The local cross-country season gets underway in earnest this Sunday, with entries closing later this week.

As usual there are four rounds of the league, taking place between October and January, with each round at a different venue. The fourth and final round of the series also incorporates the Isle of Man Championships.

This is the first season with the new age groups for junior athletes and, as a result, the youngest age group is under-eight, with the minimum age being six on the day of a race.

A minimum of three of the four rounds must be completed for a competitor to count for the league. If a competitor completes all four rounds, their best three results will count. There is also a short course option in each round for athletes in the under-20, senior and veteran categories. These races are usually around 3,000 metres.

It has been decided that the first race in each round this season will start at 1.30pm rather than 1pm as in recent years.

It is hoped this will allow a little more time for those - especially youngsters - who are taking part in activities on Sunday morning to get to the cross-country events.

Another change this season is that veteran men aged 70 or over will run the same distance as the junior/senior/veteran women.

The first round takes place at Port-e-Chee this Sunday (October 11), followed by further rounds on November 1 (QEII High School), November 29 (Crossags) and January 17 (Horses Home).

Entries will close at 9pm this Thursday (October 8) and can be accessed via the Isle of Man Athletics website (https://iomathletics.com) and Facebook page.

Details of the timetable and course map for the opening round at Port-e-Chee will be posted on the 'manxathletics.com' Facebook page shortly.

DAVID GRIFFITHS