Neither a last-minute change in venue or the miserable weather put people off as numbers soared at Stanmer Park on Saturday.
A total of 627 athletes from clubs across Sussex turned out to take part in the second cross country league fixture in Brighton.
The biggest entries came in the senior men’s race where there was a total of 176 competitors.
Chichester’s Ned Potter, who is still only an Under 20, was victorious in this category with Maxwell Dumbrell (Horsham Blue Star) in second. James Baker, Chichester, was third over the line but was the first veteran athlete.
In Division 1, Brighton and Hove AC topped the leaders board on the day with 91 points, while Crawley A (149 points) were first in Division 2 and Worthing (101) winners in Division 3.
By the time the men’s race had begun the rain was very heavy making conditions challenging for the runners.
The weather had not been too bad for the earlier races 
where the Under 11s and Under 13s kicked off the day.
In the Under 11 boys’ race Jake Pursey (Brighton Phoenix) was victorious with Jennifer Klein (Crawley) taking top spot in the girls’ race.
Dulcie Yelling looked in fine form winning the Under 13 girls’ race. 
She more than helped her Brighton and Hove AC team win on the day. After 2 matches Crawley remain top though with 22 points to Brighton’s 25. It makes the next 2 fixtures in the league very exciting.
Brighton and Hove AC were the first team on the day in the Under 13 boys race placing 4th, 5th and 6th. The winner of this race by a huge margin was Lewes AC’s Barney Hastings 
to Arun Khursheed (Haywards Heath Harriers) in second and Max Webb (Crawley) 3rd.
The fixture was supposed to take place at Lancing Manor, but the local park warden informed Sussex AA on Wednesday that due to risks to the condition of the ground the event could no longer go ahead. Luckily Stanmer Park was secured and the races were able to go ahead.
Eleanor Strevens (Eastbourne) would have been pleased of this as she followed on from her success at Goodwood to comfortably win the Under 15 girls’. 
In second was Isabel Guirdham (Uckfield) and third Eadie Yelling (Brighton & Hove). The Eastbourne/Bodyworks team also took top on the day with 18 points to Brighton and Hove’s 22.
Brighton Phoenix’s Ben Connolly ran a superb race to win the Under 15 boys’ race ahead of Nicholas Hollan-Ellidge (Crawley) and Luke Newton (Crawley). With so many high placing individuals, Crawley were the top team though with just 10 points.
Liam Dunne (Chichester) was the first Under 17 man past the post with Jonas Davies (Hastings) second and Lewes’ Atticus Mohapi-Dobouny third. After two events Crawley are sitting top of the table on 26 points to Crawley’s 34.
There were 140 runners in the Under 17 and Senior Women’s race. Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix) looked phenomenal stomping in way ahead of the next runner, Under 17 Harriet Bloor. Julie Briggs (Arena 80) was the first Veteran over the line and was just behind Bloor in third overall. Brighton Phoenix are topping the league in Division 1 with 64 points to Brighton and Hove AC’s 72. In Division 2, Brighton and Hove B are top (140 points) after 2 matches with Arena 80 leading the Veteran Women’s league (20 points). 
Sussex AA would like to thank all the officials, marshals and other volunteers who helped make the fixture a success. The next one will again be at Stanmer Park, Brighton, on Saturday, November 30th so save the date.
Pics by Andy Cox