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Athletics Auckland Cross Country & Road
AAI Race Rules updated March 2026
AAI XCR 2026 Calendar – compressed
Athletics Auckland Cross Country & Road
A Guide to Cross Country
Athletics Auckland hosts a series of inter-club Cross Country and Road racing events throughout winter (April – September) for all aged 7 – 99. These events are held across Auckland and before the NZ National Championships.
Many of our legends in the past (including Peter Snell, Murray Halberg, Jeff Julian, Dave Sirl, Martin Simmons, Kevin Ryan, Rex Maddaford) used cross country to develop strength to set themselves up for road and track later in the year. Many of the current champions, such as Cole Hocker, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Siffan Hassan and Faith Kipyegon (all Olympic medallists) also use cross country to maintain their fitness and build on their strength while preparing for track season.
Consider joining a club and you can train as a team, run as a team and learn from each other, building up friendships and interclub rivalries throughout winter.
This year the first race on our Auckland calendar is the Auckland Half Marathon Championship (for Seniors & Masters) and 10km Championship (for U18s & U20s) on Sunday 12th April. This will be followed by the Southland Centennial Relays hosted by ACA on Saturday 18th April.
We are excited to welcome our U18’s, U20’s, Seniors and Masters runners back into the Grand Prix series this year. The Grand Prix series consists out of 5 races throughout the season at different venues across Auckland.
The U18/U20’s, Seniors, and Masters’ can also look forward to the exciting Senior Winter League, where teams challenge each other.
For our Junior runners (U8 – U16) we have the Junior Winter Relays League where teams compete for the Hansen and Turnco Shields.
Running complements all other winter sports as it improves your fitness levels. So why not give Cross Country and Road a go this year? Who knows, you might just love it!
Senior Winter League
The Senior Winter League was introduced in 2024. Due to its popularity, it is back on the calendar this year. Entries to the Senior Winter League races are open to all runners aged U18 and above.
The overall goal of the 2026 Winter League is: To add interest and fun, encourage a bit of friendly interclub rivalry, and to get more athletes out racing throughout the winter.
This year representation counts more. One point will be allocated for each athlete who starts an event for their club.
Team sizes: Women: 3 in a team Men: 4 in a team
Age Categories: There are 5 age categories in the league – for both male and female:
Men & Women U18/U20 Men & Women Seniors (20 – 34) Women Masters 35+
Masters Men (35-49) Masters Men (50 – 64) Masters Men (65+)
Points:
- Points are allocated at each event.
- 1st team gets 8 points, 2nd team 7 points, 3rd team 6 points, etc.
- For U18 and U20 teams, numbers are combined across both age groups.
- In relays, if a club has more than one team in a category, only the top team for a club will get league points. The club’s second team will take up a place though.
- Again, in relays, women can run as men (if there are not enough available men). Masters and U18/U20 runners can run as seniors.
- All athletes are encouraged to participate. Each athlete participating makes a difference to the team results, no matter your running ability.
- Team points are picked up as you compete and there are overall league tables for team performances per age category and gender across the whole series.
- At the end of the season awards are given to the teams with the most combined points scored throughout the season.
Events:
The Senior Winter League races are marked on the calendar as “Senior Winter League”, and consists out of 9 rounds this year:
Round 1: Southland Centennial Relays on Saturday 18th April 2026 at Dilworth Senior Campus
Round 2: Grand Prix 1 on Saturday 9th May 2026 at Pukekohe Showgrounds
Round 3: Grand Prix 2 on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga
Round 4: Grand Prix 3 on Saturday 27th June 2026 at Long Bay Regional Park
Round 5: Grand Prix 4;Bross Country Championship on Saturday 18th July 2026 at Barry Curtis Park
Round 6: Grand Prix 5/Road Championship on Sunday 16th August 2026 at Bruce Pulman Park
Round 7: Te Hāora |The Hour Race on Saturday 22nd August 2026 at Lovelock Track
Round 8: Auckland Road Relay Champs on Saturday 13th September 2026 at Mt Smart (venue tbc)
Grand Prix Series
The Grand Prix Series consists of 5 events, of which the first 4 are Cross Country and the final event the Road Championships. Athletes collect points based on their performances across the series.
More detailed rules around how points are allocated are available in the rules, please familiarise yourself with those.
The Grand Prix series is a chance to race regularly against some of the top runners from other clubs in Auckland and is great for your fitness and athletic development. It is also a lot of fun! If you have not had much racing experience, it is a great way to learn.
