AN innovative Essex Cross-Country Championship will be taking place in Basildon on Saturday.

Runners taking part in the eight different races throughout the day at Gloucester Park will make their way through a large marquees on the course.

And organiser Nick Wetheridge, from Basildon AC, is certain it will help to generate an improved atmosphere.

“The biggest feature is the 45 metre marquee,” said Wetheridge.

“It’s half a football pitch long and it’s nine metres wide so athletes will run through the tent on each lap, do a 180 degree turn at the end of the marquee and come back through.

“There’s sufficient room for the audience and other athletes to watch hopefully with cow bells and whistles so it’s loud!

“They will run through a minimum of three times and it will hopefully encourage others to stay after their race.”

The best runners in the county will be taking part in the event, with the first race due to start at 10am.

But Wetheridge has ensured the course will still be a challenge for everyone running.

“The main focus for me was to keep it as a real cross-country event and a hard cross-country event too,” said Wetheridge.

“Basildon is one of the toughest events in the county but it’s one of the most popular too.

“We just wanted to look at ways to make it better.”

Wetheridge took inspiration from the popular night of the 10km event which takes place at Parliament Hill every May.

And he was also able to learn from races Basildon also staged towards the end of last year.

“We brought the ideas together and we incorporated them into one of the league races in November,” said Wetheridge.

“It was successful and we got some good feedback we’ve used to make changes for this race at the weekend now.”

The event is expected to attract close to 2,000 people throughout the course of the day.

And Wetheridge wants them to stay engaged with what is happening.

“We want audiences to stay,” he said.

“What tends to happen is that parents will turn up, watch the race their child is in and then go home.

“There’s not much point in them waiting for the next race which sets off and then comes back 45 minutes later.

“We want to make it family friendly and fun and we have done.

“Marky T from Radio Essex will be here playing music and making announcements about the races too so there’s a lot going on.”

Runners taking part in the races are aged between 11 and 70.

And Wetheridge is keen to ensure the event can keep growing.

“We’re hoping it will get like the nights of 10kms,” said Wetheridge.

“This is something to build on and we want to make it bigger next year.”