IMPORTANT – Relays 2025 Info

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield – Saturday 1st November 2025

Team Managers please share this information with all those travelling to the event.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for ATHLETES AND COACHES

The ECCA has held the Cross Country Relay Championships at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, for over 30 years on almost the same course. However, the park has been subject to significant development this year, so whilst the venue is unchanged, the event is to be held over a very different course than in previous years, especially through the wooded section.

Therefore, it is the ECCA recommendation that all athletes and coaches walk the course before their race as there are some new hazards by way of paths and some small wooded logs to cross on the course in the woodland section.

Mass Start: In the Senior Men’s race, at the end of the programme, on the last leg there will be a mass start for Teams that have been lapped. The exact timing of this will be decided on the day. In Age Group races, at the referee’s discretion there may be a mass start for any runners in teams where an athlete on an earlier leg has failed to finish for some reason.

Event Administration
Collection of numbers (with chip within) will take place in a large “Registration” marquee adjacent to the club tent area. Numbers for all races will be available for collection from 9am. Athletes should check the reverse of their race number for a link to a limited-time offer of a 15% discount on Nike “in-season” products via the website of our sponsors, SportsShoes.

Declarations
A few days before the event day Team Managers will be emailed a link to declare their runners online. This link can be used to start and edit declarations up until midnight the Friday before the event. Any changes or declarations can be made on the event site on the day of the event (up to 30 minutes before each race) in the Registration marquee on laptops provided by FR Systems.

Travel to Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

As for the last two years, we are operating a ‘park and ride’ system for this year’s event from 3 or 4 alternative car parking facilities. NO PARKING IS PERMITTED FOR ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS ANYWHERE WITHIN THE PARK. There is limited parking in the park for officials and blue badge holders only. Blue badge holders who need parking should please email admin@englishcrosscountry.co.uk for a permit. Unlike last year, when you purchase a car park ticket, you will be allocated a space in a specific car park. This should avoid anyone finding that a car park is full, and having to be diverted to an alternative car park.  There will be a £5 charge for parking, which should be paid online, in advance, using the link on the Sportsoft website, which is now open.

You will receive a receipt which will serve as your entry ticket, and which will have your registration number displayed in bold for easy reading by security staff, and it will also bear the letter pertaining to the car park in which you have been allocated a space. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN ONLY USE THIS PERMIT AT THE DESIGNATED CAR PARK. Please have this available either on a mobile device, or as hard copy, when you enter the car park. There will be limited access available to pay on the day, but this will be by card only, at a cost of £10, available at the Ransomwood car park only.

The car parks which will be in use are as follows:

• West Notts College (NG18 5BH) what3words: ballots.shares.broke (Derby Road entrance) or behind.couch.lasted (Cauldwell Road entrance- preferred)
• The Crematorium (NG18 5BJ). what3words: rigid.grain.fresh
• Linney’s (NG18 4FL). what3words: toned.update.darker
• Ransom Wood Business Park (NG21 0HJ): what3words: mint.crib.trash

The park and ride for both West Notts College and The Crematorium will load for the layby in Derby Road opposite the campus entrance, what3words: forget.losses.closet

Shuttle buses will operate from all the above car parks regularly from 8:30am until 4:30pm.

Directions to Berry Hill Park will also be signposted for those who prefer to get to the park on foot. Adhering to the Parking system is critical to the ongoing future of the event. These arrangements are made in collaboration with local residents and Mansfield District Council, and the ECCA have worked hard to get to this position. Considerate parking is a condition of our future use of the park for this event.

Club tents – drop off
Each club will be issued with ONE permit for a lead vehicle to offload gazebos/club tents etc. This will allow them access to the car park at the Mining Remediation Authority (previously known as the Coal Authority) NG18 4RG. It should be noted that it is 500m from here to where the Club Tent area is. Vehicles then wishing to park at the Coal Authority after dropping off their tent must purchase a “tent parking” permit for this venue. This can be purchased on the following link: https://www.race-results.co.uk/onlineentries/user/login.php?raceid=5944

Coaches / large minibuses
Coaches and large Minibuses will be directed to Blackscotch Lane NG18 4WJ (what3words reference is aside.unions.legal) where parking will be allowed opposite to the park. A permit is required to park a coach or minibus at this location, which can be purchased on the following link at a cost of £10 per vehicle https://www.race-results.co.uk/onlineentries/user/login.php?raceid=5945