When: Thursday 6th June (Term 2, Week 6)
Where: Elmwood Park
The Why: The Heaton Cross Country provides us with another opportunity to come together as a school and get some fresh air in the lungs. It is an opportunity for students to get out in the fresh air, get their bodies moving, push themselves out of their comfort zone, participate and do their very best. Plus – it’s a fun house event!
RACE TIMES
Please note that race times may be subject to change depending on weather, arrival times, and race completion times. Parents/caregivers are very welcome to attend this event to support their child. The distance of the Elmwood competitive course is approx. 2.5km.
Year 7 Recreational Race: 1:15pm
Year 7 Competitive Race: 1:35pm
Year 8 Recreational Race: 2:00pm
Year 8 Competitive Race: 2:20pm
COURSE MAP

On lap one, students will begin at the green triangle, and head northwest so they are running away from Heaton Street. Students will then run clockwise laps around the perimeter of the park until the required distance is completed.
- Competitive Runners will complete 3 laps
- Recreational Runners will complete 1 lap.
On their final lap, students will make a right-hand turn after coming past the croquet club and run down to the finishing shoot to the finish line (red square). They will check in with their class marker (sports leader).
MARSHALLING
- The meeting area will be clearly set up – but please walk along the park pathway towards the playground. We will sit down in class order by the cricket pitch in front of the green triangle.
- At the conclusion of their race, students will come through the finishing shoot, and record their results. They will be directed to the grassed area on the playground side of the finishing shoot and sit down in class lines to support their peers.
- The race will be set up and marshalled by our Heaton Sports Leaders.
- Year 7 Sports Leaders will coordinate the year 8 races, and year 8 Sports Leaders will coordinate the year 7 races.
- This event provides an opportunity for our Sports Leaders to take on the responsibility of coordinating a race, so please be patient and considerate.
TIMELINE AND OUTLINE OF THE AFTERNOON
- Please note: Sport Leaders will be with Mrs Prinsep for the afternoon and will not return for the afternoon roll.
| Time | Year 7 | Year 8 | Sports Leaders |
| 12:00 | A bell will ring for early lunch | Meet Mrs Prinsep at the hall at 12:05. Please bring lunch and bags as you will be at Elmwood Park for the entirety of the afternoon. | |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Students go to their house eating area as per usual. | ||
| 12:15 – 12:45 pm | 30 minutes to play outside. | ||
| 12:45 pm | Return to class for the afternoon roll | ||
| 12:50 pm | Move to Elmwood Park and sit down in class order at the marshalling area – green triangle on map | ||
| 1:05 pm | All year 7 students should be seated and ready to go | ||
| 1:15 | Year 7 recreational race begins | Year 8 sport leaders support marshaling. | |
| 1:35 pm | Year 7 competitive race begins | Year 8 students begin making their way to Elmwood Park and sit down in the marshaling area in class order. – Green triangle on map | Year 8 sport leaders support marshaling. |
| 1:50pm | At the conclusion of the competitive race, year 7 students make their way back to school. | All year 8 students should be seated and ready to go. | Year 7 Sport Leaders support with marshaling |
| 2:00pm | Year 8 recreational race begins | Year 7 Sport Leaders support with marshaling | |
| 2:20pm | Year 8 competitive race begins | At the conclusion of the final race, all Sport Leaders will remain with Mrs Prinsep and support with the pack down. | |
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (WHAT DO I WEAR?)
Uniform Information:
- Please arrive at school on Thursday morning in your Heaton uniform like normal.
- Your teacher will give you an opportunity to get changed into your cross-country gear before lunch.
- You can run in either your Heaton PE uniform or your Kaupeka colours.
- Reminder: a large portion of the track is on pathways, so spikes are not appropriate.
Students must ensure they have the following equipment with them on race day.
- Suitable running shoes – half of the course will be on paths so no spikes, please
- Spare pair of shoes and socks (there is a chance that they will get wet or muddy)
- Water bottle
- Warm Jacket to wear prior to and after your race
- All relevant personal medication e.g. Ventolin
- A bag to store any wet and muddy clothing
- Students are able to go home in their P.E. kit/Kaupeka colours after the cross country.
COMPETITION
If you enter in the competitive race (three laps) you will earn points for the position you finish.
- Eg. 1st = 1 point, 33rd = 33 points, 60th+ = 60 points etc. NO MORE THAN 60 POINTS FOR COMPETITIVE
- This is the race our Heaton Cross Country for Canterbury Champs will be selected from.
If you enter in the recreational race (one lap) you will earn points as follows:
- Top 16 place runners in the recreational race will get 60 points plus their place (1st place recreational gets 61 points)
- Runners who place 17 and beyond in the recreational race will get 90 points.
- Non-runners with a note = 100 points.
- Non-runners without a note = 150 points.
- Absent = 100 points
- The class with the least amount of points will win – This will be averaged across the number of students in your class
- There will be a winning class from each year level and a winning Kaupeka
Based on the race results (placings), the top 10 students from each gender/year level will be invited to represent Heaton at the Cross Country Championships (hosted by Primary Sports Canterbury).