Winter Interclub bibs
The first batch of interclub bibs for the 2026 winter season will be produced in time for the Mountain Running Champs on 18 April.
Bibs are to be used for: Mountain Champs, Vosseler, Dorne, Wellington XC, Wellington Roads.
Bibs will be produced for anyone who has an active registration as at 1April 2026, plus any new members signing up after 1 April.
Only members with an active registration will be allowed to race in the Vosseler, Dorne, Wellington XC, Wellington Roads. If they already have a bib, but are not active, the timing chip on the bib will not record their result.

Grades

Confirmed as being the same as 2025:
U10 (born 2017 or later)
U12 (born 2015 and 2016)
U14 (born 2013 and 2014)
U16 (born 2011 and 2012)
U18 (born 2009 and 2010)
U20 (born 2007 and 2008)
Open
Masters 35
Masters 50
Masters 60
Masters 65
Masters 70

Age Groups for Wellington Half and Marathon Champs:
Open
Masters 35
Masters 50
(note, Masters athletes can “double dip” by claiming both an Openmedal (if they are in the first 3 overall) plus their Master’s medal)

Masters Ages are on the day of event
Junior Ages are as at 31 December 2026

Distances
Confirmed as being the same as 2025, however WHAC indicated thatVosseler distances will likely change with the new course

Eligibility
Confirmed as being the same as last year, with key requirements being:
Athletes must have an active registration to be in a championshipteam at the Mixed Relay Champs.
All athletes must have an active registration to compete in theVosseler onwards.

For the Shaw Baton and University relays:
the relays will be open to anyone who a club decides to select in a team (ie can include social /non-financial runners).

For the Mountain Running Champs on 18 April:
Athletes must have an active registration to be eligible for the NZchampionship and medals (Athletics NZ rule).

For the Wellington championships, athletes will be eligible for a placing and medal if they have an active registration at any time between 1-18 April (this is to give leeway to athletes that have theirmembership expiring between 1-18 April but for whatever reason don’t renew in time for the champs).

Winter Series Championship
The Athletics Wellington Winter Series Championship will be the same as2025, but with the addition of the Mountain Running Champs and theMoonshine Relay.
For completeness, the following is the full detail:
The Championship is designed to encourage participation in our interclubevents and reward consistent top performance.
The championship will be competed for over 9 races (8 for U18 grades andbelow) with athletes’ best 6 (5 for U18 and below) scoring events countingto their individual total in the series.

Events eligible are:
Mountain Running Champs
Shaw Baton Relay
University Cross Country Relay
Vosseler Shield
Dorne Cup
Wellington Cross Country Championships
Moonshine Relay
Wellington Road Championships on 22 August
Wellington 10km Road Championships on 12 September (U20grades and above only)

Championship medals are awarded to the top 3 overall in each grade, of the series after the points are aggregated from the best 6 (5 for U18 and below) races out of the 9 (8 for U18 and below) events by an athlete.

Athletics Wellington Representatives
Athletes will be selected to represent Athletics Wellington at the NZ Mountain Running Champs on 18 April, the Secondary Schools Relay on 21 June, and NZXC on 1 August. Whether there is selection for NZ road champs on 29 August will be decided later.
For the Mountain Champs:
The first 5 in each of the 4 races from last October's Wellington champs are automatically selected. These athletes are as follows:

Senior Men
Eric Speakman
Liam Chesney
Marcos Valero Palacios
Joel Carman
Lorcan Rabbitte

Senior Women
Deborah Lynch
Sophie Whelan
Ella Creagh
Petra Alexandra Simms
Bethany Walker

Men 35
Edd Charlton-Weedy
Simon Angus
Brian Garmonsway
Alex Jones
Mark Morriss

Women 35
Mel Brandon
Catriona Thurston
Harnie Jo
Bex Hutchinson
Shar McDonald

Men U20
Max Poland

Women U20
Isobel Thurston
Charlotte Conder
A Kemp
Sophie Hoar
Mei von Dadelszen

Men 50
Stephen Day
Graeme Morrison
David Kettles
David Hosking
Todd Stevens

Women 50
Katie Jenkins
Bridget Douglas
Richele McKenzie
Harriette Carr
Jan Sheppard