Newcastle Cross Country History
There have been people in organised running events in the Newcastle district since the late 19th Century. In the early period it was a combination of Officers and other members of groups who would run on Saturday afternoon, after completing their weeks work. Newcastle Cross Country grew out of the involvement of Athletic Clubs who descended from the Newcastle Harrier Board. In the 1960’s the Newcastle Branch A.A.A. had a small committee who prepared a programme and after agreement from the Branch management committee, would promote the events to the local member club’s. Registered Athletes who were members of those clubs would compete in those events in which they choose to compete. People who were not registered could not enter. Newcastle Cross Country Inc. as we know it today, evolved from distance road and cross country running organised by the Hunter and District Branch A.A.A. District Running Club under their Winter Programme.
As with any organisation the story of its life is the story of its people. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, Cross Country in Newcastle was lead by Allan Ross, a man who with his family had migrated to Australia from the UK and who bought his involvement as a runner in the Harrier programme with him. In the 70’s and early 80’s Cross Country was lead by Jim Biesty (1924-2015), also a migrant from the UK who settled here with his family. A newsletter from 1974, written by Jim Beisty, gives an indication of the running scene at the time, ie small fields, a high overall standard and predominately male. (although a Maureen Williams came 2nd in a 7 mile handicap race at Muswellbrook that year) In the 80’s and early 90’s Cross Country was lead by Chris Cousins. Obviously there were many others’ who were involved to greater and lesser extents. The winter programme in 1976 was listed under "Newcastle Distance Running Club" and in 1978 as "Newcastle Cross-Country Club" In 1981, the winter programme was printed under the heading of A.A.A of NSW and NSW W.A.A.A. Organisers were Chris Cousins, Jim Beisty, and Hans Tiller. A note on the programme says "Competitors must be registered and wear club uniform". After the intrusion of Compensation cases upon the way we lived in the 80’s, Cross Country like many groups of people struggled with the way to proceed. The group of people involved had grown with increased interest and they decide to incorporate.The upsurge in popularity of fun running in the late 70's and 80's saw numbers attending the Newcastle cross country events rise and the rules regarding runners being registered with AAA were relaxed although restrictions applied to the eligibilty to enter certain events existed. Shorter cross country events were also introduced in the 1981 programme.
1989 saw the debate about registered and non registered athletes come to a head with fees and insurance the main issues. This was a serious departure from the previous approaches to the way the sport operated. It put the group at odds with the parent organisations and involved the meeting of costs that they were not prepared to meet. It bought about other changes. We started to accept members who were not necessarily registered athletes and became Newcastle Cross Country Inc. (NXC). As time has passed all the parent organisations have moved on and incorporated. At the end of 2012 the committee of NXC decided to affiliate with Athletics New South Wales (ANSW) for the 2013 season.
In the 60’s and early 70’s there were about 20 to 40 Athletes involved in Cross Country. In the late 70’s numbers were growing and the 80’s saw over 100 runners; the 90’s over 200. A small promotion campaign in the wake of the Sydney Olympics saw numbers grow to over 750 members at the end of 2010. Today NXC continues to operate with these new parameters and in our changing times. Two of our longest active NXC runners are Jim Beisty who settled in Newcastle in 1972, and Richard Parbury who first commenced running with the club in 1976
Newcastle Cross Country is a 'Not for Profit' organisation, run by volunteers.
As with any organisation the story of its life is the story of its people. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, Cross Country in Newcastle was lead by Allan Ross, a man who with his family had migrated to Australia from the UK and who bought his involvement as a runner in the Harrier programme with him. In the 70’s and early 80’s Cross Country was lead by Jim Biesty (1924-2015), also a migrant from the UK who settled here with his family. A newsletter from 1974, written by Jim Beisty, gives an indication of the running scene at the time, ie small fields, a high overall standard and predominately male. (although a Maureen Williams came 2nd in a 7 mile handicap race at Muswellbrook that year) In the 80’s and early 90’s Cross Country was lead by Chris Cousins. Obviously there were many others’ who were involved to greater and lesser extents. The winter programme in 1976 was listed under "Newcastle Distance Running Club" and in 1978 as "Newcastle Cross-Country Club" In 1981, the winter programme was printed under the heading of A.A.A of NSW and NSW W.A.A.A. Organisers were Chris Cousins, Jim Beisty, and Hans Tiller. A note on the programme says "Competitors must be registered and wear club uniform". After the intrusion of Compensation cases upon the way we lived in the 80’s, Cross Country like many groups of people struggled with the way to proceed. The group of people involved had grown with increased interest and they decide to incorporate.The upsurge in popularity of fun running in the late 70's and 80's saw numbers attending the Newcastle cross country events rise and the rules regarding runners being registered with AAA were relaxed although restrictions applied to the eligibilty to enter certain events existed. Shorter cross country events were also introduced in the 1981 programme.
1989 saw the debate about registered and non registered athletes come to a head with fees and insurance the main issues. This was a serious departure from the previous approaches to the way the sport operated. It put the group at odds with the parent organisations and involved the meeting of costs that they were not prepared to meet. It bought about other changes. We started to accept members who were not necessarily registered athletes and became Newcastle Cross Country Inc. (NXC). As time has passed all the parent organisations have moved on and incorporated. At the end of 2012 the committee of NXC decided to affiliate with Athletics New South Wales (ANSW) for the 2013 season.
In the 60’s and early 70’s there were about 20 to 40 Athletes involved in Cross Country. In the late 70’s numbers were growing and the 80’s saw over 100 runners; the 90’s over 200. A small promotion campaign in the wake of the Sydney Olympics saw numbers grow to over 750 members at the end of 2010. Today NXC continues to operate with these new parameters and in our changing times. Two of our longest active NXC runners are Jim Beisty who settled in Newcastle in 1972, and Richard Parbury who first commenced running with the club in 1976
Newcastle Cross Country is a 'Not for Profit' organisation, run by volunteers.
From the Archives
The History of Cross Country
Cross country running began in the early 19th century in England. It started with a game called “hare and hound” or “paper chase.” In this game a group of runners laid a trail of pieces of paper while following a course. Then a second group of runners would try to follow the paper trail.
The first formal competition was called the Clerk Run. It was held in 1837. Then the game paper chase turned into a cross country race along a course laid out in advance over an open country side.
The English national cross country championship was established in 1876. Two years later William C. Vosburgh introduced it to the United States. In 1887 the National Cross Country Association was founded and held its first competition.
International cross country racing began in 1890, with a competition between England and France. In 1903 the annual championship involved England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In 1907 it became a true national event, and in the 1920s other European countries followed.
Cross country running became an Olympic sport in 1912, 1220, and 1924 but soon became unsuitable for people to compete in the summer because of the heat. In the 1960s the international amateur athletic federation let woman run for the first time.
The first formal competition was called the Clerk Run. It was held in 1837. Then the game paper chase turned into a cross country race along a course laid out in advance over an open country side.
The English national cross country championship was established in 1876. Two years later William C. Vosburgh introduced it to the United States. In 1887 the National Cross Country Association was founded and held its first competition.
International cross country racing began in 1890, with a competition between England and France. In 1903 the annual championship involved England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In 1907 it became a true national event, and in the 1920s other European countries followed.
Cross country running became an Olympic sport in 1912, 1220, and 1924 but soon became unsuitable for people to compete in the summer because of the heat. In the 1960s the international amateur athletic federation let woman run for the first time.
