Mud welcomed the runners to Bexhill on Saturday at the first major cross country event of 2026.
The Sussex Cross Country Champs had more than 450 entries and the underfoot conditions on the day proved a great leveller.
Opening with the under 11 races, where there is no team contest, there were no surprises with Michael Mansell (HYAC) wining the boys’ race and Brighton & Hove’s Victoria Ridley just winning the girls’, clocking the same time (7.34) as team mate Eleanor Poate in 2nd.
With three athletes in the top ten, including the winner Emmy Pemberton (12.30), 2nd place Amelie Adams (12.38) and 6th Heather Hand, Chichester comfortably won under 13 girls’ team gold (9 points).
Brighton & Hove were 2nd (21 points), HYAC 3rd (53 points) and Team Bodyworks Lana Povey took bronze (12.34).
There were some surprises in the boys under 13 races where those who have featured top in the cross country league so far this season didn’t medal.
Worthing’s Charlie Carman looked strong from start to finish to take gold in 11.43 followed by Isaac Bowley (Brighton Phoenix) in 11.44 and Benjamin Sorrell 3rd (Brighton & Hove) in 11.48.
Along with Tom Surgeoner in 7th and Zaky Ali 10th, Sorrell was part of the Brighton & Hove winning team (20 points) just in front of Worthing in 2nd on 21 points and Crawley 3rd (27 points).
For the first time this season HYAC’s Isabella Buchanan was pushed across the first half of the under 15 girls’ 4K by Brighton & Hove’s Florence Goodwin, but as the race progressed the HYAC athlete pulled away winning in 14.11 to Florence 2nd in 14.38 and Chichester’s Isabella Lendrum 3rd in 15.17.
The Brighton & Hove team of Florence, Ruby Armstrong and Hannah Mervn-Thomas scooped gold with 13 points, HYAC 2nd (18 points) and Brighton Phoenix 3rd (36 points).
A plot twist saw Taylor Thom Watts (Brighton & Hove AC) cross the line 1st in the under 15 boys’ race (13.00) ahead of in form Byron Roberts (Eastbourne) in 13.24 and HYAC’s Oliver Goodman 3rd (13.24).
Team winners were Brighton & Hove A (15 points). Brighton & Hove B and Chichester both scored 38 points but the silver went to Brighton as the team’s 3rd runner, Joaquin Perez Rork placed 16th (higher than Chichester’s 3rd runner in 19th).
Molly Smithers is becoming unstoppable on the Sussex Cross Country scene this season and Saturday proved no exception as she comfortably won the under 17 women’s 5K contest in 19.56.
Daisy Connor (Eastbourne) looked strong in 2nd (20.11) and Chichester’s Elodie Hill 3rd in 20.22.
Chichester took the team prize with Crawley 2nd in 20 points and Eastbourne closely 3rd on 21.
It was an Eastbourne battle from start to finish in the under 17 men’s race. Up until the final 50 metres it was hard to call whether George Armstrong Smith or Fin Lumber Fry would come out on top, but George proved to have the final strength crossing the line in 17.12 with Fin on 17.14. Together with team mate Jonah Messer who was 9th, they won the team gold on 12 points.
Alex Roberts (17.54) placed 3rd leading the Brighton and Hove team to silver whilst Crawley won team bronze.
Next up were the under 20 and senior men, who start the race at the same time but split off during with the under 20s running 8k and the seniors 10k.
From the start until the split off, senior James Turner (Brighton & Hove) and under 20 Finlay Goodman (HYAC) broke away from the pack to create a comfortable lead with both winning their respective age groups.
In the under 20s Fintan Pearce (Eastbourne) was 2nd in 27.26 and Freddie Matthews (Brighton & Hove) 3rd in 27.37. Brighton & Hove were top team (17), Lewes 2nd (31) and Chichester 3rd (42).
In the senior men’s Simon Heath (Phoenix) was 2nd (34.46) and Hastings’ Rhys Boorman 3rd (34.50). Brighton & Hove were again top team in 52 with Phoenix 2nd on 88 and Hastings 3rd (111).
Like the men, the under 20 and senior women start together but split off with the under 20s competing over 6K and the seniors 8K.
The under 20s was won by an athlete relatively new to the Sussex circuit, Brighton Phoenix’s Frida Roche, in 24.17 followed by Brighton & Hove’s Esme Stephenson (24.28) and Niamh Lesova (Crawley) in 3rd (24.50).
Phoenix won the team gold with 16 points, Crawley 2nd with 18 and Worthing 3rd on 32.
Brighton Phoenix dominated the senior women’s race as well with Milly Dickinson over a minute ahead (30.14) of Hastings’ Grace Baker in 2nd (31.16) and HYAC’s Imogen Matthews in 3rd (31.33).
Phoenix scored 36 points for the team win, Hastings 40 and Lewes 41.
The top four from all races have now been selected to represent Sussex at the National Inter Counties in March, with remaining team spaces being decided on over the next 2 weeks.
Particular thanks to Terry Skelton ad his HYAC team who spent hours ensuring the course was set up correctly and everything ran smoothly.
Also thank you to all the officials who stood out all day in the cold weather.