For the first race of the 2020/21 season we cannot use Epsom Downs but have secured a booking at Morden Park. This is a reasonably large public park but relatively underused and quiet. It provides wide running lines with no pinch points.
We are happy to invite the Clubs who usually compete in the Downs League to now register for the coming ‘Downs League XC match’ based at the Morden Park xc course on Sunday 20th December 2020 (U11 10.30 am, U13 11.00 am and U15 11.30 am).
The event is licensed by England Athletics requiring participants enter on the agreement to being medically fit and agreeing to maintain a COVID secure environment. Due to Covid-19 guidelines we will be enforcing a one-way system.
Venue Location
Our approved venue is Morden Park, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM45HE. There is a fairly large car park at the venue. Click on Course Map and Photographic Course Guide to see the course in detail. We would expect the usual clubs to act as lead organisers for one fixture each. Epsom and Ewell to host this event. But COVID-19 -19 will mean that we will need more volunteer’s than usual and other clubs are strongly encouraged to lend a hand.
COVID secure environment
We would remind all taking part in this event about personal hygiene and social distancing, following the government’s “Hands. Face. Space” campaign asking people to keep a safe distance from those not in your household. A one-way system must be followed and we would encourage each athlete & parent to consider using a face covering. Athletes must not attend if they are unwell, exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been instructed by school/medical staff to self-isolate.
Step 1 – Intention to compete
Please email me in the next 7 days if your club intends to compete along with approximate numbers and genders of athletes per age group along with officials likely to attend to help our planning.
Step 2- Pre-registration.
As Club Team manager please pre-register your athletes, Parents and officials who are eligible and intending to attend the XC match at Morden Park. Each Club must register its athletes on the Club Covid-19 Excel Sheet and pay by BACS for their entry (£3.00 per athlete) by Friday 18th December 12.00 mid day.
Submitting both by the deadline is required to secure a race number & entry. We will not be accepting registration after this time. Whilst we have every intention to hold a series of Downs races ultimately races fees are not refundable.
Guests (along with all Club athletes and officials) are also required to be registered on the Club Covid-19 Excel Sheet. Please be advised that this event allows only 1 guest per runner.
Step 3 – Arrival
We intend to email Clubs (and athletes/parents) further updates ahead of race day about Steps 3-7.
All athletes, coaches, and spectators will be required to report an hour ahead of their race to the Race official/Covid Official in the Warm Up field next to Morden Leisure Centre. Pre-registration details will be checked before hand sanitization (scanning of the QR event code for those with NHS App) and the release to athlete of their appropriate race number/Bid. Athletes should bring their own safety pins. Club Athletes should then move to a warm up in their Club COVID-19 safe corridor marked by their specific cone – socially distancing themselves from other clubs and from individual athletes.
Athletes should leave the Warm up field as a socially distanced team 20 minutes before their race start time to wait at the ENTRY gate. Walking the course is not allowed.
Step 4 – ENTRY Gate
Teams will be held at the entry gate until about 10 mins before start time only being checked for Race number before entering and the short jog to the Bandstand and start area.
Step 5 – Start
The start area and team cones for waiting are close to the brick bandstand and the start area. It is important to maintain social distance from your fellow runner throughout.
Each race will be marshalled to start in 2 metres grids and may involve splitting runners into smaller “waves” starting after each other. Morden Park has a massive 50 metres start line allowing 26 athletes to line up in a wave. The course features a straight run of almost unlimited width for about 550metres before the first turn.
Step 6 – Finish & EXIT ROUTE
A wide finish line will be created but all runners must run through the finish area as quickly as possible without stopping. Their race number will be used to record their position. In order to comply with restrictions, we kindly request that you leave immediately after your race using hand sanitizer before departure. Please be advised that you will be required to exit using the one-way system from the other side of the course via the gates close to the register office. The exit leads you into the back of the car park.
Step 7 – POST RACE
Draft results will be emailed to all team managers for checking before publication on Power 10 & Athletics Weekly and in the Results page of the Downs League Website along with any images of the day (Gallery Page).
Anyone who attends the event and develops COVID like symptoms soon after the event must inform the League Secretary (Jeff Manson) and NHS Track and Trace.
We would like to thank and acknowledge the pivotal work of David Clarke (race referee) in organising this event.