Races are split by age category. Distances vary from event to event but generally range from 2kms for the Under 8’s, up to 8km or 10km for the Seniors. Events are professionally marshalled and run under World Athletics Rules.
We have not forgotten about our very young runners (those under the age of 7) – fun runs will be hosted at some of our races, so you also get a chance to run. The fun runs are also open to all runners – not just the under 7’s.
This year, we are happy to invite our frontline emergency services to come and join in the fun runs for free whilst you build on your fitness for the required fitness tests.
How the series works
Individual points are picked up as you compete and there are overall tables for your performances across the whole series. There is also three Auckland championship events which form part of the Grand Prix races – (1) Teams Championship, (2) Cross Country Championship; and (3) Road Championship.
At the end of the season awards are given to the runners with the most combined points scored throughout the season.
Entries for races will be opened up approximately 1 week before an event. There is an opportunity at the start of the season to sign up for all races at once at a slightly discounted rate.
Age Categories for the Grand Prix Series:
U8 Boys & Girls, U10 Boys & Girls, U12 Boys & Girls, U14 Boys & Girls, U16 Boys & Girls
U18/U20 Men and Women, Senior Men and Women
Masters 35 – 49 Men and Women, Masters 50 – 64 Men and Women, Masters 65+ Men and Women
2025 Grand Prix Series Dates and Venues
Grand Prix 1: Saturday 9 May 2026 – Pukekohe Showgrounds
Pukekohe is known as a “true cross country event”, meaning it’s got hills, longish grass and usually a bit of mud!
Grand Prix 2: 23 May 2026 – Pakuranga Athletic Club, Lloyd Elsmore Park
This is an all-rounder’s course with some open fast running on the playing fields and some more technical (muddier), steeper bits as well. Pakuranga Athletic Club has food and drinks on offer from their tuck shop and bar after the race, which allows for great socialising with mates.
Grand Prix 3: Saturday 27 June 2026 – Long Bay Regional Park
The Long Bay course is well-drained with a sandy base, so it is dry and fast. It’s also short – usually 2km for junior grades and 4km for the senior grades. This is the course to show off your wheels and your sprint finish. It’s also right on the beach – so why not make a day of it and go for a walk or an extended cool down jog or swim after your run!
Grand Prix 4: Saturday 18 July 2026 – Barry Curtis Park (incorporating the Athletics Auckland Cross Country Championships)
As well as competing for individual points in the Grand Prix series, this race is also the Auckland Cross Country Championship.
Grand Prix 5: Sunday 16 August 2026 – Bruce Pulman (incorporating the Athletics Auckland Road Race Championships)
The Grand Prix series finishes with the Auckland Road Championship. The venue for this year’s race is yet to be confirmed. Again, the Auckland Road Race titles are up for grabs.
Cross Country Teams Championship: Saturday 13 June – venue to be confirmed
This year the Cross Country Teams Championship will be held as a separate event and not part of the Grand Prix series. During the race where you gain points for your club, so you run as a team. It is a bit like the American NCAA races. If you win your category, you get 1 point, if you are 2nd, you get 2 points. The team with the lowest overall score wins.
Community Fun Run or Walk
Children under the age of 7 years are encouraged to participate in our Fun Run. The event is also open to non-members and older children and adults who do not want to register and run in their age grade race. There is no need to pre-register for these races, simply come along and choose to run one or two laps of the course (each lap is usually 2km). Parents and adults can run with younger children or just enjoy exercising in the company of others in various parks around the city. Whilst there is no charge to do the fun run, we do welcome donations for this event.
Not sure about running or jogging the 2km/4km? Then why not try walking it? We invite Social Walkers to enjoy this experience as well. Entry is the same as for the Fun Run.
Junior Winter League
The Junior series is held across the season and clubs compete for the Hansen Shield and Turnco Shield and will be noted on the calendar of events as “Junior Winter League”.
Points are allocated at each event, for each of the Hansen and Turnco Shields. The winners will be the clubs with the highest score over the six events.
If a club does not have enough runners to form full teams, they can form a combined team with another club – noting that this cannot be the fastest runners from clubs to form an elite team. In such instances points will be split across clubs.
Entries are usually submitted by the clubs, so be sure to reach out to your local club to enquire about this.
