Event Information
Booking
- This event is open to all Merton Secondary schools
- This is a Borough Championships event.
- Schools may enter this event now.
- If an event is full, schools will be placed on a waiting list and be notified of this.
- MSSP will contact schools should places become available in the build-up to events.
Age Category
Year 7-13
Squad Size
15 participants permitted per race group.
Eligibility
- This is a Borough Championships event.
- There will be a boys’ race and girls’ race per year group.
- Race categories may be combined depending on entrant numbers.
- Schools are encouraged to select their strongest squad and should be well prepared with the competition rules and distances before attending this event.
Kit & Equipment
- All schools MUST provide their own First Aid kit along with a first aid qualified member of staff.
- No jewellery permitted. If eyewear is essential, it should be made from plastic rather than glass.
- Runners of the same school should wear the same colour tops/bibs.
- No jewellery permitted.
- All children must wear appropriate footwear. For the secondary school event only, there will be one small section of carpeted terrain to cover a concrete path running alongside the course. Please consider this when choosing footwear.
Event Details
- Toilets will be accessible near the entrance to Abbey Rec Ground near the main entrance to park
- Upon arrival, please head to the purple gazebo in Nursery Rec to register.
- Abbey Rec is open to the public – Nursery Field is not. Please help us to be vigilant of any member of the public with access to Nursery via the middle gate. This is technically a school sports site during this time, and we are not permitted to allow non-school related visitors any access.
- Toilets are located near the entrance to Abbey Rec.
- Between parks there is a narrow path of tarmac. This will be covered with a layer of carpet material, secured down, to reduce risk of slips, but please advise athletes to approach cautiously per lap.
Competition Format
Yr 7 and 8/9 Athletes will complete 2 laps of the course, covering both fields.
Yr 10/11 and 12/13 Athletes will complete 2 laps plus an additional lap of just Nursery Rec.
The first race is scheduled to start at 15.15pm. You can select a maximum of 15 athletes per race and gender. Races may be combined dependant on entry numbers.
- Race 1 – Year 7 Girls (2.5k)
- Race 2 – Year 7 Boys (2.5k)
- Race 3 – Year 8/9 Girls (2.5k)
- Race 4 – Year 8/9 Boys (2.5k)
- Race 5 – Year 10/11 Boys and Girls (3.6k)
- Race 6 – Year 12/13 Boys and Girls (3.6k)
Schools must send appropriate supervision in line with their schools’ policy on pupils attending trips/events.
The event will be outdoors and there will be no indoor areas available in case of bad weather so please ensure your athletes come prepared with warm, waterproof clothing.
Rules
Participants must make their way to the start line once they have been called by the starter marshal.
The start clacker will be used to start races.
Once the race begins, runners must keep the course flags and cones to their right-hand side, ensuring they stay on the running course throughout the race.
Teachers and coaches are not permitted to run alongside the runners.
First aiders may attend children by crossing the track with the support of an MSSP steward.
Awards and Results
Awards
- Winners: GOLD medal and certificates.
- Individual Runners-Up: SILVER medal and certificates.
- Individual 3rd Place: BRONZE medal and certificates.
- 4th – 10th Place: Placing certificates.
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
Results
Results and event report will be available on the news webpage within 24 hours of the event ending.
Progression Pathway
Surrey County Cross Country Championships (held at Reigate Park in January 2027)
Timings will be recorded for the top 10 athletes per race. These will be measured against minimum entry requirements and qualifying athletes will be invited to represent Team Merton at the SSAA event.
Staffing and Spectators
The Nursery Road site is not a public site – it is hosted by Harris Academy Wimbledon and should not be accessed by members of the public.
Parent spectators are not permitted.
You will be responsible for behaviour standards of all pupils and visiting parents from your school.
Please remind them in advance of the event of our REFSPECT Code of Conduct
Staff must wear a yellow identification sash throughout. This will be provided upon registration.
You are responsible for the whereabouts of your children at all times.
Children must always remain with you the Spectator Zone unless racing.
Please support us in getting your pupils to the start line for each race in time.
MSSP Duty of Care
At Merton School Sport Partnership, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every participant is our highest priority. Our Duty of Care framework outlines the measures we take to ensure all events are safe, enjoyable and accessible, covering key areas including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk assessments, medical provision, codes of conduct, photography and data protection.
We ask all schools, staff, volunteers and participants to familiarise themselves with these expectations before attending MSSP events.
For full details, please download the MSSP Duty of Care document or visit the relevant section of our website HERE for further guidance, policies and event information.
First Aid – children should not be left alone in the spectator zone, so if a child from your school needs immediate assistance, please allocate a second member of staff to be responsible to attend the incident – around the course or first aid tent area, and one to remain with the rest of the team. MSSP staff will be nearby to support.
Staff must complete a team-sheet for their participants before or upon arrival.