The bustling cross-country season continued with the Masters Championships at Coombe Farm.
Just under 200 athletes took part in the races across the Lancing course on Saturday, January 21.
Starting with the combined M50, M60 and M70s, the race was won by Lewes’ Chris Gilbert, followed by Paul Wishart (Phoenix) and Donald Maclellan (Phoenix), with all three athletes in the M50 age band.
With such high placings, it was no surprise Phoenix took the M50 team award with 17 points to Lewes (34) and Brighton & Hove (37).
The M60 category was won by John Lowden (Brighton & Hove) with two Horsham Joggers in second, Dean Angell, and third, Pete O’Connell. Horsham Joggers were team winners.
In its second year, the M70 age category was won by Crawley’s Tony Lintern. Silver went to Andrew Haig (Phoenix) and bronze John Miles (Chichester). There are no team medals up for grabs in this age band, instead M70s automatically score in the M60 teams.
Conditions for the athletes, who all complete the same distance of between 4 and 5 miles, were cold and crisp.
The women’s race was also run as a combination of age categories.
It was a close contest with two athletes battling until the end, but it was W35 Rachel Hillman (Lew) who crossed the line first just in front of W45 Suzy Rushforth (Phoenix). Both ladies were age group gold winners. Third overall, and silver placing W35, was Jenna Louise French (Lew) with Alice Robinson (WDH) fourth overall and bronze W35. With just 10 points Lewes were W35 team winners with Arena second and Brighton & Hove AC third.
Sibel Recber Latchman was the W45 silver medallist and Fay Cripps (Chichester) bronze. Phoenix scored a collective 9 points to take the team title whilst Brighton & Hove AC (33 points) and Arena 80 (34 points) battled it out for the next two top spots.
Following on from last year’s success, Geraldine Moffat, was the W55 winner with Arena 80 Caroline Wood runner up and Helen Sida (Lewes) in third. Arena 80 were team winners with 18 points followed by Lewes on 24 and Brighton & Hove closely behind on 25.
The W65s, in its second year of being a scoring individual age group, Chris Naylor (Arena) was victorious. Brighton & Hove ACs Judith Carder was second and Joan Lennon (Steyning) third.
The third and final race of the day was the M40s where Neil Boniface (Horsham) enjoyed a comfortable win. Silver went to Craig Halsey (Brighton & Hove) and bronze Mike Houston (Inspire). Team gold went to Brighton & Hove AC (39 points) followed by Brighton Phoenix (43) and Brighton Phoenix B (92).