JOIN US FOR THE CHRISTMAS CRACKER WITH STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS ATHLETICS CLUB
Kick off your Christmas with the 2025 Christmas Cracker Race!
Once again, Staffs Moorlands AC is hosting the ever-popular, fun and festive Christmas Cracker Race and Junior Race!
This year, the date is set for Saturday 6 December 2025 with a start time of 11am for the senior race followed shortly after by the junior race. We have selected a Saturday to avoid clashes as best we can.
The main race is approximately 8 miles long and takes in some breath-taking scenery in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands. Around 40% is run on country lanes with the rest being through fields and on tracks including a section along the exposed Roaches gritstone ridge some 1500 feet above sea level!
The junior race is approximately 2 miles around the trails of Tittesworth Water.
According to the reviews on Runners’ World (RW) website, 100% of past competitors would return to the race again and it has an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5. Whilst this is a race, which does attract some excellent runners, the emphasis is on fun and fancy dress outfits are encouraged, even if this is a Santa hat, tinsel halo or sprig of mistletoe!!! To quote a review from “Fuzzyhead” on the RW site: “the most fun race I have had all year”.
There are prizes for various categories including fancy dress (detailed below) and every finisher receives either a pair of special edition socks or locally bottled beer.
Additionally, to be fair to the volunteers marshalling and recording results, we would ask potential entrants to ensure that they can finish comfortably within the time limit of two hours. Dogs are not permitted to accompany runners on the course.
In the unlikely event that the organisers deem it to be too dangerous to run over the Roaches, due to ice or heavy snow on race day, an alternative shorter course will be operated around the scenic Tittesworth Reservoir.
Entry costs
Main Race (Age 17 and over on race day):
Staffs Moorlands Members £12
Other Affiliated Athletes £14
Unattached Athletes £16
Juniors’ Race (Age 8 and over but under 16 on race day):
Staffs Moorlands Members £5
Other Affiliated Athletes £6
Unattached Athletes £7
Advanced entries close at 23.59pm on Thursday 4 December:
Christmas Cracker Senior Race enter via:
https://www.race-results.co.uk...
Christmas Cracker Junior Race enter via:
https://www.race-results.co.uk...
There may be limited entries on the day priced at £17 for Staffs Moorlands AC runners, £19 for other club affiliated athletes and £21 for unattached runners.
Any profits from the race are shared between the local charities and organisations that help to stage the event (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust for maintaining the footpaths on the Roaches, and Buxton Mountain Rescue for helping to keep runners safe on the course). Severn Trent Water charges us a fee per entrant.
Race Details
Race Permit: ARC/25/0716
Registration, Race Start and Finish
This takes place at Tittesworth Reservoir Visitors’ Centre, Meerbrook, near Leek, Staffordshire (postcode ST13 8SW).
Route
The map is here:
https://www.staffsmoorlands-ac...
Parking
Runners will need to obey any parking rules and charges in place at the time, which includes paying the usual visitors’ tariff.
Registration and Number Collection
Registration, sited in the Visitors’ Centre lobby, accessed by the side door, opens at 9.40am and closes at 10.45am. You can pay to enter on the day (see costs above) and, if you’ve pre-entered via the on-line route you will need to collect your number. Please do not enter Tittesworth Visitors’ Centre wearing muddy footwear or clothing at any time.
Refreshments and Toilets
There are excellent facilities provided by the Visitors’ Centre together with a wide range of reasonably-priced drinks and snacks. Please treat the facilities with respect as we rely on venues such as this and we would like to be able to stage the event again in following years. Note: there are no changing or shower facilities.
Clothing
Please be mindful of the weather conditions and dress accordingly as it can be a few degrees colder on the highest points of the course.
Safety
In addition to marshals being on the course, there will also be medical staff and Buxton Mountain Rescue personnel deployed at strategic points. A “sweeper” will also be following the last runner to ensure that everyone returns safely. Always listen and adhere to instructions from marshals – they are there for your safety and enjoyment of the race.
Finish
Please use the exit funnel and keep the finish area clear for incoming runners, who may be sprinting with eyes only for the line! After the finish, choose and collect your festive memento!.
Prizes
These will be presented to: 1st, 2nd, 3rd male/open and female.
The Ron Lucas prizes are awarded for fancy dress costume judged as: Best Individual and Best Team.
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