What is the Harrier League?
It’s a series of 6 cross country races for clubs in the North East of England. You have to be a member of a club to take part and you have to wear your club vest to compete.
You get one number that you keep and have to wear at each race. Look after it. Wearing the wrong one leads to disqualification! You don’t have to compete in all of the races and you can start at any point in the season. The races take place at different venues across the North East, with a wide variety of terrains included.
The League has a handicap system with slow, medium and fast packs. The senior men’s race is approximately 6 miles. The packs start at 2.5min intervals with the slow pack starting first. Slow or medium pack runners finishing in the top 10% will be promoted to the medium or fast pack respectively.
The senior women’s race is approximately 4 miles with packs starting at 2min intervals and a top 10% finish seeing you promoted into the next highest pack.
Junior age groups have fast and slow packs only with a top 20% finisher gaining promotion to the fast pack.
If you are promoted to a higher pack, you stay in the higher pack for the remainder of that season and for the following season. See the rules for the full details.
The league has divisions for the seniors. Runners score points for their club depending on where they finish. The finish position of the club’s first 6 men (or 4 women) are added together for the team score. Teams are then ranked (men and women separately) and vie to win their division or avoid demotion. But all runners matter – non-counting runners affect the position of counting runners from other clubs, so everyone plays their part!
There are races for junior age categories as well. They have their own pack system and team competition. Even Under 11s are catered for with a non-competitive short run before the main competition.
You don’t have to be of a particular standard to take part, so even if you’re new to running you can give it a go. All abilities are represented. But you will need spikes or trail shoes – all races are off road. A love of mud helps too!
How do I take part?
Blackhill Bounders Team Manager – Stewy Bell nufcstewy@hotmail.com
Once registration is open for the new season we will let you know. Registration of Blackhill Bounders is £50 per season which the club covers. All you will need to do is contact Stewy Bell with your date of birth, the club will pay your entry for all races, Stewy will then register you via the on-line system. Collect your race number from the club tent on the day of the race.
2022/2023 Fixtures
Sat 24th Sept – Wrekenton
Sun 9th Oct – Druridge Bay
Sat 29th Oct – Lambton Estate
Sat 26th Nov – Aykley Heads
Sat 7th Jan – Temple Park (Davison Shield/Sherman Cup)
Sat 11th Feb – Thronley Hall Farm
Sat 4th Mar – Alnwick Castle
Please note: You must keep your number for the whole season including the Davison Shield & Sherman Cup. Do not throw it out after the first fixture. Replacement numbers are available from race HQ for £5.
Other XC fixtures
Sat 15th Oct – Thornley Relays
Sat 10th Dec – NE Championships
Jan – Northern XC Championships
Race order and times
1205 Under 11 Girls (1.5k)
1215 Under 17 Men (1.5 laps approx. 5k)
1220 Under 20 & Under 17 Women (1.5 laps approx 5k)
1235 Under 15 Boys (1 lap approx. 2 miles – 3.2k)
1240 Under 15 Girls (1 lap approx. 2 miles – 3.2k)
1250 Under 13 Boys (1 lap approx. 2 miles – 3.2k)
1255 Under 13 Girls (1 lap approx. 2 miles – 3.2k)
1305 Senior Women (2 laps approx. 4 miles – 6.4k)
1350 Senior Men (3 laps approx. 6 miles – 9.6k)
Under 13 – must be 11 on 31st August 2021. U11s turning 11 during the season may move up to the U13s
Under 15 – must be 13 on 31st August 2021.
Under 17 men – must be 15 on 31st August 2021.
Under 17 & 20 women – must be 15 on 31st August 2021.
Senior Men – must be 17 on 31st August 2021.
Senior Women – must be 20 on 31st August 2021.
Masters men aged 65 may (if they wish) run in the 2 lap Senior Women’s race, they register as per normal in the men’s race, then come to race HQ for a replacement number. Masters wishing to do this must stay in the 2 lap race all season.