The Sussex Cross Country League came to an operatic conclusion last Saturday at Glyndebourne.
With the beautiful backdrop of the infamous opera house, around 500 athletes competed in the nine races.
It was the first time the very tough and hilly course has been used and brought what has been a full winter season to a successful finale.
First up were the Under 11 girls, where Skye Widdows (Brighton & Hove AC) made it four out of four league wins, taking the overall gold.
Crawley AC’s Xander Wagijani had already secured the Under 11 boys’ overall title winning the first three races, but there was a new winner on the day on Saturday with Tristan Kerr (Crawley AC) crossing the line first.
With the Under 13 girls league win already in the bag for Isabella Buchanan after storming wins at Goodwood, Ardingly and Stanmer, the HY Running talent was unable to compete on Saturday due to injury. Crawley’s Amelie Whitehouse took advantage to take first place (13.48) and silver in the league overall. Elise Aston (Worthing District Harriers) was second (13.56) and Florence Tewskebury (HY) third 14.19, which helped secure her league bronze.
HY won the team title with 52 points to Crawley on 78.
Brighton & Hove AC have dominated the Under 13 boys topping both the team points and individual placings this season, hence no surprise they were crowned league winners with just 45 points in front of Eastbourne (83) and Lewes (144).
Taylor Thom Watts (Brighton & Hove) won the individual league title with a best score of 3 points (winning the first three fixtures). He was second on Saturday to teammate Oliver Goodman (12.47), who was second overall in the league scoring 6 points. Third in both the league and at Glyndebourne was Byron Roberts (Eastbourne) 8 points.
Eastbourne’s Daisy Connor won the Under 15 girls’ race in 19.20 closely followed by teammate Freda Pearce (19.21), who across the season scored just 4 points to take gold. League silver went to Eva Winton (Lewes) who was third on Saturday (20.11).
Displaying depth across the whole of this age category, Eastbourne were league winners in both genders.
In the girls’ contest they scored just 71 points to Brighton & Hove in second (106) and Crawley third (160), whereas in the boys it was 71 points for the title to Lewes second (93) and Chichester (147) third.
Jacob Trotman needed a strong run at Glyndebourne to secure the Under 15 boys individual title and he didn’t disappoint. He placed first (17.35) to Eastbourne’s Fin Lumber Fry (17.45), who was also second overall. Jonah Messer was third on Saturday but has not completed enough races to be considered for an overall bronze. This went to Chichester’s Ben Stewart.
With already crowned Under 17 men’s overall winner, Finlay Goodman, competing elsewhere on Saturday, it was down to Owen Wallek (Brighton Phoenix) to dominate this race clocking 20.43. Owen had not competed in enough league races to be up for an overall individual medal, so the battle for silver and bronze was between Eastbourne’s Fintan Pearce and Brighton & Hove’s Thomas Matthews. The two tracked each other across the whole course but it was Fintan’s strength on the final hill that paid off and he crossed the line in 21.19 to 21.27 for Thomas.
Brighton & Hove A were comfortable league winners with just 48 points whilst Brighton Phoenix took silver (128) and Brighton & Hove B bronze (135).
As usual the Under 17 women run with the seniors and can compete in both age groups, and following the season’s trend, Ava James (Lewes AC) dominated winning the whole race as well as the overall Under 17 title. Hastings’ Rae Le Fay ran a blinder cross the line second and securing overall bronze. Esme Stephenson (Lewes) had already done enough to secure silver with 6 points from the previous three fixtures.
Lewes were Under 17 women’s team winners with Worthing second and Crawley third.
Third on Saturday and V45 individual league winner was Linda Schofield (Brighton & Hove), whilst Alice Robinson (Worthing) took the V35 title placing 4th overall on Saturday.
The senior women’s league title went to Darja Knotkova-Hanley (Lewes), who didn’t compete on Sat.
Cerys West (Worthing) was crowned Under 20 league winner and she was the first in her age category to cross the line at Glyndebourne coming in 6th.
Nadia Anderson (Chichester) scored 5 points across the season to win whilst Arena 80’s Yvonne Patrick’s 6 point total got her the W55.
Team titles went to Lewes in Division 1 (72 points), Chichester in Division 2 (246) and Eastbourne in the Vets (139).
Before the gun was even shot, the senior men’s title had already been decided on with Ross Skelton having scored 4 points. Out with an injury, Ross was not on the start line on Sat, but Robbie Fitzgibbon (Brighton Phoenix) was, and he won comfortably in 33.29. Behind him Lewes’ Under 20 Charlie Wright (33.50). Henry Yelling (Brighton & Hove) was the overall league U20 men's Champ.
First V40 on the day was Toby Meanwell (Lewes) in fifth. The V40 league title went to Zared Arasaretnam-Hale (Brighton & Hove) with 4 points.
Haywards Heath Harrier, James Skinner, has been the first V50 to finish at all four fixtures, whilst Mark Dooley (Brighton & Hove) was the top V60 both on the day and across the season.
Following on from his success at the recent Masters Champs, Tony Lintern was number one V70 at Glyndebourne, but has not completed enough fixtures for the individual title. This title went to Brighton Phoenix’s Colin Simpson.
In the team competitions, Brighton & Hove AC were top of Division 1 with 191 points to Phoenix in second (446) and Horsham number ones in Division 2 with 594 points to Phoenix in second (659). In the Vets League, Brighton & Hove scored 69 points to top the table in front of Haywards Heath on 92 points.