MARGATE will not host senior and under-20 races in this year's Reebok Cross Country Challenge Series.

It has previously staged a full programme of series races for men and women of all age groups, and last year incorporated the trials for the European Cross Country Championships. But this time races will only count in the junior categories.

The reason there will be no series races for seniors and under-20’s during the event at Hartsdown Park on Sunday, November 16, relates to the trials for this year’s European Championships.

UK Athletics spokesman Emily Lewis said: "The championships are a week later than usual this year (December 14) so the trial also needed to be a week later. It was also felt it would be appropriate to hold the trial on a course that replicated as much as possible the European Cross Country course in Edinburgh.

"The South of England AA were informed of this two years ago and asked to find another course in the London area for a trial on the weekend of November 22-23.

"They decided that they wished to continue with the Margate fixture - hence the reason for hosting the trial (senior and under-20) in Liverpool on November 22 and having only the under-17, under-15 and under-13 races in Margate."

The change is part of a new look, and even greater significance, being given to this year’s series, which will again offer £30,000 in prizes to athletes of all ages.

Falkirk in Scotland has been added to the venues and joins Birmingham, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff and Nottingham as the main places for the UK's biggest, richest cross-country series for under-13s to seniors.

Having series points and prizes also available at Margate for under-17s, under-15s and under-13s series’ will help ensure young athletes from all over the country have at least one race in their territory or country.

The Margate event will also include the South of England Veterans' Championships.