Apart from the break from1940 to 1946 for the Second World War II Covid 19 is the only thing that has prevented the holding of the Sussex senior men’s Cross-country championships since 1925. However, after some worrying moments, it is all systems go for this Saturday when the championships will be held at the ever muddy and tough Bexhill Down course.
Brighton & Hove’s William Cork (Brighton & Hove) has been unbeaten in the Sussex League events this season and is already the League champion but there are several entrants who have not shown themselves this season. Club mate Tomer Tarragano has been away at Birmingham University and could be a strong challenger having won the U20 title three years back.
Reigning champion from 2020 Jack Leitch (Worthing) does not appear in the entries.
Finn McNally, who won the title in 2016 appears in the Phoenix entries and is likely to be in the hunt alongside club mate and 2011 winner Todd Leckie, when he was running for the Hailsham Club while Chichester have entered Harry Leleu and Ned Potter who has been showing useful form on the Road.
The runners will run over 10km instead of the traditional 7-½ miles and will start at 13.30 while the final race of the afternoon will be the Senior Women’s event at 14.25.
Although there had been the odd women’s Cross-country championships before the War, they did not become a regular event until 1964.
Here the field appears wide open with the 2020 champion, Nicole Taylor (Tonbridge) a strong favourite but the League races this season has not produced any likely challengers.
An interesting entry for Hasting’s is Grace Baker who has been missing for the past few seasons at University in America. She has not contested the senior race before but at her last appearance at these championships, she did win the Under 20 title and was first across the line as both age groups were run together. If she is fit, she could challenge for the title but Nicole will be a hard nut to crack.
The racing starts at 11.10 and should be all over soon after 3.00 although Terry Skelton and the course Marshalls, who will be out by 8.00 setting the course still having to clear the course.