Record numbers turned out in force to compete at the second Sussex Cross Country League fixture on Saturday.
Just under 800 athletes entered the event at Stanmer Park, Brighton, with 208 completing the men’s 8K and 175 in the women’s race.
With brilliant weather conditions, a jubilant atmosphere, the event was a huge success.
One club that would have enjoyed the female races was Lewes AC 
- taking all three top spots in the senior 5K as well as first and second in the Under 15 girls. Second year Under 17 Isobel Guirdham won the senior women’s race followed by Izzy Coomber and Lizzie Keep. In the Under 17s it was Grace Tuesday crossing the line first and Esme Stephenson second. Worthing District Harrier’s Laila Hellier was third.
In the senior men’s race, Brighton and Hove AC’s William Cork made it two out of two winning the senior men’s race again after winning at Goodwood four weeks earlier. Under 20, Joshua Hobbs, East Grinstead AC, was second and Luke Triccas, Horsham Blue Star, third.
Senior woman, Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix) placed 12th in the senior men’s race – running this event to get some 8K experience before the forthcoming European trials.
Earlier in the day, the races had kicked off with the Under 11 girls where Brighton Phoenix’s Katherine Haslip was 46 seconds clear of second place Seren Rowe (Brighton and Hove AC). Taylor Thom-Watts (Brighton and Hove AC) won the boys’ race.
This was followed by the Under 13 contests. As the 13 girls embarked on the final stages of their race, it was all to run for, but it was Brighton & Hove’s Julieana Walsh who had the sprint finish taking first place with Eastbourne AC’s Freda Pearce second and Bibi Webb (Crawley) third.
It was an internal battle between Brighton and Hove AC in the Under 13 boys’ race with only one second splitting the top three. Saul Bennett in first with the same time as George Gilbert second, then Raphael Kelly third, just one second behind. 
Brighton Phoenix’s Owen Wallek followed in his own Goodwood footsteps looking exceptional in the Under 15 boys’ race. He was 38 seconds ahead of Jude Clayton (Brighton & Hove AC), who came in second by a clear 22 second margin from Finlay Goodman, also Brighton and Hove AC.
Other category winners on the day included Miles Waterworth (Brighton Phoenix) Under 17 men, Craig Halsey (Brighton & Hove AC) V40, Morris Tarragano V50 (Brighton Tri Club), Linda Schofield (Brighton and Hove AC) V45 and Rachel Hillman (Hailsham) V35.
Thank you to the Brighton & Hove AC team, with support from Arena 80 and Worthing for organising a brilliant second league fixture. The only dampener was those who parked illegally on the road as you enter the park blocking access for buses. We must stress this could jeopardise our licence to hold events so in future please avoid this. Free parking was provided for this event at The Bridge car park.
Full results here