Days of rain cleared for the sun to shine on the large fields of runners at the Sussex Cross Country League at the weekend.
More than 680 entered the second fixture in the series which took place in the beautiful grounds of Ardingly Showground.
With long grass underfoot and some heavy patches of boggy mud, conditions were just as they should be for cross country running.
Days of rain cleared for the sun to shine on the large fields of runners at the Sussex Cross Country League at the weekend.
More than 680 entered the second fixture in the series which took place in the beautiful ground of Ardingly Showground.
With long grass underfoot and some heavy patches of boggy mud, conditions were just as they should be for cross country running.
The fixture always kicks off with the Under 11 races where the winners were identical to those at Goodwood 4 weeks previous.
Skye Widdows (Brighton & Hove AC) number 1 in the girls and Xander Wagjiani (Crawley) in the boys – definitely talents to look out for in the future.
One talent who continues to dominate as she progresses through the races and ages is Under 13 Isabella Buchanan. Placing 1st with 4 other HY team mates in the top 10, including Florence Tewkesbury in 2nd, it was no surprise they were also the winning team on the day.
Not to change the pattern of those taking top spots in both league races so far was Taylor Thom Watts (Brighton & Hove AC), 1st in the Under 13 boys. The Brighton & Hove A team scored 11 points overall (Oliver Goodman 2nd and Joaquin Perez Rork 8th).
The Eastbourne team displayed strength in the Under 15 age group with a girls’ team win (Freda Pearce in 1st place and Raya Petrova 2nd) and a boys 2nd team placing (Thomas Petherick placing 1st).
Lewes’ Eva Winton was 2nd in the girls’ race while Chichester’s Stanley Wilkes 2nd and Freddy Boniface (Horsham) 3rd in the boys.
Next up were the Under 17 men where there was a battle to the end between Brighton Phoenix’s Owen Wallek and Brighton & Hove AC’s Finlay
Goodman. The 2 tracked each other throughout the whole of the 5K race only being split in the last moments with Owen victorious. Brighton & Hove could take some comfort though placing 1st and 3rd in the team contest with Brighton Phoenix 2nd.
The front places in the senior women’s race were not only dominated by under 17s (who run in the same race) but mainly by athletes from the same club. Lewes Under 17s Ava James and Esme Stephenson were 1st and 2nd overall with team mate Darja KNotkova-Hanley 4th overall and 1st senior woman. Not to forget Under 17 Rosie Gasson (Brighton & Hove AC) 3rd overall. Linda Schofield (Brighton & Hove) was the first vet woman to cross the line in 10th place while the 1st Under 20 was Eleanor Strevens (Eastbourne) in 6th.
Hardly a shock that Lewes topped Division 1 on the day with Chichester leading Division 2 and Eastbourne and Lewes sharing the same points in the Vets League.
Numbers were huge for the final race of the day – the senior men. This was won by Finn Mcnally (Brighton Phoenix) with Ross Skelton (HY) 2nd and Callum Tharme (Brighton & Hove AC) 3rd. Henry Yelling (Brighton & Hove AC) was the first Under 20 in 4th place and Zared Arasaretnam-Hale the 1st Vet Man (V40) 
in 9th.
Totalling 38 points and with 6 athletes in the top 12, Brighton &Hove A team were team winners whilst Brighton Phoenix B lead Division 2 (the club’s A team finished 2nd overall).
Brighton & Hove scored a remarkably low 7 points for 1st in the Vets Division.
It was fantastic to see so many runners, of all abilities from a variety of Sussex clubs, out in force on the day.
None of it would have been possible without the organisers at Haywards Heath Harriers along with the Sussex AA officials. Thank you to all of these vital people.
The next fixture will take place at Stanmer Park, Brighton, on Saturday, December 2. Entries will open very soon. Let’s help make this one as successful as Ardingly.