The Junior series will consist out of 6 Relay events this year:
- Race 1: South Centennial Relays: Saturday 18th April 2026 at Dilworth Senior Campus
- Race 2: Oratia Junior Relays: Saturday 16th May 2026 at Konini Primary School, Glen Eden
- Race 3: Lynndale Junior Relays: Saturday 30th May 2026 at Olympic Park, New Lynn
- Race 4: Auckland Teams Cross Country: Saturday 13th June 2026 – venue to be confirmed
- Race 5: Auckland City Athletics Pairs Relays: Saturday 8th August 2026 at Cornwall Park, Greenlane West
- Race 6: Moire Park Trail Junior Relays: Saturday 5th September at Moire Park, Massey (tbc)
National Events on the Calendar
- NZ Short Trail Championship: Sunday 15 March 2026 – Dunedin
- NZ 24-hour Championship: Saturday 21 March 2026 – AUT Millenium, Auckland
- NZ Half Marathon Championship: Sunday 12 April 2026 – Christchurch
- NZ Mountain Running Championship: Saturday 18 April 2026 – Wellington
- NZ Masters Marathon Championship: Saturday 2 May 2026 – Rotorua (part of Rotorua Marathon)
- NZ Half Marathon Championship: Sunday 29th June 2025 – Wellington
- North Island Cross Country Championship: Saturday 4th July 2026 July – Taupo
- NZ Cross Country Championship: 1st & 2nd August 2026 – Hagley Park, Christchurch
- NZ 10km Road Championship: Saturday 29th August 2026 – New Plymouth
- NZ 1 Mile Championship: Sunday 12th September 2026 – Dunedin
- NZ Road Relay Championship: Saturday 3rd October 2026 – Whanganui
- NZ 100km Championship: Sunday 1st November 2026 – Christchurch
- NZ 50km Trail Championship (part of Legend of the Peaks): Saturday 7th November 2026 – Rotorua
- NZ Marathon Championship: Saturday 29th November 2026 – Whanganui
- NZ Long Trail Championship and NZ 5km Championship: Saturday 5th December 2026 – Nelson
Important Information for Race Day
- Have you entered: Make sure you enter before the entries cut-off date and time. Lists will be posted on our website on the Friday prior to the event. Double check that your name is on the list if you have entered.
- Be organised: The best advice to all competitors (not just first-timers), is to arrive at the site early. There is lots to do before a race, and lots of people are trying to do the same thing, so the best way to avoid being rushed is to ensure you have enough time to get organised pre-race.
- Check In: Athletes must report to the Registration Desk to check in and receive their number (which has a transponder attached). Remember to remove and return your number at the end of your race.
- Reporting Times: All athletes should arrive at least 1 hour prior to their race to give enough time for check in, check out the course layout, complete warm-up preparations, and be ‘race-ready’.
- Start Times: Start times vary for each event. A course map, programme and venue directions can be found under Events on the Athletics Auckland website https://athleticsauckland.co.nz/competition/events/
Go to the start line 10 minutes prior to the start of your scheduled race.
Remember, races can sometimes start a few minutes earlier or later than scheduled.
- Uniform: Athletes must wear their correct club uniform while racing. Please ensure you check with your club on what their requirements are.
- What to bring with you to the start line: Your club singlet, running shoes/spikes (if wearing these), your race number with transponder.
- What not to bring with you to the start line: iPods and electronic devices (you cannot wear earbuds / air pods, headphones, etc while competing). In most instances you will be allowed to run with a smart watch, unless otherwise specified.
- No pacing: At no time is pacing allowed during a race. You are welcome to encourage and support your athlete, but don’t run alongside them on the outside of the course. This will be seen as pacing, and the athlete may be disqualified.
- If you are unsure, ASK: If you are unsure of anything on race day, please ask one of the Athletics Auckland members or someone from your club. Rather be sure of the rules.
Athletics Auckland Cross Country Representative Team
Athletics Auckland will be selecting a team for the following Championship
Expression of Interest 2025 NZ Country Championships
Selection Criteria Auckland Team to NZ XC Championships
Athletics New Zealand Cross Country Championships
The Athletics Auckland Selectors attend each Centre Meet across the calendar prior to Team Selections. Special consideration will be given to performances at the Auckland Cross Country Championships. Athletes are selected for U16, U18, U20, Senior and Masters grades.
Athletics New Zealand Road Race Championships
NZ Road Race Championships are now a Club Event. There will be no selected Auckland Team.