The sun was shining on the huge number of athletes that took part in the Sussex AA Road Relay Championships in April.
Teams from clubs from across the county took part in the annual event at Preston Park, Brighton.
Kicking off with the Under 11 Races where in the girls’ contest Brighton & Hove AC dominated taking team 1st and 2nd, with HY AC in 3rd. The fastest leg all went to Brighton & Hove runners, Ada Greenaway in 5.44 followed by Elzie Ortiz in 6.02 and Victoria Ridley in 6.03. 
HY AC were comfortable team winners in the Under 11 boys, Brighton & Hove 2nd and Worthing District Harriers 3rd.
a brilliant achievement for one of the county’s smallest clubs. It was a Chichester athlete, Nathaniel Jolly, won the individual gold (5.50) with Benji Pocock (HYAC 5.51) silver and joint 3rd to Logan Singer (Brighton & Hove AC 5.56) and Michael Mansell HYAC 5.56).
Next to go were the Under 13 girls. Comprehensively winning this were Brighton & Hove AC lead by the fastest leg runner in this age group, Skye Widdows (5.34). HY placed team 2nd with Amelia Skelton the 2nd fastest leg in 5.45. Phoenix placed 
3rd team and Darcie Wickenden (Crawley) was the 3rd fastest individual.
There is always a great atmosphere at the road relays and this year’s event didn’t displease.
Brighton & Hove AC were back in winning fashion in the Under 13 boys race with Samuel Gill clocking 5.22. Three boys all clocked 5.28 to be next fastest. These being Crawley’s Xander Wagjiani, Chichester’s Lucas Bulger and Brighton & Hove’s Barnaby Moyes. Crawley were the second team and Hastings third.
Isabella Buchanan (HY) looked in fine form in the Under 15 girls’ category clocking 5.14 and heading the winning team. Crawley’s Bibi Webb was the fastest in 5.33 and Elizabeth Hutchinson (Hastings) 3rd. Crawley were the 2nd team and Brighton and Hove AC 3rd. 
It was a win for Chichester in the Under 15 Boys, where Ben Stewart (4.45) was fastest overall. Eastbourne placed second with George Armstrong Smith the 3rd fastest (4.49) on the day and Brighton & Hove 3rd with George Gilbert 2nd fastest in 4.48.
The Sussex Road Relays began in 1964 following a challenge event between the Horsham Blue Star and Brighton & Hove AC’s senior men’s teams in 1963. Some years later, when Phil Baker moved the event to the Goodwood Aerodrome, women were also able to compete.
April’s races marked 4th year of being held at Preston Park.
The senior team races, two laps of the mile course, included Under 17 and Under 20s.
Under 17 woman, Molly Smithers, had a storming leg winning in 10.36. Grace Tuesday clocked 11.53 (Phoenix) for 2nd and Laila Hellyer (Worthing) 3rd in 12.04. Chichester were the 1st under 17 women’s team with Worthing 2nd and Phoenix 3rd.
Brighton & Hove dominated the under 17 men’s age category winning the team contest and taking all three of the top times – Henry Barker in 9.36, Thomas Matthews in 9.52 and Freddie Matthews 10.02, shared jointly with Phoenix’s Jake Pursey on the same time. Phoenix were 2nd and Horsham 3rd. 
It was a clean sweep for Phoenix in the senior women’s age group with the club winning team Gold, silver and bronze. Imogen Matthews was the fastest 
senior woman in 11.13.
It was a double double in the senior men’s contest where Ross Skelton (HY) and Luke Burgess (Horsham) both ran 9.33 for the top time and Hastings’ James Crombie and Brighton & Hove’s James Turner running 9.39 for the next fastest. 
Phoenix were team winners followed by Hastings and Brighton & Hove.
HY dominated the female masters’ race winning the team title as well as the individual gold (Amy Dixon 11.38). Paula Blackledge (Brighton & Hove) was 
the fastest F50, Elspeth Turner (Horsham) number 1 F60 in an impressive 11.44 and Fiona Wright (Lew) top F70.
Brighton & Hove won the male masters’ race with Zared Arasaretnam Hale the quickest M40 in 10.05, Stuart Rowen (Haywards Heath 11.10) M50 and Jonathan Burrell (Lewes) M60 in 11.31.
Thanks to the lead of Gavin Stephens, the event was a great success.