The Committee has agreed the following structure and scoring criteria for the 2026 Club Championships. These rules will remain fixed for the full season and apply equally to all participants. The Championship rewards performance across a variety of distances, terrains and race formats, while allowing members flexibility in how many events they choose to run.

New for 2026, the Championship introduces a divisional format to create fairer competition across the club. At the start of the season, runners who completed three or more Championship races last year will be placed into divisions based on the average of their best three performances. All other runners will begin unseeded and will be placed into a division automatically once they complete three races this year. Divisions are determined entirely by results.

Performances are scored using standard age-grading calculations, with age fixed as at 1 January 2026. Each race awards Overall Championship points from 50 down to 1 based on performance ranking, alongside division points from 20 down to 1 within each division. Only one agreed distance per race will count for scoring, and results are calculated automatically from official race results.

You do not need to run every race to be competitive. For Divisions 1 and 2, a runner’s best eight results will count (minimum eight required for awards). For Division 3, the best six results will count (minimum six required). Volunteer points are available for club-hosted races.

Once the season begins, the rules will not change. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask — we are always happy to help.

Championship Events 2026

The Championship will consist of the following events (plus the additional “best performance” categories listed). Where dates are still to be confirmed, they will be updated once announced.

Best Performance Categories

• Harlow parkrun (Best) Link
• Club Handicap
• 20 Miles (Best)
• Marathon (Best)
• RunThrough Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10K (Best) Link
• RunThrough Victoria Park 10K (Best) Link
• Forest Five Series (Best) Link Advance entry for the series works out to £6 a race!

Sep 13 – Pleshey Half Marathon Link

Sep 20 – Ingatestone 5 Miles Link**Cancelled**

Whitewebbs Open Cross Country Link

Oct 4 – Southend 10K Link

Oct 11 – Tiptree 10 Miles Link

Nov 7 – ATW Remembrance Run 5K Link

Nov 8 – Stebbing 10 Miles Link

Nov 29 – ATW Hatfield 5 Miles Link

Dec – Bishop’s Stortford XC (TBC)