Three Counties Cross Country Series

Dunstable Road Runners belongs to the Three Counties Cross Country League (3CXC), which is a friendly Sunday league comprising 13 clubs from Bucks, Beds, Northants and Herts and it’s open to all age groups, minimum age is 17 on the day of the first race, and abilities.

As a member of Dunstable Road Runners, we’re inviting you to take part in the competition at no cost to yourselves as the club funds the race fees although you must register with our Club Captains (watch out for Facebook & emails notifications).

What is Cross Country (XC)

This is a group of running clubs hosting & running trail routes, yes hills & yes often mud, it’s challenging yes, but also great fun. At DRR we have hills & mud on our doorstep, so nothing to worry about. It is a competition but also a great event bringing like-minded runners together & catching up, and to make it all worthwhile there is cake at the end.

The season runs October 2025 to February 2026 and comprises 5 races, each around 5-6 miles long starting at 10:00 or 10:30 on Sunday mornings. The courses vary from year to year, as clubs take turns to host events but you can be assured of mud, hills and finishing with tea, sandwiches and cake.

Your Captains will issue you with a bib number, you must keep this number for the whole season, so please keep it safe. Some events are about an hour away so we meet up & car share.

Details of the events can be found on the league website http://www.threecountiesxc.co.uk/3CXC_Fixtures.html (event details will get updated by host teams).

Most venues do not have shower facilities and the Race HQ may be some distance from the start. So come with something warm to wear from HQ to the start, then once you’ve finished you can pop the warmer layer back on (be prepared for it to get dirty!). 

Our Club Captains or our Club XC Administrator will be looking after your belongings at the start / finish line, but please bag them up to avoid them getting wet.

When you finish you will be given a token (like parkrun), you will need to hand in your token to our DRR XC Administrator (you will be told before the event who this is). This allows the results to be worked out. Everyone stays to watch and cheer on all our runners to the finish line before heading back for a hot drink, filled rolls & cake. Runners are encouraged to bring their own cups to help avoid unnecessary use of plastic cups.

Scoring – The first 8 men and first 4 ladies from each club score points for the team, based upon their position. But every single runner gets points and contributes to the overall team score. So please don’t think “I’m too slow” it doesn’t matter. We need you.

Club photo we try to get everyone in our club photo at the start.

Letting you know about the events – Details will be posted on Facebook & via email in good time before each event. Please come along and enjoy a muddy run with your buddies.

  • You will be issued with a number at or before the event. That same number will be worn for all the league race. Please don’t lose it!
  • You need to run in club colours as these are team races. If you don’t have one, you can borrow one or speak to Sarah our Kit Officer to purchase one.
  • There are tail walkers at all events.
  • No headphones are permitted at any events, unless it’s a medical device.
  • At the end of the finishing tunnel, you will be handed a token denoting your finishing position. Please hand token to the Club Captain or Administrator assigned to collect tokens.
  • The times are recorded on team result sheets by Captains which are handed into the club on Administration duty (this year it’s Olney) who will collate them and submit to the league co-ordinator.
  • There are 5 races and following the last race the final league positions will be announced and individual runner awards will be announced. 

Details of the 2025/26 season:

  • 26th October 2025 Wellingborough
  • 16th November 2025 Wootton
  • 14th December 2025 North Herts
  • 11th January 2026 Dunstable Road Runners
  • 1st February 2026 Leighton Fun Runners

Other Clubs in the league are:

Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers

Bedford Harriers AC

Biggleswade AC

Dunstable Road Runners

Dunstable Lions

Northampton Road Runners

North Herts Road Runners

Olney Runners

Rugby & Northampton

Stopsley Striders

Northants Tri

Wellingborough & District

Wooton Road Runners