Huge numbers turned out for the first fixture in the annual Sussex AA Cross Country League.
With weather conditions a perfect mix of not too hot or cold with little wind, a total of 581 athletes competed in the 9 races across the day at Goodwood Racecourse.
As usual the day kicked off with the developmental 2K under 11 races.
Victoria Ridley (Brighton and Hove AC) comfortably won the girls’ contest (7.21) and Luke Overton (Brighton and Hove AC) the boys (7.12).
It was then the turn of the under 13 girls where host club Chichester’s Emmy Pemberton looked strong from start to finish clocking 11.37 for the win. Ada Greenaway (Brighton & Hove) was second (11.44) and Amelie Adams (Chichester) third (11.56).
With both Chichester and Brighton and Hove having six of the top 10 athletes, the team competition was going to be close. Chichester came out on top with 12 points to Brighton’s 13 followed by HYAC on 38. It’s going to be an exciting season in this age group.
Matching having three athletes in the top 10 were Crawley, the winning team in the under 13 boys, with Finlay Nottage 1st (10.37), Xander Wagjiani 3rd (10.55) and Tristan Kerr 7th.
Second across the line was Barnaby Moyes (10.53) who led his Brighton and Hove team to second as well with 18 points. Phoenix were 3rd with 26.
A total of 88 athletes finished this race – up 23 on last year’s total.
Next up were the under 15 girls where last year’s league winner Isabella Buchanan (HYAC) looked as strong as ever completing in the 4K course in 14.44. Next was relative newcomer to the circuit, Ruby Armstrong (Brighton & Hove) in 15.09 ahead of Chichester’s Isabella Lendrum in 15.16.
Comfortable team winners were HYAC with 13 points followed by Brighton and Hove on 26 and Lewes on 38.
Although Eastbourne’s Byron Roberts was the clear winner in the under boys race (12.53), spectators were, as with the under 13 girls, treated to another Chichester and Brighton and Hove battle for the team top spot.
This time it was victory for Brighton with 15 points – just 1 ahead of Chichester, and Eastbourne in 3rd on 25.
The Brighton team was led home by Taylor Thom Watts in 2nd (12.58) whilst Chichester’s top runner was Max Gayle in 3rd (13.38).
Jake Pursey (Phoenix) showed little mercy in the under 17 men’s contest winning in 15.33 - a clear 26 seconds in front of Brighton and Hove’s Alex Roberts (15.59) and Chichester’s Ben Stewart (16.03).
With team Chichester finishing on 27, Brighton and Hove on 28 and Crawley on 29, we can look forward to another exciting ae category to watch as the season progresses.
The penultimate race of the day was the senior women’s 5K, which included all age groups from under 17 upwards. The race was won by under 17 Molly Smithers (Chichester) in an astounding 17.14 followed by senior woman Milly Dickinson 17.19 (Phoenix) and under 17 Freda Pearce (Eastbourne) 3rd in 18.13.
Horsham’s Izzy Wheeler was the 3rd under 17 in 18.29 (5th overall) whilst Chichester were under 17 team winners in 18 points (Brighton and Hove 2nd with 30 points and Crawley 3rd with 31).
Esme Stephenson (Brighton and Hove) was the first under 20 woman to cross the line in 9th overall (18.53) place overall.
First individual in the 35-50 vets age group was HYAC’s V45 Amy Dixon in 4th (18.24) whilst in in the over 50 band V50 Suzy Rushforth was 10th overall in 19.02.
Teamwise HYAC topped the 35-50 division with 15 points – just 1 ahead of Lewes.
Haywards Heath Harriers scored 28 in the Over 50s, Worthing 43 and Chichester 45.
Topping the senior women’s division one was Lewes on 49 closely followed by Chichester (51) and Phoenix 59.
In Division 2 Horsham Blue Stars secured 74 points ahead of Worthing Gazelles on 82 and joint 133 Arena 80 and Steyning.
The largest field of the day is usually the senior men’s and this year was no different.
A pack split off early on in the 8K race with 3 senior men then finishing ahead of the rest.
V35 Simon Heath (Phoenix) taking 1st place in 25.04, Josh Burgess (Lewes) 2nd in 25.15 and William Boutwood (Chichester) in 25.28.
Phoenix’s Ravi Clark was 1st under 20 in 4th overall (26.04) whilst Stuart Rowen (Haywards Heath Harriers) the first V50 plus in 20th overall.
It’s looking tight at the top of Division 1 with Phoenix on 92 and Brighton and Hove on 94 followed by Lewes on 114.
Chichester finished the day on top of Division 2 (120), Crawley 2nd (131) and Arena 80 3rd (236).
Worthing topped the age 35-50 vets league on 36 points with Phoenix and Brighton and Hove both on 37.
Chichester won the over 50s on the day with 22 points.
The day was a brilliant start to the new season – next up Stanmer Park on November 8th.