This year, our Junior Cross Country season commences at 12.00 pm on Saturday 29 March 2025, at the BBQ’s opposite Loreto College, Victoria Park.
This is a one of early start time, with races returning to the traditional 1.30pm or 1.15pm start time from the 5th of April
It will be a normal racing day with an U6 300m, U8 600m, U10 and U12 1200m, U14-16 4000m
Registrations will be taken from the 29th of March.
The Registration form will loaded here when available
The Program can be viewed on the Cross Country page or the handbook can be downloaded here (will be available shortly)
Age Groups
Our Cross Country age groups are U/6, U/8, U/10, U/12, U/14, U/16 Girls and Boys. U/6 and U/8 girls and boys generally run separately, while other age groups run together, but do not compete against each other.
Runs start at either 1.15pm or 1.30pm most weeks
Racing Distances
The distances run depend on age group and are as follows:
U/6: 300m most weeks with some 400m
U/8: 600m most weeks with some 700m or 800m
U/10: 1000m or 1200m
U/12: 1200m or longer runs with U/14’s
U/14-16 normally 3-4 km with the shortest 1500m and longest a 6km Lap of the Lake
Handicaps
Most events are handicapped. This is an important feature of our races as it gives everyone a chance to win. Handicaps are changed each week. Over the season, the handicapper attempts to give all boys and girls a chance of a win or place. Points are awarded for the handicap finishing order and the aggregate points earned over the season.
Trophies
Anyone who runs most of the weekly races is a real chance to win their age group.
Trophies are awarded for first, second and third place-getters in the Girls and Boys Age Group Aggregates at the end of the season. There are also special trophies for handicap races and fastest times recorded. These trophies can be held for 12 months.
Championship races
Ballarat YCW also conducts championship races at regular intervals. There are three Club Championship Saturdays throughout the season with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded to place-getters in each race.
Provided they are registered with Athletics Victoria, our U14 and U16 athletes are also encouraged to represent their club in the five Ballarat Cross-Country Championships. There are also Athletics Victoria Championship races where juniors can gain state level experience and competition.
The Victorian School Cross-Country Championships is a chance for YCW juniors to compete for their school rather than club.