Tonbridge AC (men) and Belgrave Harriers (women) won senior titles at a well-attended National Cross Country Relay Championships promoted by the English Cross Country Association (ECCA) in Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, on Saturday, 1 November 2025.

The ECCA organised a park and ride system with shuttle buses from four local car parks and had warned competitors of some variations in the course that had been in use for the past 30 years, due to some significant development in the park, notably in the woodland section.

Sunshine, showers and generally firm conditions greeted the athletes, team managers and officials in Berry Hill Park. That's not always been the case at this undulating Nottinghamshire venue known for its coal mining history, set within 25 hectares of parkland with a diverse mix of woodlands, grassland and wildflower meadows.

Having navigated the necessary transportation logistics and walked the course to check the new hazards, the senior men concluded the 10-race programme with 172 teams of four athletes finishing. Tonbridge AC (pictured above) raced to the national title in 1:00:06 from Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (1:00:31) and Cambridge & Coleridge AC (1:00:45). The top six were completed by Western Tempo (1:01:41), Newark AC (1:01:50) and Salford Harriers (1:02:16).

Previously, Belgrave Harriers had secured the three-to-score senior women's team trophy in 29:05. In a South-dominated leaderboard, the next four teams were Herne Hill Harriers (29:50), Blackheath & Bromley Harriers (30:05), Aldershot Farnham & District AC (30:13) and Thames Valley Harriers (30:26), with Blackburn Harriers (30:32) sixth for the North. There were 122 teams in action.

The younger age group winners were under-20 men: Aldershot Farnham & District AC; under-20 women: Salford Harriers; under-17 men: Blackheath & Bromley Harriers; under-17 women: Aldershot Farnham & District AC; under-15 boys: Bracknell AC; under-15 girls: Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC; under-13 boys: Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers; and under-13 girls: Brentwood Beagles AC.

More than 900 teams competed in the full programme in a hugely successful championship.

Results are at the ECCA website here.

Photo of Tonbridge AC men's team courtesy of Mark Hookway