Athletes descend on Cardiff as Cross Challenge celebrates silver anniversary

This weekends cross-country clash in the Welsh capital takes place 25 years after the British Athletics Cross Challenge was created

It is exactly a quarter of a century since the British Athletics Cross Challenge was born when, in the early winter of 1997, a new series of events took place in cities such as Bristol, Margate and Cardiff. Using the Belgian Cross Cup as inspiration, the idea originated in the pages of AW two years earlier and, after capturing the support of title sponsor Reebok, a prize pot of 45,000 was generated. Its goal, as AWs Trevor Frecknall reported at the time, was to encourage and reward ambitious cross-country athletes.

Cardiff hosted its 1997 event in the grounds of Cardiff Castle with senior races won by Vikki McPherson of Scotland and Julius Kiptoo of Kenya as Keith Cullen finished top Brit in the mens race. Now, 25 years later, Cardiff kicks off the 2022-23 British Athletics Cross Challenge on Saturday (Oct 15) with races staged at Llandaff Fields on the banks of the River Taff less than two miles from the city centre.

Reeboks sponsorship has long since ended and the prize money across the series is not as much as it was at 25,860 for this coming winter. But the series is still going strong and the Cardiff event is now part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour. In a part of the sport that is hardly renowned for its prize money, senior victories this weekend will earn the winners $2000 apiece too.

Those winners will be different to last year too as the athletes who finished first in 2021 Charlotte Arter and Hugo Milner are not set to race this weekend. The races will be dominated by British runners and numbers will be boosted due to the event incorporating the John H Collins Gwent League but the senior honours could go to international runners this time.

Gizealaw Abeje Ayana finished runner-up in the Cardiff Half-Marathon earlier this month in 60:17 and the Ethiopian is one of several strong east Africans in the line-up. 

Rogers Kibet of Uganda is only 19 but has a 10,000m PB of 27:31.08 and he finished fifth in the 3000m and 5000m at the recent World Under-20 Championships in Colombia.

Edward Zakayo of Kenya is another youngster who is set to compete in Cardiff. He won the 2018 world under-20 5000m title four years ago in Tampere, took 5000m bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and was fourth in the 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year.

Added to this are Ismael Kipkirui, a Kenyan who was sixth in the African Champs 5000m this year, plus Joel Akeyo, a Ugandan whose past achievements include silver in the World Mountain Running Championships. Then there is Chakib Lachgar, a 33-year-old from Spain with a half-marathon best of 65:19.

Emile Cairess is the pick of the Brits on the mens entry list. He holds the UK 10km record on the roads with 27:43 and his track best is 27:34.08. Earlier this month he looked comfortable pacing the elite runners at the TCS London Marathon too.

Elsewhere brothers Zak and Mahamad Mahamad are in action. The former was fourth here last year whereas the latter is fresh from a 62:06 half-marathon PB in the Netherlands.

The womens field includes Pamela Kosgei, a Kenyan who was fifth in the World Under-20 Championships 3000m steeplechase this year, plus Wubrist Aschal, a 17-year-old Ethiopian with a 4:03.86 1500m PB. There would have been more overseas athletes, too, if it werent for a few visa and travel problems.

The home challenge includes Amelia Quirk, who looked in tremendous form at the English Road Relay Championships in Sutton Park last weekend.

Jess Gibbon is the reigning English National cross-country champion and the Reading AC athlete will be looking to start her winter in style in Cardiff. Kate Avery, silver medallist in the past in the European Cross Country Champs, has transitioned into hill and trail running recently but she steps back into familiar terrain on Saturday.

Megan Keith won the under-20 race in Cardiff 12 months ago ahead of triumphing in the Euro Cross junior womens race in Dublin and the 20-year-old steps into the senior race this weekend.

Plenty of local athletes will also be in action too such as Welsh international Jenny Nesbitt. Look out too for Cari Hughes, a Cardiff runner who now runs for the On Running team based in Germany. Another contender is Charlotte Dannatt, the surprise winner of the 2020 Inter-Counties cross-country title.

READ MORE: Cardiff Cross Challenge 2021 coverage

Seniors aside, there is a full range of age group races with the pick of the bunch potentially being a clash in the combined under-17 and under-20 womens race between talents such as Jess Bailey, Innes Fitzgerald, Louisa Brown, Ellen Weir and Zoe Gilbody, among others.

Look out for race day updates via the AW social media channels and website.

Timetable Saturday October 15
11:30 U11 girls (1250m)
11:40 U11 boys (1250m)
11:50 U13 girls (2780m)
12:05 U13 boys (2780m)
12:20 U17 men (5560m)
12:45 U17/20 women (4450m)
13:10 U15 girls (3200m)
13:25 U15 boys (3200m)
13:40 Senior women & masters (6400m)
14:25 U20 men (6400m)
14:50 Senior men & masters (9600m)