From 1st April 2026, the definition and names of cross-country age groups are changing. However, in practice the two changes cancel each other out:
- Old age groups (under 11, under 13 etc.) were defined by the age on 31st August before the race;
- New age groups (under 12, under 14 etc.) will be defined by the age on 31st August after the race;
- Since a runner ages 1 year between the 31/8 before and 31/8 after, the new age groups cater for the same year group;
- However, the U20 age group will lose the top year.
To be specific (notes below):
| Year Group (1) |
Age 31/8 Before |
Old Name |
New Name |
Age 31/8 After |
| Year 4 |
Minimum |
9 on day |
|
9 |
| Year 5 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
| Year 6 |
10 |
U11 |
U12 |
11 |
| Year 7 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
| Year 8 |
12 |
U13 |
U14 |
13 |
| Year 9 |
13 |
|
|
14 |
| Year 10 |
14 |
U15 |
U16 |
15 |
| Year 11 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
| Year 12 |
16 |
U17 |
U18 |
17 |
| Year 13 |
17 |
|
|
18 |
| Uni. 1 (2) |
18 |
|
U20 |
19 |
| Uni. 2 |
19 |
U20 |
Note 3 |
20 |
| Uni. 3 |
20 |
|
Note 4 |
21 |
|
21 |
|
Note 4 |
22 |
|
22 |
U23 |
Note 4 |
23 |
- Occasionally students are placed in a year group 1 year above or below. It is the age which defines the category;
- First year at university for those who attend, ignoring any gap year;
- The new category 'loses' 19 year-olds to the senior race. We are told that this is to promote athlete development;
- Given that juniors must move to senior races a year earlier, how should we cater for them?
