Several Sussex athletes are in line for medals at the South of England Cross-country championships at Parliament Hill on Saturday.
Following his outstanding victory in the Sussex senior championship at Bexhill at the beginning of the year Finn McNally will be aiming to emulate his Brighton Phoenix club mate Ben Tickner and keep the individual title in the County and the way that McNally coped with the tough and muddy Bexhill course was indeed impressive.
Parliament Hill however will provide a greater challenge as there are more and steeper hills and usually just as much mud plus the race will be two miles longer at Nine miles.
The new Phoenix team manager, Jon Pepper, who was third last year, is not currently showing the form he did last year and unfortunately the Brighton Phoenix team, who were narrowly beaten for the County team title, will again be below strength as far as the team event is concerned as will County champions, Brighton & Hove.
Worthing’s Emma Macready snatched third place when the race was held in Stanmer Park last year and she is eager to collect another medal. There is also a medal hope in the Under 20 Women's race where last year’s runner up Grace Baker (Aldershot/Hastings) is aiming to repeat the medicine.
Following his fine third place for England in the International race in Spain last week Brighton & Hove’s Stephen Ferroni has decided to miss this weekend’s battles.
INDOORS
Heading for a busy weekend on the Continent will be Sussex performers Sebastian Rodger and Robbie Fitzgibbon who are in an England Squad for two Indoor matches.
They will race indoors, respectively, over 400m and 1500m in Vienna on Sunday and the following day in Linz.
Three Sussex coaches, Jennie Neal, jumps, Gary Power, throws and Steve King, sprints will be supporting the England Squad.