European Clubs Cross Country
The winning men's club, Bikila, in 2010
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| Sport | Cross country running |
|---|---|
| Founder | European Athletics Association |
| Inaugural season | 1962 |
| Continent | Europe |
| Official website | ECCC Cross Country |
The European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country is an annual cross country running competition between the European running clubs that are the reigning national champions for their country. It is often abbreviated to the name ECCC Cross Country. It is traditionally held on the first Sunday of February.
Organised by the European Athletics Association, it was first held in 1962, making it the second oldest regional cross country event in the world (after the Balkan Cross Country Championships). Only the International Cross Country Championships and World Military Cross Country Championships are older than these two events. It also pre-dates the European Cross Country Championships (the international event) by over thirty years.
The competition was initially launched as a senior men only event, with a senior women's race being added to the programme twenty years later in 1982. Junior races for both men and women were initiated in 2006. Historically, the women's race was typically held at a separate location from the men's race. The two events have been held in conjunction since 2005 and each edition now features all four races (senior and junior) at the same venue. Reflecting the early roots of the tournament, until 2002 the United Kingdom sent four teams – one from each of its constituent countries. The event garners wide participation: in 2015 a total of 287 athletes competed across four races and clubs from 21 nations were present. The men's race is the most contested, with the field typically reaching 100 runners.
It is one of three annual athletics club competitions held by the European Athletics Association, alongside the European Champion Clubs Cup and European Champion Clubs Cup for Juniors in track and field.
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