Heaton Cross Country 2025
When: Wednesday 28th May (Term 2, Week 5)
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. While this may not be everyone’s favourite event on the calendar, it is an opportunity for you to get out in the fresh air, get your body moving, push yourself out of your comfort zone, participate and do your very best. Plus – it’s a fun house event!
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. You will go past the construction zone and we will sit down in class order by the cricket pitch in front of the green triangle.
- After their race, students will come through the finishing chute 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 Henderson for the afternoon and will not return for the afternoon roll.
| Time | Year 8 | Year 7 | Sports Leaders |
| 12:05 | A bell will ring for early lunch | Meet Mrs Henderson at the Sports Shed at 12:05.
Please bring lunch and bags as you will be at Elmwood Park for the entirety of the afternoon. |
|
| 12:05 – 12:20 | Students go to their house eating area as per usual. | ||
| 12:20 – 12:50 pm | 30 minutes to play outside. | ||
| 12:50 pm | Return to class for the afternoon roll | ||
| 12:55 pm | Move to Elmwood Park and sit down in class order at the marshalling area – green triangle on map | ||
| 1:05 pm | All year 8 students should be seated and ready to go | ||
| 1:15 | Year 8 recreational race begins | Year 7 sport leaders support with marshalling. | |
| 1:35 pm | Year 8 competitive race begins | Year 7 students begin making their way to Elmwood Park and sit down in the marshalling area in class order. – Green triangle on map | Year 7 sport leaders support with marshalling. |
| 1:50pm |
At the conclusion of the competitive race, year 8 students make their way back to school. Kōtukutuku will head to specialists for the remainder of the afternoon. Year 8 Sport Leaders to remain behind |
All year 7 students should be seated and ready to go. | Year 8 Sport Leaders support with marshalling |
| 2:00pm | Year 7 recreational race begins | Year 8 Sport Leaders support with marshalling | |
| 2:20pm | Year 7 competitive race begins | At the conclusion of the final race, all Sport Leaders will remain with Mrs Henderson and support with the pack down. | |
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 approximately. 2.5km.
- Year 8 Recreational Race: 1:15pm
- Year 8 Competitive Race: 1:35pm
- Year 7 Recreational Race: 2:00pm
- Year 7 Competitive Race: 2:20pm
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (WHAT DO I WEAR?)
- Please arrive at school on Friday 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.
- PE uniform or a change of clothes – these must be Kaupeka Colours.
- Suitable running shoes – half of the course will be on paths, so no spikes, please
- 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
COMPETITIONS
The Heaton cross country is a Rhodes Shield Event. Students will receive points for their class and kaupeka using the following format.
- Points will be distributed as follows:
- 1st = 1 point, 33rd = 33 points, 95th = 95 points etc.
- 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. This average will also be applied to find our Rhodes Shield winners.
- There will be a winning class from each year level.
Based on the race results (placings and times), 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).
Heaton Sport 