About Cross Country
Each winter Ware Joggers enter a cross country league with a number of clubs from the area. Each club hosts one race of approximately 5 miles over the course of the season and the total scores from all 5 races determine the winners of the league.
The first 8 men (including 2 vets) and the first 8 ladies (including 2 vets) from each club score points based on their overall finishing position. Even when not scoring directly, you can still influence the result if one or more of the other clubs have not reached their full quota of scoring runners.
All club members are welcome to take part in the races and there is no cost to enter (but bring £1 for post run tea and cake!). To score you must wear a Ware Joggers club vest. Approriate cross country shoes are advisable as it does get quite muddy.
Whether you're chasing the front pack or chatting your way round at the back, cross country is for every runner — mud cares nothing for your pace.
Cross Country Trophies
The club introduced two new cross country trophies (from 2026/27 season) in memory of Mike Stock and Sam Rowe, both of whom made such a valued contribution to Ware Joggers and our cross country success.
Mike Stock was a man of high principles and equally high coaching skills. He made a difference to so many in the field of sports coaching. Always approachable, kind, generous and gentle, people trusted him and he made the impossible seem possible here at Ware Joggers and beyond. Mike loved cross country and was pivotal in developing Ware Joggers from also rans to a club that has enjoyed local success and impressive participant numbers. Mike had some memorable training mantras including "Elbows out", "Start at the front (even slower runners) it will slow down the opposition!", "Aim to pass opposition close to top of hill as they won't come back at you", "Remember, arms give forward momentum", and "Start slow and go slower". These mantras were standard for Mike, they’ve stood the test of time and will continue to do so at Ware Joggers. Mike passed away in 2025.
Sam Rowe was a valued member of Ware Joggers for more than 10 years. She loved cross country running; Saffron Walden was her favourite fixture in our local league, and she especially loved running at Parliament Hill, where she took part in several National Cross Country Championship races with the club. Sam passed away in 2026 following a long and courageous battle against illness.