The event was held in Hardwick East Park on Saturday (February 21), returning to County Durham for the first time in 25 years.
Over 3,800 runners signed up to take part in the athletics event, representing hundreds of clubs.
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
Among them were many of England’s best athletes, some of whom have competed for the nation at international events.
The 2026 English National Cross Country Championships were organised by the English Cross Country Association (ECCA), in partnership with Northern Athletics and Sedgefield Harriers, and sponsored by SportsShoes.com.
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
Host club Sedgefield Harriers was also given financial backing to host and promote the event by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority, aligned to the mayor’s mission for the North East to be the UK’s first ‘Region of Sport’.
The championships included 10 races for junior and senior athletes, with the first starting at 11am, and concluding with the senior men at 3pm.
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
Of the 3,800 athletes involved, around 1,800 were junior runners, while the biggest single field of the day was 1,300 in the senior men’s race.
North East clubs were well represented, including 50 runners from host club Sedgefield Harriers, many of whom were also volunteers on the day.
Sue Dobson, chair of Sedgefield Harriers, said: “Sedgefield Harriers was proud to host this prestigious national event.
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
"It was wonderful to see so much support out on the course, especially from this community, and I am proud that we had 50 athletes from the club taking part, representing every age decade from our talented teenagers to a lady in her 70s.
Lesley Strickland, events and sports lead at the North East Combined Authority, said: “Congratulations to Sedgefield Harriers on hosting a spectacular English National Cross Country Championships. Bringing this prestigious event back to County Durham for the first time in 25 years is a real coup for the region.
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
Cllr Andrew Husband, leader of Durham County Council, added: “It’s been a privilege to see the 2026 English National Cross Country Championships in action here in County Durham, and we are delighted that the event has been a huge success.
“Not only have thousands of visitors enjoyed the championships, but they have also experienced the warm welcome that Sedgefield and our wider county offers, which has helped to provide a boost to local businesses and our visitor economy."
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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Cross Country Nationals Sedgefield 2026 (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)
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