Yearly Overview

Milton Keynes 2021

Men's Team at MK Cross Challenge 2021

Michaelmas

  • Cross Country Cuppers - Saturday of 2nd Week
  • English National Cross Country Relays - Saturday of 4th Week
  • Cardiff Cross Challenge (Gwent League) - Saturday of 5th Week
  • 2nd- 4ths Varsity - Sunday of 8th Week (Oxford weeks start on Sunday!)
  • Blues Varsity - Saturday of 8th Week

In Michaelmas Term our main focus is the annual Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity Match. This is in fact seven Varsity Matches held over two weekends. Saturday of 7th Week is II’s-IV’s; this is where the Gentlemen’s II, III and IV teams and Ladies’ II and III teams race the light blues. The venue alternates between Oxford and Cambridge. The following week (Saturday of 8th Week) is the Blues Match, held each year on the ‘neutral territory’ of Wimbledon Common.

The team make-up is as follows. For the men there are eight people (six to score) in each of the Blues, II’s and III’s and for the women we select eight (six to score) for each of the Blues and II’s Teams. The Men’s IV’s and Women’s III’s are a ‘Mob Match’, so anyone can compete! We are one of the few sports with a mob match, giving everyone the chance to compete in a Varsity Match and beat a few runners in minty green vests!

So, how do I get a place on one of these teams?! In Michaelmas Term the Club holds two selection races, usually Cuppers and one other race, often part of the Chiltern League Race at Milton Keynes Cross Challenge. Teams will be selected based on the performances at both races.

Christmas Vacation

  • Winter Training Camp (TBC)

Hilary

  • BUCS Cross Country - Saturday of 3rd Week
  • Hyde Park Relays - Saturday of 4th Week
  • BUCS Indoor Athletics - End of 5th Week
  • English National Cross Country Champs/FEAR - Saturday of 6th Week
  • Teddy Hall Relays - Wednesday of 8th Week

In Hilary Term our main focus is BUCS, university relays and a selection of national races. BUCS is effectively the university equivalent of the English Schools Cross-Country Championships, allowing universities the chance to compete against each other. It is always a fantastic weekend with the club travelling all together and staying in a hotel the night before the race, competing the next day and staying on in the evening for the always highly anticipated BUCS afterparty, before returning to Oxford the following morning. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to compete with the men and women each having two races. The A race is a selected team of six for the men (four to score) and the B race open to everyone, with the top four to score. The women have the same set up with an A and B race, but only four athletes in the A (3 to score). Alumni are also very much welcome to compete in the B race too.

BUCS is a chance to put Oxford onto the national cross country map and beat the Tabs. In recent years we have regularly finished inside the top 5 with 3rd place finishes in 2018 and 2019. The team is selected based on performances over the Christmas Vacation and in the BUCS selection race, usually at the end of 1st Week against Thames Hare & Hounds.

During the term we also take part in various university relays, including Hyde Park Relays and the end of term highlight, our very own Teddy Hall Relays, in which as well as a university team, athletes can compete for their college, department or other sports club. Our annual black-tie dinner is usually held after this event with many alumni staying on for the evening dinner after racing in the afternoon. This event is always a highlight of the year and is not one to be missed.

Finally, the Club will send many runners to national races such as the National Cross-Country Championships and the Cross-Country Inter-Counties Championships. Those who are also interested in Indoor Athletics can also join in with our sister club OUAC and compete at BUCS Indoor Athletics and Indoor Varsity (FEAR) towards the end of the term.

Easter Vacation

  • Warm Weather Training Camp - 10th/11th Week

A significant number of OUCCC members will join our sister club OUAC on the annual Warm Weather Training Camp to Portugal. It is great way to kickstart the track season and to get to know OUAC people you may not have met before.

Trinity

  • BUCS Athletics - 1st/2nd Week
  • Athletics Cuppers/London Marathon (usually) - Saturday of 1st Week
  • Athletics Varsity - Saturday of 4th Week
  • Iffley Festival of Miles - Saturday of 6th Week

In Trinity Term, we join with sister club, OUAC, with most of our runners competing over 800m, 1500m, 5000m and steeplechase. The highlights of the term are BUCS Athletics Championships and the Athletics Varsity Match. To be selected for either the Blues or 2nds Varsity Athletics Teams you will need to compete at Cuppers, with selection based off all outdoor athletics performances that season and a particular focus on the Cuppers results.

Summer Vacation

  • September Pre-Season Training Camp