Events

All event info: Bush Half Marathon – WHAKATANE ATHLETICS AND HARRIRERS

2026 Waikato-Bay of Plenty Cross Country Championships
Saturday 18th July | Kihikihi Domain, Oliver St, Kihikihi
Hosted by the Te Awamutu Athletic Club

> Enter the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Cross Country Championships

Event Schedule

Event Fees Information

• Club Registered Athletes (Club Reg), means you have a current competitive membership of an Athletics or Harrier club affiliated to Athletics NZ.
• Not Registered (Not Reg), means you are unattached, and not a current financial member of an Athletics or Harrier club affiliated to Athletics NZ.

Championship Eligibility: This event is the 2026 Championship Cross Country event for Athletics Waikato-Bay of Plenty. Athletes who are a current member of an affiliated club within our region are eligible for Championship honors and medals. Please note – registered athletes must wear their club uniform to be eligible for Championship honors.

Open Event: This event is open to any athlete who wishes to participate, although Championship honors will be awarded to Waikato-Bay of Plenty club registered athletes.

Event Scheduling: The event will run on the published schedule. If you have not completed your event in the time allocated for your grade, be aware that the next race will be started at the published time.

Course description: The course is designed with a 1km loop and a 2km loop. Where a race is an “odd” distance (3km & 5km), the 1km loop will be run first followed by the 2km loop. All “even” distance races will run the 2km loop for the required duration.

The course is over a public park facility, with good firm footing in standard conditions. The topography is a mixture of flat with a few elevations. There are several barriers throughout the lap to negotiate which are all low wooden railings (approx knee height). Wearing footwear is recommended, and the course is suitable for 9-12mm spikes.

Course Map (click for pdf version)

Venue: Event headquarters are at Kihikihi Domain, Oliver St, Kihikihi. Early arrivals can park in the Domain driveway area, but when that fills parking is on Oliver St.

Facilities: This is an outdoor cross-country venue with no shelter. Toilets will be on-site. Bring drinking water.

Tents: There is space for club tents on flat grass surface. We encourage clubs to bring tents for members to utilise. Ensure tents are secured with pegs or straps. Come prepared for all types of weather.

Medal Presentations:  Medal presentation will take place soon after each event concludes, near the finish area.

Grades: The athlete’s grade is determined by their age on 31 December 2026, except Masters. For Masters competitors, event day age determines your grade (age on 18^th July 2026). Where multiple grades compete in the same combined race, the results will be separated and reflect the appropriate grade.

Race Numbers: Each athlete will be allocated a race number to be pinned to your front. Pick this up in plenty of time prior to your event at the registration desk near the start area (Athletics WBOP Gazebo).

All entries to be made online at: [entry link]

Closing date: Entries must be made by Thursday 16 July 11.59pm. There will be no refund of entries after the entry closing date. Queries regarding online entries to be directed to adminstrator@athleticswbop.org.nz

National Cross-Country Championships | 1^st August 2026 | Christchurch: The NZ XC Champs includes a Team Category for all grades U16 and above. The teams Category is held in conjunction with the individual races, with a maximum of 8 athletes selected per team.

Teams are selected by the Centre and compete representing Waikato-Bay of Plenty. Any athlete that is not selected for a Team is still eligible to compete as an individual, wearing club uniform. Team selections will be announced once entries have closed. There is no team category for U10, U12, and U14 grades, who all compete in club uniform.

The event also hosts a Relay Race, which takes place in the early evening after all Individual and Teams races have concluded. The Relay Races are club based, with clubs entering teams directly with the event.

All athletes need to complete their own registrations for the NZXC, as well as organise their own travel arrangements.

Entry closing dates:

• Standard entries close at 11.59pm on Monday 20 July
• Late entries close: 11.59pm Friday 24 July
• Enter Here for the NZXC

Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty will have a team site at the event and Team Managers available to assist on the day.

This is the pinnacle Cross-Country event in New Zealand. Waikato & Bay of Plenty athletes have always embraced this annual event and participated incredibly well.  Let’s have another great team in Christchurch this year for the individual races as well as the team relay categories. 

More Info & Registration: NZ Cross Country & Relay Championships – Athletics New Zealand Events

More event info: https://www.kinlochoffroadchallenge.co.nz/

More event info: McLaren Falls Trail, Tauranga – Kiwi Walk & Run

More event Info: https://www.taupoultra.co.nz/

More Info: https://athleticsevents.co.nz/out-of-stadia-events/

“The Ultimate Trail Running Festival”

Based in Rotorua, the Geothermal, Cultural and Adventure mecca of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Legend of the Peaks festival provides running and walking events for all levels of fitness with distances starting from 2kms for kids to the New Zealand Forest Marathon covering 42kms of off-road trail running and the pinnacle event, the Whaka Ultra 50K.

Legend of the Peaks is an epic combination of amazing trails, with a festival vibe that includes expo, music, food and good times.

More Info & Registrations: Legend of the Peaks | Running and Walking Festival | Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand

More event info: Hamilton Gardens Trail, Hamilton – Kiwi Walk & Run

All event info: https://toischallenge.weebly.com/

More Event Info: https://www.trailchallengewaihi.co.nz/

More Information – check back in July.

More event info: https://www.tryoffroadtaupo.co.nz/

More info: https://www.suffer.co.nz/