20 February 2009
Cheer for our country's best runners at the Heath
Hampstead Heath, is playing host to the English National Cross
Country Championships this Saturday (21 February) with over 6,000
runners expected to compete.
The race begins at 11am and runners will begin at the usual
starting point at the back of the lido.
Bob Hall, Chairman of the Hampstead Heath Management Committee
said: "Whatever the weather, it is always a wonderful site to see
hundreds of runners lining up and the starting point of the race
and then surging off along the course. I am delighted that this
fantastic event is taking place on the Heath again, and we look
forward to welcoming all the runners."
The Heath has a long connection with sport generally, and in
particular cross country running. It is an excellent example of the
use of the Heath "for the purposes of health and unrestricted
exercise and recreation" - as laid down in the Act of Parliament of
1871 when responsibility for Hampstead Heath was given to the
Metropolitan Board of Works.
There has been organised cross country running on the Heath for
many years. The local club based on the Heath is Highgate Harriers.
It was founded in 1879, and - as the club says on its website -
"club members, past and present, have enjoyed running over the
beautiful surroundings of the Heath ever since".
Major regional and national cross country competitions have been
held regularly on the Heath since 1957. At such an event in 1973,
David Bedford (now Race Director of the London Marathon) won the
National Championship for Senior Men. In 1977 (again on the Heath),
it was the turn of Brendan Foster. These competitions generally
offer great opportunity for young runners, with age-related events,
in both sexes, for the under 13, under 15 and under 17 age groups -
as well as the Junior and Senior Women's and Men's events.
The City of London prepares the course and all associated
arrangements in full consultation with the body organising the
competition. In particular it always has a major concern for the
recovery of the ground after the event, and practical steps (such
as minor course adjustments to protect vulnerable trees' root
spreads from damage) are taken as necessary.
Ends
Press contact
Susanna Howard, tel 202 7332 3450, email
susanna.howard@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Notes for Editors:
The City of London has managed all of Hampstead Heath, apart from
the Kenwood area, since 1989, and has a long established policy of
protecting open spaces in and around London for the enjoyment of
the public, at no cost to the local ratepayer.
The English Cross Country Association (ECCA), the body
responsible for promoting these championships, was established in
1992 following the amalgamation of the, until then, long-standing
and separate organisations running the sport for men and women.
The ECCA has responsibility for organising and managing all
English national cross country championships, the selection of
athletes to represent England in cross country competition and the
promotion and development of cross country.