It is more tough Inter-county racing this Saturday for many Sussex youngsters and this weekend the seniors join in as well at the CAU championships at Cofton Park, Birmingham.
Both the senior men’s and women’s teams are well below strength particularly the men where five of the top ten finishers in the County championship in January, including the County Champion and runner up are unavailable to compete.
Grace Baker, who would have had high hopes of a top placing in her last year in the U20 group, will also be missing and is likely to be side lined for the next couple of months through injury.
The senior women’s team will be led by County champion Emma McCready (Worthing) and she should receive good support from Nicola Taylor (Tonbridge/Crowborough) who missed the County championships while County bronze medallist Max Dumbrell heads up the men’s team with fellow Brighton & Hove runner Howard Bristow.
Because of the difference in age groupings at last weekend’s English Schools championships they cannot really be used as a guide to the Sussex placings this weekend. This applies particularly to Joe Smith (Crawley), the hero of last weekend’s racing. Smith, this weekend, will be in his first year of the U15 age group and will probably not even lead the Sussex team home.
That will probably be down to Chichester’s Ben Collins or Ben Martin from Lewes.
Of the girls teams the U13 look to be the most representative.