Road Relay – Rules

Updated 11th Feb 2026

The 2026 Suffolk Road Relays will not be a County Championship event. Any club affiliated to Suffolk County Athletics can enter teams, and ALL members of that club can take part.

Eligibility to compete

  • Clubs entering teams into this event must be affiliated to Suffolk County Athletic Association.
  • Athletes may only run for a Second Claim club if their First Claim club is not competing in the event.
  • Current club vest (of the same design and cut) must be worn by all athletes.

Age categories

  • Junior age categories are as follows:
    – MU13, FU13, MU15, FU15, MU17, FU17
    – Junior age categories will be determined by age on 31st Aug prior to commencement of the competition year.
    – Junior athletes are permitted to run in the age category above, but this should be made known to the race organisers to avoid confusion on the day.
  • Senior age categories are as follow:
    – Male & Female Open, MV40, FV40, MV50, FV50, MV60, FV60
    – Senior athletes should be 17 or over on 31st Aug prior to commencement of the competition year.
    – All masters age categories are taken as age on the day of the race.
    – Teams can be comprised of mixed age categories but the age of the youngest runner will determine in which age category the team competes.

Format and Awards

  • The event will consist of 5 races as follows:
    – Race 1 (3 x 1.6mile legs) – FU13, FU15 and FU17
    – Race 2 (3 x 1.6mile legs) – MU13, MU15 and MU17
    – Race 3 (3 x 3mile legs) – Women’s Open, FV40, FV50 and FV60
    – Race 4 (3 x 3mile legs) – MV40, MV50 and MV60
    – Race 5 (4 x 3mile legs) – Men’s Open
  • Teams competing in the Men’s Open race will consist of 4 runners. In all other age categories, the teams will consist of 3 runners.
  • An athlete can run more than one leg for a given team and can also run for more than one team. This will not affect the awards presented to those teams.
  • Team finish positions will be determined by the combined time of all competing runners in the team.
  • Bespoke ‘Suffolk Road Relays’ medals will be presented to each competing athlete in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed team of each age category.

Entry procedure

  • Team managers are to submit the number of teams being entered in each age category and pay the entry fee by the closing date. Entry fees to be paid by BACS (details on the entry form).
  • Entries will close one week prior to the event.
  • Team declarations including Name, DOB and EA number (if applicable) must be made no later than midnight on the Friday preceding the event (declaration templates will be sent to team managers).
  • Race numbers to be collected by team managers on the day.

General Rules

  • UKA race rules will apply to the event and in the case of any dispute the referee’s decision will be final.
  • Audio devices are not permitted whilst racing. Any athlete using headphones (including bone conducting types) during a race will be disqualified.