Ian Richards from Steyning notched his fifth successive victory in the Boxing Day race walk in Preston Park, Brighton and Brighton & Hove’s eighteen year old Stephen Ferroni won his fourth running title.
Ferroni, who became the youngest ever winner in 2012, chalked up the largest ever margin of victory as he romped away from Saturday’s field right from the start chopping more than one minute off his previous best time as he became the first runner to break the 29 minute barrier for more than a decade.
Indeed his winning time of 28:28 was the fastest time since the then Southern steeplechase champion Patrick Davoren (Phoenix) won in 28:08 in 2003.
He finished more than three minutes ahead of Tobias Bremer (Brighton Phoenix) who clocked 32:48 eleven seconds clear of club mate James Miles in third place.
Lizzie Durman (Phoenix) was the first woman to finish clocking 37:43 ahead of Cathy Ulliott (W50) from Brighton & Hove who clocked 38:04 with fellow Brighton runner Jeanette Kenneally, who recorded 40:43, in third place.
Steyning’s Ian Richards, who is now in the O65 age group not only notched up his fifth successive victory but also recorded the largest margin of victory and at 67 probably became the oldest winner of the event.
As in the run Richards steamed away from his rivals from the start and came as close as anyone has to lapping the whole field over this four lap course.
He eventually finished just three seconds down on his winning time of last year in 46:40.
Walking for the Surrey Walking club Dan Maskell from Horsham finished in second spot in 57:33 while Ron Penfold (Steyning), who nearly fifty years ago won the Sussex 10-mile walking championship, took third place in 58:04.