Horsham were the “stars” of the day winning the senior men’s team award at the Sussex Cross Country Championships.
The 6 athletes who made up the team collectively scored 81 points, led home by individual bronze medallist Jacob Cann.
Ned Potter (Chichester) took top spot overall crossing the line nearly a whole minute in front of Brighton Phoenix’ Finn McNally in silver.
As a team, Brighton & Hove AC team were a close second with 82 points to Brighton Phoenix’s 126 in 3rd.
The senior men’s contest was the last race at the annual event held at Little Common, Bexhill.
Overall more than 500 athletes battled the strong winds to compete on a course that was tough underfoot.
In the first race of the day, the under 11 boys, Rex Hastings (Lewes) took 1st in 7.44, Jem Marshall (Brighton & Hove AC) 2nd in 7.49 and Xander Wagjiani (Crawley) 3rd in 8.16.
HY’s Amelia Skelton won the girls race in 8.50 closely followed by Brighton Phoenix’s Stella Gambie (8.51) in 2nd and Tera Buckland (HY) just 3rd in 8.52.
There is no team contest for the under 11s.
Next up were the under 13 girls where HY continued to dominate with Isabella Buchanan, who recently won the SEAA inter counties, winning (12.36) to Crawley’s Bibi Webb (13.12) 2nd and Eastbourne’s Evie Lennard 3rd (13.55). As a team HY scored an impressive 12 points to win gold. Crawley were 2nd with 35 and Brighton & Hove AC 3rd (36).
Brighton & Hove AC won the under 13 team accolade with young talents George Gilbert crossing the line 1st (12.11) and team mate Oliver Goodman 2nd (12.40). The team’s 3rd scorer was Joaquin Perez Rork in 11th. Lewes’ Michael O’Connor took away a double bronze for his individual 3rd placing and team 3rd (31 points). Eastbourne were 3rd with 39 points.
Eastbourne Rovers enjoyed 1st and 2nd in the girls’ under 15 race with Freda Pearce (16.25) and Daisy O’Connor (16.32). As a team they were 3rd (39 points) to Crawley 2nd on 23 and Lewes 1st on 19 led by Esme Stephenson who was 3rd individually (16.33).
The under 15 boys followed the same pattern as has been occurring in the league with Finlay Goodman (Brighton & Hove AC) comfortably winning in 14.01, Lucas Gorrill (Team Bodyworks) 2nd in 14.40 and Thomas Matthews (Brighton & Hove AC) 3rd in 14.44. Together with Thomas Barnett who placed 8th, Brighton & Hove AC won team gold with 12 points. Both Brighton & Hove B and Brighton Phoenix scored 42 points but after the countback rule, Brighton & Hove were awarded the silver.
Crawley’s Yasmin Kashdan looked sublime winning the under 17 women’s contest by over a minute to Brighton & Hove’s Rosie Gasson in 2nd and Dulcie Yelling 3rd. Brighton & Hove AC won the team gold and bronze with Lewes receiving the silver.
Brighton & Hove AC mimicked the women’s team results in the under 17 men’s race again taking gold and bronze. The A team was led by winner overall Alexander Riley (18.48). Charlie Wright (Lewes) was 2nd (18.56) and Brighton Phoenix’s Owen Wallek 3rd (19.14). Brighton Phoenix took team silver.
The under 20 men’s title was taken by Brighton Phoenix’ Matt Geddes (29.38) with Matt Grindrod (Brighton & Hove) 2nd (29.51) and Alexander Sprostronov (Crawley) 3rd (30.23). Brighton Phoenix were also team winners.
Brighton Phoenix were on a role in this age group with Mia Edwards winning the women’s race.
The under 20 women do not score as a team individually but can score with the senior women where Lewes’ scored 29 points for team 1st. Chichester were 2nd with 34 point and Brighton Phoenix 3rd (35 points).
Chichester’s Beth Garland looked very impressive winning the senior women’s race in 32.12 to Verity Hopkins (Tonbridge) in 2nd in 33.38. Amy Harris (Brighton Phoenix) was 3rd (33.58).
Well done to all the athletes who took part on the day. The top 4 in all races (excluding the under 11s) are automatically selected to compete for Sussex in the national intercounties at Loughborough in March.
The event would not have been possible without the hard work of volunteers so a huge thank you to Terry Skelton and his team at HY, to all the Sussex officials who turned out in challenging conditions, to Rhiannon Rowe who helped meeting manage and to John Rix and Howard Booth for producing results so quickly.