XC Archives

LUCA Cross Country League Finale: Everything to Play For in the Final Race

February 26, 2025 James Findon

The LUCA Cross Country League is set for an exciting conclusion as athletes prepare to race in the final fixture of the season. After months of competition at venues north and south of the river, Wormwood Scrubs will play host to the last race to determine the overall league champions, both for individuals and teams. With the standings still closely contested, the final event promises to be a thrilling spectacle, as athletes push themselves for one last chance to secure vital points. The race on Wednesday 26th February at Wormwood […]

Heroes of the Hill: XC Begins

November 11, 2024 James Findon

The new season of the LUCA Cross-Country League began in style at Parliament Hill on 23rd October. Clear bright blue skies welcomed 275 runners from across London and the South East for the traditional curtain raiser of the LUCA season. UCL hosted the race which saw athletes race around multiple laps of 2.6km, including a notorious hill right at the start. In the Women’s race, reigning LUCA XC champion Evie Warren (Surrey) came in first, five seconds ahead of last year’s runner-up Grace Leyland (St George’s). The pair went into […]

Fixture announcement

September 24, 2022 James Findon

LUCA is pleased to announce the fixtures for the Cross Country League and the Indoor Championships. The format of the Cross Country league has slightly changed from previous seasons. This years addition will consist of four races with an athletes best three results contributing to their league standing. The Cross Country league will begin with the traditional curtain raiser at Parliament Hill on the 19th October, hosted by UCL. The second league race – which will also feature the University of London and United Hospitals championships – will be held […]

Review and Preview

January 22, 2020 Jack Dickenson

As the New Year is well and truly underway, it can only mean one thing: an overdue LUCA piece. After a quiet few weeks after indoors we’re straight back into the thick of it, with events coming thick and fast. But first, let’s have a look back at the tail end of last year, mainly because I didn’t write anything at the time, but also to refresh our memories of the LUCA XC League situation. Wimbledon Common XC The start of autumn term is hectic for XC racers; 3 […]

It’s XC time

October 5, 2019 Jack Dickenson

Welcome. Choose one of your 78 shiny new freshers pens. Clear the Pot Noodle remnants from your desk. Dig out that diary you bought with all the best organisational intentions but has yet to see the light of day. Get ready to circle some dates. Don’t pencil them in but write in gloriously permanent marker, because that’s right, LUCA IS BACK!! Strap yourself in tight, because it’s going to be a muddy one. If you thought the excitement of freshers week couldn’t be beaten then boy are you in for […]

LUCA XC Grand Finale – Imperial and Saint Mary’s take gold

February 28, 2019 Aymeric Regnier

Yesterday marked the last day in the LUCA calendar for the Cross-Country season, as the teams rallied their athletes for the Grand Finale in Wormwood Scrubs during what felt like a late spring afternoon. With St Mary’s A team on top of the men’s teams’ leaderboard with a 181 points lead over rivals UCL A, Imperial’s Women’s A team had 122 points more than UCL A, determined to keep their title as champions. On the individual standings, Thomas Butler from St Mary’s had won 2 races and was topping the […]

Scrubs poised for XC showdown

February 26, 2019 Jack Dickenson

With temperatures soaring to a frankly ridiculous 21 degrees in February (still sure about climate change Donald?), and The National over, one could be forgiven for thinking that XC is over for this season. Runners at Wormwood Scrubs tomorrow will find out otherwise, as LUCA runners take to the mud for one last time to decide the series’ victors. It promises to be a tight one, too; with 4 races done, 2 teams have emerged as contenders but with notoriously fluctuating turnouts at the last race, it could all potentially […]

LUCA take on BUCS Cross-Country

February 8, 2019 Aymeric Regnier

On Saturday 2nd February, athletes from across the UK set off from home to the southern city of Exeter to compete in the BUCS Cross-Country race. Despite concerns raised due to the weather and the snowy landscapes observed by many on their way to Devon, the course itself in Bicton College was clear and as athletes started arriving in the morning, the sun came out and set a vibrant atmosphere. With over 1500 competitors, along with their supporting squads, the ground in Bicton College was soon rumbling as athletes here […]

Welcome back

January 9, 2019 Jack Dickenson

The last of the turkey’s gone, the tree is well and truly down and students everywhere are bemoaning the start of the new term. There is some good news though, as LUCA have some afternoons of joy (read: pain) to brighten the winter months. So, here’s a glimpse of what you can look forward to from us in 2019. Ally Pally XC AKA when you realise that 8th mince pie might not have been the greatest shout. The shortest course, but also arguably the toughest, with some killer climbs […]