The Sussex Cross-country Relay championhips on the Downs at Goodwood last weekend suffered almost a full gambit of weather conditions with Rain and Wind battering the Young Athletes in the early events and the seniors enjoying almost balmy conditions at the end of the afternoon.
It was sunny in more ways than one for the Lewes Athletic Club however as they completed a brilliant Senior double.
I believe this was the first Sussex Senior men’s team victory for the Lewes club. Pat Hough set them up with a comfortable lead on the opening leg and although Billy Wright (Phoenix) closed the gap on the second lap newcomer Tom Evans opened a good lead on the third leg and Josh Burgess, clocked the fastest lap of the day of 12:38s over the final lap to ensure victory in 51:04s more the one minute clear of the Brighton Phoenix team.
It was much the same in the Women’s race where Izzy Coomber gave the team a good lead on the first leg which was retained by Helen Sida over the second circuit and although Brighton & Hove closed on the final leg Emma Rollins held on for victory. Closing the gap over the final circuit was Emma Dixon who had the day’s fastest lap time in 14:11s.
Chichester and Brighton Phoenix respectively won the U17 Men and Women’s races, which were held in conjunction with the senior races.
Hastings did the double in the U15 race winning both the Boys and Girls events while Crawley took the U 13 Boys championship and Bodyworks the Girls race,
In the Masters races Haywards Heath took the M40 title, Horsham Joggers the M50 and Brighton & Hove the M60 while Arena 80 took both the W35 and 45 titles and Chichester the W44.
Full results are now on the results pages.
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There are more relays this weekend with the National Road Relays championships at Sutton Park Birmingham,
I do not have full details of Sussex teams making the journey to Birmingham but Brighton & Hove who recently finished sixth in the Southern Championship a couple of weeks back are aiming for a Top Twenty placing.
Brighton had missed last weekend’s battles at Goodwood for a training weekend in France.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.