emmy Deverill 16:00 Team 9th
U16 Boys
Ewan Reid 15:01
Bertie Bell 16:36
Harry Durbin 17:29 Team 31st
Northern XC relays at Sheffield
U14 Girls
Dora Walmsley 6:08
Niamh Archbold 6:31
Emmy Deverill 5:52 Team 5th
U14 Boys
Elijah Tedd 5:43
Samuel Keene 5:57
Harry Richards 6:02 Team 12th
West Yorkshire XC meeting 1 at Keighley
U12 Girls
4 Emmy Beardsmore 5:28
8 Essie Molyneux 5:39
13 Gwen Rees 5:45
34 Izzy Grosvenor 6:34 team 2nd
U12 Boys
3 Fred Rees 4:58
18 Jimmy Waddington 5:31
19 Kyle Reid 5:32
20 Leo Robinson 5:33
21 Dylan Talbot 5:37
33 Milo Headley-Craik 5:59
36 Athen Doherty 6:05 team 3rd
U14 Girls
9 Dora Walmsley 7:39
10 Emmy Deverill 7:40
22 Ella Ball 8:14
27 Matilda Dark 8:22
34 Niamh Archbold 8:40
40 Esmé Clark 8:49 team 4th
U14 Boys
6 Rowan Twinem 6:58
12 Levi Woodger 7:16
16 Alfie Rees 7:24
50 Ben Witton 8:57 team 3rd
U16 Girls 30 Imogen Burton 11:51
U16 Boys 17 Ewan Reid 15:10
U18 Ladies 18 Milly Booth 18:42
U18 Men 14 James Gostling 16:55