Hundreds of athletes gathered at Preston Park at the weekend to enjoy the first Sussex Road Relay Championships in three years.
There were 730 competitors in total from clubs across the county taking part in the event at the new Brighton venue.
Previously held at Christs Hospital, but due to clashes on the fixtures calendar, had to be moved at the last minute.
The day began with the Under 11 races where in the girls’ race, HY took a commanding lead from the start. Despite a stomping third leg by Brighton Phoenix’s Katherine Haslip, the HY girls managed to hold on for the team gold. Unsurprisingly, Haslip’s leg was the fastest overall in a time of 5.29 with Isabella Buchanan (HY) second in 5.48 and Antalia Cole (HY) third (6.04).
Brighton & Hove AC were comfortable team winners in the Under 11 boys, Chichester second and Steyning third – a brilliant achievement for one of the county’s smallest clubs. It was also a Steyning athlete, Michael Staines, who won the individual gold (5.54) with Otis Lott (Brighton Phoenix 5.59) silver and Jacob Churchill (Worthing 6.01) bronze.
Next to go were the Under 13 girls. Just 2 seconds split the top three runners - Crawley’s Elsie Whyman clocking 5.50 whilst Eastbourne’s Raya Petrova and Crawley’s 
Bibi Webb both ran the 1 mile leg in 5.52. Eastbourne took the team title.
The Road Relays mark the official end of the winter season. The Brighton & Hove AC Under 13 boys did this in style winning by over a minute. The fastest leg was run by anchor runner, Saul Bennett, in a time of 5.14 with team-mate George Gilbert in overall second in 5.17. Horsham Blue Star Freddy Boniface was third in 5.19.
Crawley’s Stephanie Shaw, who has been recovering from injury over a lot of the winter, looked in fine form in the Under 15 girls’ category. Her 5.16 on the final leg was enough for individual Gold and she was also part of the winning team. Worthing’s Laila Hellyer took silver in 5.17 and Grace Tuesday (Lewes) bronze in 5.23.
It was an exciting finish in the Under 15 boys, where Owen Wallek’s strength proved too much for the rest of the field as he crossed the line in first taking both the individual gold (4.44) as well as the team gold for Brighton Phoenix. Crawley’s Samuel Sprostranov ran the second fastest lap in 4.51 and Finlay Goodman (Brighton & Hove) third in 4.52.
The Sussex Road Relays began in 1964 following a challenge event between the Horsham Blue Star and Brighton & Hove AC’s senior men’s teams in 1963. Some years later, when Phil Baker moved the event to the Goodwood Aerodrome, women were also able to compete.
Saturday’s races were the first to be held since 2019, as a result of Covid 2020 and 2021 being cancelled.
The senior team races, two laps of the mile course, included Under 17 and Under 20s. 
In the women’s, Lewes were victorious in 34.08 whilst Crawley AC won gold in the men’s in 39.58 (with four athletes per team and not three like all other categories).
The individual titles were split by age group with Amelia Cox (Crawley) first Under 17 woman in 11.09, Yasmin Kashdan (Crawley) second in 11.17 and Ellie McLean (Eastbourne) third in 11.20. Luke Newton (Crawley) won the men’s in this age group in 9.52 and Brighton Phoenix’s Miles Waterworth second ( 9.56) and Charlie Wright (Lewes) third (10.01).
Under 20 Alice Wright (Brighton Phoenix) has an amazing leg clocking 10.45 whilst Thomas Kimber (Crawley) was the fastest U20 Man in 9.54.
In the seniors, Maia Hardman (Brighton Phoenix) won individual female gold in 10.53 with Lizzie Keep (Lewes) second in 11.16 and team-mate Emma Navesey a close third (11.16). Jack Woods (Worthing) was the fastest man in 9.30 then 5 seconds behind was Luke Burgess (Horsham) in 9.35 and another 5 seconds Bradley Burke (Horsham) in 9.40.
Worthing dominated the F40 race winning the team title as well as the individual gold (Emma Footman 11.59) and silver (Penny Scott-Andrews
12.02). Brighton Phoenix’s Sibel Latchman was third in 12.22.
It was Arena 80s turn to be on top in the F50s with their A team winning gold and their B team bronze, as well as Julie Briggs individual silver (11.43) and Rachel Burgess bronze (13.06). It was only Brighton & Hove spoiling the party with Linda Schofield winning individual gold in 11.30 and taking team silver.
Chichester won the F60 race with club competitors Jane Harrop running the fastest leg in 13.09 and Helen Dean in second in 13.29. Jenny Hughes (Arena 80) was third in 14.03.
Brighton and Hove AC were the victorious M40 team with Joe Corbett taking individual gold (Chichester 10.05), Toby Meanwell silver (Lewes 10.06) and Craig Halsey (Brighton & Hove 10.12) bronze.
All three individual medals in the M50s went to Lewes AC runners so it was not surprising they also took the team title. First was Chris Gilbert (11.10), second Lewis Sida (11.15) and third Colin Bennett (11.22).
Horsham Joggers matched this in the M60s with a clean sweep on the medals - Dean Angell (11.35), Pete O’Connell (11.47) and Steve Wigmore (12.17).
Team medals were presented on the day but the individual awards will be presented at a later date (tbc).
Thanks to the lead of Gavin Stephens, the event was a great success. We are looking for feedback on the venue – please email me (Kate) matthews2000@live.co.uk with any thoughts.
Photo credits to Steve Farley.
Full results here