Event information
The Cardiff Cross Challenge was founded in 1997 by Graham Finlayson BEM, and took place inside the Castle walls for two years, since then it has grown into one of the most prestigious Cross Country events in the UK.
Our event reguarly hosts Inter-area match’s, and has held Home Country International’s on numerous occasions. In 2000 we played host to the AAA Inter-Counties Championships which now takes place annually in Birmingham.
In 2021 our race attained a prestigious Gold Label as the season opener in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
The senior races in the 2022 event were won by former World U20 5,000m Champion Edward Zakayo and World Cross Country Championship U20 Bronze medalist Pamela Kosgei.
The 2023 event saw a runaway victory for Keneth Kiprop of Uganda and a carefully executed victory for Great Britain’s Megan Keith who went on to claim the largest winning margin ever achieved at the Spar European Cross Country Championships with victory in the U23 Women’s race. Other notable performers included former World U20 1500m Champion Vincent Keter and Likina Amebaw who has won World Cross Country Tour Gold Label meetings in Albufeira, Soria and Zornotza.
In 2024 Kiprop overcame a strong International field to retain his title with Ugandan Charity Cherop storming to women’s race victory ahead of Kenya’s Sheila Jebet. Olympic finalists Niels Laros and Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands were among the top European contenders racing. Zak Mahamed and Kate Axford were the first Britons to finish.
The 2025 event again takes place in Llandaff Fields, just north of the City Centre, alongside the River Taff and will once again bring a selection of the world’s top Cross Country performers to compete in Cardiff. Additionally, the 2025 races will host the Mixed Relay Trial race for the Spar European Cross Country Championships.
All races are fully marshalled, and the course is marked to national standards.
St John Ambulance will be in attendance. A Sports shop and Catering facilities will be available. Hotel accommodation is available nearby, and more information can be found on the Travel Page.
A Race Timetable can be found HERE
A Course Map will follow HERE
Full event information will follow HERE
Open race prize money is on offer in the senior races only (for both genders) as follows;
1st: $1,500
2nd: $800
3rd: $500
4th: $200
Details of British Only Prize Money follow here;
Please note: If an athlete wins an open race prize, any British only prize money will be deducted from the total amount.
