4th Cross in the Vrtojba-Bilje Hills

The cross-country running season in Slovenia starts on the last Sunday before Christmas in the winegrowing region of Central Primorska, very close to the Italian town of Gorizia and also not far from the Gulf of Trieste.

The course is very attractive. You run several laps on grass and dirt trails up and down the vineyards. The distance you run depends on your age category:

• 5km: men (born 1960 and older), women (born 1991/1992, and 1974 and older)
• 6km: men (born 1991/1992, and 1961-1974), women (born 1975-1990)
• 8km: men (born 1975-1990)

In 2008, the event welcomed 169 participants of all ages and abilities, mostly from Slovenia and Italy, among them quite a few top athletes.

Country: Slovenia

Venue (Map): Vrtojba (4km from Gorizia, 43km from Udine, 46km from Trieste, 103km from Ljubljana)

Date: 20 December 2009 (Sunday)

Race distance: 300m-3km (children); 5km; 6km; 8km

Start time: 11.00-12.00 (children); 12.25 (5km), 13.00 (6km), 13.45 (8km)

Start and finish: in the vineyards near Vrtojba

Entries: on the day from 9.00 to 13.30

Entry fees: 3.50 EUR; no entry fees for athletes 18 years and younger

Race centre: OŠ Vrtojba (Primary School Vrtojba)

You get: tea, fruit, biscuits, sweets; prize raffle; magic show with a magician (at 13.00 and 15.30)

Prizes: medals and practical prizes to the first 3 in each category

Presentation: 12.30 (children); 14.45 (juniors and adults)

Number of finishers 2008: 89 children, 80 juniors and adults

Event website (in Slovene): filipides.net

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.