The former Nunnery estate on the outskirts of Douglas hosts the Isle of Man Cross Country Championships this Sunday.

The action will commence at 2pm with the under-nine boys and girls race, culminating with the senior, veteran and under-20 age groups, both male and female, setting off at 2.45pm.

The course is testing with a number of rolling hills as well as a few flatter and faster sections, so it should prove to be a challenge for all who take part.

The big question is can anyone defeat this season’s form athletes in the senior age groups where Rachael Franklin and Alan Corlett have been dominant?

Other categories are similar with David Mullarkey, Rhys Owen and Macy Hillier among a handful unbeaten in their individual age group categories in the island this winter.

Registration opens from 1pm and is available at the race HQ. Full details can be found on the IoM AA website.

Car parking is readily available in two places. The ’Bowl’ car park near Pulrose Bridge is no more than a 10-minute walk from the venue and race HQ via the public footpath from the Middle Industrial Estate (signposted).

The other car park is onsite in the Nunnery grounds where a maximum of 95 spaces are available. But be warned, once the car park is full or beyond 2pm - whichever is earliest - the entrance to the grounds will be closed. So, if arriving a little later Pulrose bridge car park (by the Power Station, free on Sundays) may be the better option.

Also to be found at race HQ will be toilets, first aid and hot food and drinks courtesy of Barista Express.

All race distances are approximate, as are the timings of races (see IoM AA website).

The only guarantee that Manx Harriers officials can give is that no race will start early, so make sure you are at your start with a good five minutes to spare to allow for last-minute warming up and to hear pre-race instructions.

thanks to sponsor and tenants at the nunnery

Thanks must be extended to Microgaming for their support of the league and championships, also to the Nunnery estate and Department of Infrastructure, together with their tenants, D. Rawnsley and P. Kermode, for use of the land.

Full results and race reports will be in next week’s edition of Manx Independent.