Ardingly Showground provided the perfect setting for the third Sussex Cross Country League Fixture at the weekend.
With cold, crisp weather conditions, mud underfoot and a course which included a variety of challenges, the new venue was everything that had been hoped for.
The highest turnout, as expected, was in the Senior Men’s race with 165 finishers.
Brighton & Hove’s, William Cork, made it a hat trick of wins, meaning the league title is already sewn up before the final fixture in February. Team-mate, Jamie Knapp, was second and Lewes’ Aiden Briffett third. Under 20 Joshua Hobbs (East Grinstead AC) was first in his age category and fourth overall.
Back at Goodwood in October, the Senior Women’s race had been dominated by Under 17 Yasmin Kashdan (Crawley). After missing Stanmer due to injury, Yasmin was back in style on Saturday taking first place with a clear 24 second gap ahead of fellow Under 17 athlete Amelia Cox (Crawley). In third was V35 Rachel Hillman (Hailsham). Jade Elphick (Brighton & Hove AC) placed fourth overall but was the first senior across the line. The highest placed Under 20 was Emily Muzio, also Brighton & Hove AC, in seventh.
The day had started as usual with the Under 11 races where Katherine Haslip, Brighton Phoenix, won the girls’ race and Taylor Thom Watts, Brighton and Hove AC, the boys.
This was followed by the Under 13 girls. Julieana Walsh (Brighton & Hove AC), who is looking stronger with each race, came in first. Like William Cork, Julieana has won all three league races so far and as a result can no longer be 
challenged for the overall gold.
The situation is a lot more open in the Under 13 boys, where the first three league races have now all been won by three different athletes. After a fight for the finish, Saturday’s victor was Raphael Kelly (Brighton & Hove AC) over team-mate George Gilbert (winner of the Goodwood race). Eastbourne’s Fin Lumber-Fry finished third, his highest place so far this season.
In the Under 15 races, both winners on Saturday also made it three out of three and can look forward to the overall titles. Grace Tuesday (Lewes) in the girls’ race and Brighton Phoenix’s Owen Wallek in boys.
Second in the girls’ race was Dulcie Yelling (Brighton & Hove AC), her highest placing this season, and third Ava James (Lewes AC).
Jude Clayton continued his impressive and very consistent season placing second in the boys’ race and fellow Brighton & Hove AC athlete, Finlay Goodman, was third.
In the Under 17 men’s race, two new athletes to the league, both competing for Bodyworks XTC, featured in the top three with Thomas Hutton second and Matt Geddes third. The winner though was another to make it three out of three, Miles Waterworth, Brighton Phoenix, who still has another year in the age category.
As Christmas approaches, Sussex AA is celebrating having held three successful league fixtures. Thank you to all the officials and volunteers who have made it possible. A special show of gratitude to the team at Haywards Heath Harriers who took the lead on Saturday.