Nicole Taylor was all smiles as she crossed the line at the 2022 Sussex Cross Country Championships at the weekend.
Winning her fifth consecutive Senior Women’s race, the Tonbridge AC athlete looked comfortable from the start to finish of the 8K Bexhill course.
The Senior Women’s race was the last on a day where weather conditions had been extremely testing, with constant heavy rain and wind.
This didn’t deter the 500 athletes who braved the elements to compete.
The day began with the Under 11 races, back following a break after not being held at the last Champs in 2020 (timetable constraints due to a trial in the change in distances for older age groups). Covid prevented the Champs from being staged in 2021.
Hastings AC’s Henry Cooke was first in the boys and Isabella Buchanan (HY) in the girls.
Next up was the Under 13 Girls, which was closely contested from start to finish between Brighton and Hove AC’s Julieana Walsh and Brighton Phoenix’s Katherine Haslip. Walsh, who came into the race having won all league fixtures this season, was 
victorious, but Haslip, who is still officially U11 (but able to compete up an age as she has already turned 11) gave her a run for her money. Bibi Webb (Crawley AC) was third.
Brighton and Hove AC were named the team winners with 17 points, followed by Eastbourne (18 points) and Crawley third (30 points)
The top spot in the Under 13 boys league races this season has so far been contested between three Brighton and Hove AC runners, however, it was Eastbourne AC’s Fin Lumber-Fry who took Gold at the Champs on Saturday, winning the race in fine fashion.
Brighton and Hove AC’s Raphael Kelly was second and team-mate George Gilbert third. Together with 4th place Oliver 
Goodman and with a brilliant total of 7 points, the team Gold went to Brighton and Hove AC. Eastbourne were 2nd (33 points) and Chichester 3rd (37 points).
Team Gold in the Under 15 Girls was won by Lewes AC (12 points), led by the overall winner, Grace Tuesday. Brighton and Hove AC were the second team (15 points), led by the individual Silver medallist Dulcie Yelling. Crawley AC were third team, led by individual Bronze medallist Alice Cox.
It looked like a repeat of the league races in the U15 boys race with Owen Wallek (Brighton Phoenix) in fine form to win Championship Gold and Jude Clayton (Brighton & Hove AC) Silver.
Finlay Goodman was third and with Rowan Curtis in 9th, the Brighton & Hove AC team scored 13 points for the team title. Brighton Phoenix were second (16 points) and Crawley third (29 points).
Also unbeaten in the league was another Brighton Phoenix athlete, Miles Waterworth. He kept the winning streak to take the Under 17 men’s title, followed by Henry Yelling (Brighton & Hove AC) and Charlie Wright (Lewes). Lewes were team winners, Eastbourne 2nd and Worthing District Harriers 3rd.
Crawley AC’s Yasmin Kashdan looked sublime as always in the Under 17 women’s race, winning by nearly a whole minute. Team-mate Amelia Cox was second. Together with Kayleigh Oldfield, the Crawley team scored 13 points for the Gold. Team Bodyworks’ Daisy Burton won the individual Bronze and Chichester the team Silver with Brighton & Hove AC Bronze.
Samuel Leitch (Worthing District Harrier) won the Under 20 men’s race with Crawley’s Joshua Hobbs second and Liam Dunne (Brighton Phoenix) third. Crawley AC won the team Gold.
The Under 20 men begin the race with the seniors but break off at a point as they run different distances – U20s doing 8K and Seniors 10K.
In the senior men’s race was William Cork (Brighton & Hove AC), unbeaten in the league this season, and the 2016 winner Finn McNally (Brighton Phoenix). However, it was Horsham Blue Stars’ athlete, Jacob Cann, who was victorious. Tomer Tarragano (Brighton and Hove AC) was second and in bronze place, Finn McNally. McNally was the first of many successful Brighton Phoenix runners to finish and as a result, they took both team Gold and Silver. The Brighton & Hove AC team were third.
As previously mentioned, the races concluded with the Senior Women’s 8K race, which included the individual Under 20 contest. Under 20 women compete for individual medals but score in the senior team.
The Under 20 Gold was won by Harriet Bloor, who was second in the overall women’s race. She also led Lewes AC to team Gold. Her team-mate Darja Knotkova took the individual senior Bronze. Silver in this category was won by Hastings’ AC, Grace Baker. Hastings were third in the team contest. This was the first champs, HY have competed in the champs, and they were rewarded with a team Silver.
Brighton and Hove AC’s Emily Muzio and Lara Clayson took Silver and Bronze respectively in the Under 20 women.
This year’s Champs were tough for all concerned – athletes, spectators but particularly for all the officials, marshals and organisers. Standing out in those conditions takes its toll, so a huge thank you to all those involved.
Standing at the end of the day, watching as the last of the tape was removed, feeling colder than I have ever felt at one of these events, I reflected on what had been a gritty, but hugely successful Cross Country Championships. Here’s to many more.