WINTER LEAGUE 2026-2027
The Westies Winter League has officially begun!
If you are new(er) to the club, you probably ask yourself…what is the Winter League?
The Winter League is a fun, club internal competition from October to March to encourage club members to be active during the cold, dark and wet months of the year. It differs from the Summer League insofar as it rewards participation, rather than just running talent and speed.
Here is the list of events for this Winter League and all the details.
1 West District XC Relays – Oct 10th – Kilmarnock
2 Tinto Hill Race- Sat Oct 31st – Thankerton Camp Farm
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event/tinto-hill-race-2026?elid=Y
A really good hill race on the whole, but especially perfect for people quite new to hill racing.
3 West League XC Race 1 – Sat Oct 31st – Brediland Park, Foxbar, Paisley
The XC Captain will collect names, and it’s a “just show up and collect a bib number” sort of a race, there is no sign up deadline.
Scottish Athletics (SA) membership required.
4 West League XC Race 2 – Sat Nov 21st – Alexandra Park, Glasgow
The XC Captain will collect names and like race 1 there is no sign up deadline.
SA membership required.
5 Hutchinson Advent Adventure – Wed Nov 25th – Milngavie
This is a Wednesday night run and a Westies classic, fun orienteering and socialising. Not to be missed!
6 West District XC Individual Champs – Sat Dec 5th – Strathaven
The XC Captain will collect names and entre all participants.
To be aware, this is the same day as the Westies Christmas-Do and getting to Strathaven and back could hardly be more inconvenient (at least for me). SA membership required.
7 DAAA XC Individual Champs – Sat Dec 12th – Balloch Park
The XC Captain will collect names and entre all participants.
NO SA membership required. If you want to have a little test how you feel about Cross Country, this is your chance.
8 Cairnsmore Hill Race – Sun Dec 13th – Muirfad Farm, Palnure, near Newton Stewart
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event/cairnsmore-hill-race-2026-2?elid=Y
Fundraiser for Mountain Rescue. Not a very complicated hill race but not quite as straight forward as Tinto. Possibly the trickiest thing is to get there on a Sunday, tricky for public transport lovers.
9 Kirk Craigs Xmas Cracker – Sat Dec 19th – Tillicoultry
Good food after I hear.
Sign up link will be publish when available.
10 Christmas Hat Handicap – Mon Dec 28th – Mugdock (Bank Holiday?)
Organised within the club. Details will be communicated beforehand.
https://westerlandsccc.co.uk/training-and-club-runs2/?month=12&yr=2026
11 West League XC Race 3 – Sat Jan 9th – Calderglen Park, East Kilbride
The XC Captain will collect names and like race 1 there is no sign up deadline.
SA membership required.
12 Feel the Burns – Sun Jan 17th – Selkirk
Absolutely brilliant race to start the year with! Entries open Nov 2nd 6am. Don’t miss out!
https://www.entrycentral.com/Feeltheburns
13 National XC Championships – Sat Feb 20th – Falkirk
XC Captain will collect names and entre all participants.
If you only do one XC race, do the Nationals. The vibe is second to none!
14 Allan Scally Memorial Relay – Sat Feb 27th – Glasgow Green
5K road relay. Massive fun!
Club Captain will collect names, organise teams and entre all participants.
15 In the Dark Handicap – likely Wed Mar 3rd – Kilpatrick
Club organised Wednesday evening run. 3 miles up and down to the Slack trig, mad and wonderful.
POINT SYSTEM
Everyone who participates in any of these events…as a runner or volunteer...receives 2 points.
These basic points are then supplemented by a weird and wonderful system of bonus points, just to keep it interesting.
1 bonus point goes to the fastest runner in the event in each category: male/ female/ non-binary.
1 bonus point goes to the person(s) who volunteers for gazebo duty.
Then there are bonus points for sheer force if we can mobilise a lot of Westies.
5-9 participants 1 bonus point each
10-14 participants 2 bonus points each
15-19 participants 3 bonus points each
20-24 participants 4 bonus points each
25-29 participants 5 bonus points each
30-34 participants 6 bonus points each
Then there are bonus points at the end of the season for completing a certain number of events, the “full house” points.
Completion of all events: 3 bonus points
Completion of 12 events: 2 bonus points
Completion of 8 events: 1 bonus point
Last year we had three PREMIUM events where you could double your points. I could not decide which races to go for this year.
We also had three possible DOUBLES last year and this year there is only one.
The popular Cyclist vs Harriers event is not happening in 2026. Hopefully it is back in Dec 2027!
The Double
If you complete both the DAAA XC in Balloch on Dec 12th and then run Cairnsmore hill race the day after, on Dec 13th, you double your score for both events.
I decided to go down a different route and for this Winter League I am introducing…
The West League XC Slam
If you complete all three West League XC races
Brediland Park, Foxbar, Paisley – Alexandra Park, Glasgow and Calderglen Park, East Kilbride
you receive 2 bonus points.
you receive 2 bonus points.
…and The Hill Slam
If you complete these three hill races: Tinto, Cairnsmore and Feel the Burns
you receive 2 bonus points.
Now, I realise that West League race 1 and Tinto are the same day, so you cannot do both Slams I am afraid, you have to choose.
Last year we had a fantastic 130 Westies members who participated in at least one event…what are the chances we can top that number this year!?
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