Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country

The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country has changed its title for 2011 and has also taken on a brand new format, which we hope will make the event more exciting, entertaining and more competitive event.

The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country has traditionally included three international elite races which consisted of a shorter 4km course for men, largely dominated by British athletes, a 6km course for the world's best female elite athletes and a 9km course contested by the world's best elite male athletes.

The new format
The new format for the 2011 Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country will consist of a short 4km course with the best male athletes in the world competing. The 6km event will remain the same and is contested by the world's best female athletes.

The big change in 2011 is the introduction of the International Team Challenge which will see Great Britain & Northern Ireland Senior Men and Great Britain & Northern Ireland U23 and U20 Men take on the United States and a European Select team over 8km.

Each country competing in the International Team Challenge will consist of nine athletes per team and the first six athletes to complete the course will receive a score based on their position. The team with the lowest overall score wins.

Free entry for spectators, plus all the action live on LED big screen
Entry into Holyrood Park is free for spectators. We hope that the public will take advantage of the opportunity to see the world’s best athletes compete, as well as the cream of young Scottish athletes on show within the main events and the Scottish Inter District Championships.

There will be a LED Big Screen, with a live feed to BBC television pictures so you won’t miss a second as the action unfolds around Holyrood Park.

Event Timetable

Inter District Cross Country Championships
10:15 U13 Girls Inter-district XC
10:35 U13 Boys Inter-district XC
11:00 Bupa Junior Great Winter Run – 2.5km Road Race
11:10 U15 Girls Inter –district XC
11:30 U15 Boys Inter –district XC
12:00 Bupa Great Winter Run – 5km Road Race
12:05 U17 Women Inter – district XC
12:30 U17 Men’s Inter – district XC

Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country

Men’s Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country (4.2km)
The world’s best male athletes take on the new shortened 4km course.
Confirmed athletes

• Asbel Kiprop (KEN) - Olympic 1500m Champion.
• Brimin Kipruto (KEN) - Olympic 3000m Steeplechase Champion.
• Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) - Olympic 5000m silver medalist.

Women’s Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country (5.7km)
The world’s best female athletes take on the 6 km cross country course.
Confirmed athletes

• Freya Murray (GBR & SCOTLAND) – enjoying the best season of her career, highlighted by her second place finish at the 2010 Bupa Great South Run
• Stephanie Twell (GBR & SCOTLAND) – 1500m Commonwealth Games bronze medallist 2010.

Men’s International Team Challenge (8km)
A new concept for 2011 which will see Great Britain & Northern Ireland Senior Men and Great Britain & Northern Ireland U23 and U20 Men take on the United States and a European Select team.