The English Cross Country Association (ECCA) is the governing body of
cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and soil, earth, pass through woodlands and ope ...
in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. Its objectives are to promote and develop cross country running and to advance and safeguard the interests of the sport and the governing body. It organises the
English National Cross Country Championships where athletes compete for their clubs, and manages the England teams in cross country competition, including the selection of athletes for some international permit events.
It was founded in 1992 with the joining of the English Cross Country Union and the Women’s Cross Country and Road Running Association.
Its headquarters are located at the
England Athletics headquarters in
Solihull
Solihull ( ) is a market town and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Solihull is situated on the River Blythe in the Arden, Warwickshire, Forest of Arden ar ...
.
The ECCA is distinct from the
UK Counties Athletics Union, which organises inter-county competition and holds the annual Inter-County Cross Country Championships. At the Inter-Counties athletes represent (and are selected by) their home counties, not their clubs.
History
The National Cross-Country Union was founded in 1883 and in 1933 the organisation was renamed the English Cross-Country Union (ECCU).
The ECCA was founded 1992 with the joining of the English Cross Country Union and the Women’s Cross Country and Road Running Association. And soon
united of the men’s and women’s Nationals on one day and at one venue. The first joint
English National Cross Country Championships was held at
Luton
Luton () is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census.
Luton is on the River Lea, about north-west of London. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settleme ...
in 1995.
Teams
The policy of the Association is to send teams to major international cross country events, in order that athletes develop and gain experience of travelling and competing against elite athletes from other Countries.
England teams become selected for the Senior age group and the IAAF Under 20/Junior age groups for both men and women. No athletes who are under the age of 16 on the day of competition will be selected and if under 18 will be required to complete a parental consent form.
Sponsorship
The ECCA and
Saucony have agreed a new three-year deal to sponsor the
English National Cross Country Championships and the English Cross Country Relays. The new agreement is starting on 1 January 2009 and following on from the six years that Saucony have already sponsored the Championships. The successful partnership has seen the Numbers taking part in some of the age groups grow in the size while the Relays have gone from strength to strength.
See also
*
National Council for School Sport
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official SiteUK AthleticsEngland Athletics
Athletics in England
Cross country running in the United Kingdom
Cross country running organizations
1888 establishments in England
Solihull
Cross Country