🏅 Stand by for one of the most iconic sights in athletics as the National Cross Country Championships return to Parliament Hill for the first time since 2022. Spectating is free on the route.
NEWSFLASH: The 2025 English National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill is a wrap!
Email tickets@sportonspec.co.uk with ‘Athletics London alerts’ in the subject box to receive confirmation of when the race returns to Hampstead Heath, plus breaking news of other great athletics events taking place in the capital.
And in the meantime visit our ATHLETICS section here for events coming up in or around London.
2025 RESULTS
CONGRATULATIONS to Jess Gibbon (pictured below) and Richard Slade who took the senior spoils at the 2025 English National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill.
In gruelling conditions, Gibbon (racing for Reading AC) reigned supreme in the mud at Parliament Hill (as she did in 2022 Nationals) to top the podium in the women’s senior race. Amelia Quirk finished in second place over 40 seconds behind, with Olivia Mathias completing the podium places.
The women’s team title was claimed by Leeds City with Aldershot, Farnham & District in second.
In the men’s race Richard Slade and James Kingston went head-to-head for a large part of the course until Slade (running for Chiltern Harriers) pulled away over the final lap to win by over 30 seconds. Flurry Grierson was third.
Bristol & West won the men’s team title, with Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers taking second place ahead of their London rivals and hosts Highgate Harriers.
RESULTS in full for the junior, age group and senior races can be viewed here.
2025 EVENT PREVIEW – National Cross Country Championships Parliament Hill
With the London skyline as the breathtaking backdrop and thousands of athletes taking part Hampstead Heath is the place to be for one of the biggest dates on the athletics calendar. The English National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill.
The Championships take place on Saturday 22 February and a total of 8,000 athletes are expected to be entered. Races start at 11am with the senior races at 1.35pm (W) and 3pm (M). See below for the full timetable. And check out the live stream below if you aren’t to be on the Heath to see the action unfold in the flesh.
The National was first hosted at Parliament Hill in the 1950s since when the course has become known as the ‘home of English cross country’. The famous uphill start makes for compelling viewing as a sea of athletes jockey for position on one of the toughest courses in the country.
From U13 races all the way up to seniors, stars of the future and the present will be on show. It’s a day which brings together cross country specialists with the best track and road runners; all battling for both team and individual honours.
RACE HISTORY
The rich history of the race at Parliament Hill can be traced back as far as 1973 when Dave Bedford – then the 10,000 metre world record holder on the track – took the men’s honours. Fast forward to 2022, the last time the race took place on Hampstead Heath, and the senior women’s race was won by Jessica Gibbon of Reading AC who saw off 1000+ rivals. Mahamad Mahamad took the men’s title finishing first in a field of 2,089 finishers.
The defending national champions are Niamh Brown (W) from Aldershot AC and Hugo Milner (M) from Derby AC who won the 2024 championships which took place in September at Weston Park in Staffordshire. This after the race was postponed from its traditional February date due to flooding.
2022 REVIEW
WOMEN’S RACE
The last time the event was hosted at Parliament Hill (2022), Southern XC champion Jessica Gibbon justified her pre-race billing as favourite to win the 89th Women’s senior race. Northern XC champion Eleanor Bolton was second. Leeds’ Bronwen Owen complete the podium places. Team GB triathlon star Georgia-Taylor-Brown was fourth.
MEN’S RACE
In 2022, in the 134th running of the Men’s senior race, Mahamed Mahamed went out hard and never stopped turning the screw to finish a worthy winner, regaining the title he won in 2019. Emile Cairess (who would go on to finish 4th in the Paris 2024 Olympics) finished in second place. Alex Yee (who would go on to win individual triathlon gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics) finished in third. Mahamed’s brother Zak Mahamed, was fourth.
Once witnessed, never forgotten. It promises to be a memorable day of athletics in north London. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill!
🎟️ Spectating is free on all areas of the course.
TIMINGS & TRAVEL – National Cross Country Championships Parliament Hill
🕒 Timetable of races:
11am – Under 17 Women (5,000 metres)
11.25am – Under 15 Boys (4,000 metres)
11.45am – Under 13 Girls (3,000 metres)
12.05pm – Under 17 Men (6,000 metres)
12.30pm – Under 13 Boys (3,000 metres)
12.45pm – Under 15 Girls (4,000 metres)
1.05pm – U20 Women (6,000 metres)
1.35pm – Senior Women’s Championship (8,000 metres)
2.20pm – U20 Men (10,000 metres)
3pm – Senior Men Championship (12,000 metres)
🚊🚗 Travel tips: The start of each race is located near to Parliament Hill Fields Lido on Hampstead Heath. The nearest railway station is Gospel Oak (just a few minutes walk) on the London Overground. Buses 24 and 168 stop nearby. If travelling by tube Kentish Town and Belsize Park are both a 10-15 minute walk. Plan your journey at the Transport for London website.
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