Cardiff Cross Challenge
Annual cross country running competition in Cardiff, Whales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cardiff Cross Challenge, formerly known as the Reebok Cardiff International Cross-Country, McCain Cardiff Cross Challenge or British Athletics Cross Challenge #1, is an annual cross country running competition that takes place in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. First held in 1997, it usually takes place in October or November and gained World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold status, the highest-level designation awarded to international cross country races, in 2021.
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6.4 km (women)
| Cardiff Cross Challenge | |
|---|---|
Llandaff Fields, where the 2023 edition was held | |
| Date | October-November |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Event type | Cross country |
| Distance | 9.6 km (men) 6.4 km (women) |
| Established | 1997 |
Since October 2017, the competition features elite races of 9.6 km for men and 6.4 km for women, though the distances have varied before then. In 1997 and 1998, the race took place inside the Cardiff Castle walls, but it now takes place in Llandaff Fields.[1] The race was founded and is still organized by Graham Finlayson.[2]
Past senior race winners
| Edition | Date | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 December 1997[3][4] |  Julius Kiptoo (KEN) |
25:49 |  Vikki McPherson (GBR) |
24:44 |
| 2nd | January 1999[5][6] | Andrew Pearson (GBR) |
30:54 | Tara Kryzywicki (GBR) |
22:36 |
| 3rd | 1999/2000 | Nick Comerford (GBR) |
Andrea Whitcombe (GBR) |
||
| 4th | 2000/01 | Albert Chepkirui (KEN) |
Hayley Yelling (GBR) |
||
| 5th | January 2002[7] | Ben Whitby (GBR) |
Liz Yelling (GBR) |
22:03 | |
| 6th | 2002/03 | Spencer Barden (GBR) |
Hayley Yelling (GBR) |
||
| 7th | 2003/04 | Glyn Tromans (GBR) |
Hayley Yelling (GBR) |
||
| 8th | 2004/05 | Peter Riley (GBR) |
Hayley Yelling (GBR) |
||
| 9th | 2005/06 | Ben Noad (GBR) |
Emily Pigeon (GBR) |
||
| 10th | 2006/07 | Ben Noad (GBR) |
Hatti Dean (GBR) |
||
| 11th | 2007/08 |  Jean Ndayisenga (BDI) |
Andrea Whitcombe (GBR) |
||
| 12th | 2008/09 |  Russell Dessaix-Chin (AUS) |
Susie Hignett (GBR) |
||
| 13th | 2009/10 | Andy Vernon (GBR) |
Hatti Dean (GBR) |
||
| 14th | 2010/11 | Frank Tickner (GBR) |
Charlotte Purdue (GBR) |
||
| 15th | 2011/12 | Frank Tickner (GBR) |
Lauren Howarth (GBR) |
||
| 16th | 20 January 2013[8] | Andy Vernon (GBR) |
34:02 (10.37k) | Louise Damen (GBR) |
25:21 (6.99k) |
| 17th | 19 January 2014[9] | Adam Hickey (GBR) |
33:05 (10.37k) | Charlotte Purdue (GBR) |
25:09 (6.99k) |
| 18th | 18 January 2015[10] | Adam Hickey (GBR) |
33:36 (10.37k) | Lilly Partridge (GBR) |
25:57 (6.99k) |
| 19th | 24 January 2016[11][12] | Dewi Griffiths (GBR) |
35:28 | Caryl Jones (GBR) |
26:52 |
| 20th | 22 January 2017[13] | Dewi Griffiths (GBR) |
32:58 (10.37k) | Jessica Judd (GBR) |
26:15 (6.99k) |
| 21st | 14 October 2017[14] | Sam Stabler (GBR) |
26:28 | Jessica Judd (GBR) |
19:39 |
| 22nd | 13 October 2018[15] | Charlie Hulson (GBR) |
29:53 |  Anna Emilie Møller (DEN) |
21:48 |
| 23rd | 12 October 2019[16] | Marc Scott (GBR) |
29:21 | Charlotte Arter (GBR) |
21:31 |
| 24th | 16 October 2021[17] | Hugo Milner (GBR) |
27:18 | Charlotte Arter (GBR) |
20:11 |
| 25th | 15 October 2022[18] | Edward Zakayo (KEN) |
26:20 | Pamela Kosgei (KEN) |
20:21 |
| 26th | 11 November 2023[19] |  Keneth Kiprop (UGA) |
28:32 | Megan Keith (GBR) |
20:35 |
| 27th | 9 November 2024[20] | Keneth Kiprop (UGA) |
27:06 | Charity Cherop (UGA) |
20:15 |
| 28th | 8 November 2025[21] | Mathew Kipsang (KEN) |
28:14 | Cynthia Chepkirui (KEN) |
20:11 |