Perfect cross country running conditions marked the third Sussex league fixture last weekend.
More than 600 athletes completed the nine races at the idyllic Stanmer Park, Brighton.
Thanks to some very strong individual performances, some athletes managed to secure league titles before the fourth fixture.
These include the winners in both the Under girls and boys races, where Isabella Buchanan (HY Runners) and Taylor Thom Watts (Brighton & Hove) made it 3 out of 3 wins.
Isabella led her team for the win on the day scoring a collective 10 points, as did Taylor with his team on 9 points.
Second in the girls’ race was Amelie Whitehouse (Crawley) and Elise Aston (Worthing) third, while Eastbourne’s Byron Roberts was the second boy and Oliver Goodman (Brighton & Hove) third.
Another athlete who after a fine win on Saturday has already scored enough points to be crowned individual league winner - Under 15 girl, Freda Pearce (Eastbourne). She crossed the line 33 seconds ahead of Brighton & Hove’s Julieana Walsh in second and Eva Winton (Lewes) third. With 21 points Brighton & Hove were the top team in this age category.
It has been a different story with the Under 15 boys where a different athlete has won each of the 3 fixtures. It was Chichester’s Ben Stewart’s turn to be victorious finishing ahead of Jacob Trotman (Lewes) and Fin Lumber Fry (Eastbourne). Eastbourne (16 points) were team winners on the day.
A new face in the Sussex League, Samuel Stapley (second claim Brighton Phoenix), romped home in first in the Under 17 men’s race with Finlay Goodman (Brighton & Hove) 2nd and Fintan Pearce (Eastbourne) 3rd. Brighton & Hove A again secured the team win (11 points).
Unattached Sophie Coleman was the winner of the senior women’s race, with Under 17 Ava James coming in second (first in her own age group). Esme Stephenson (Lewes) was the second Under 17 woman and Rae Le Fay (Hastings) third. Linda Schofield (Brighton & Hove) was the first V45 in 8th overall and Alice Robinson (Worthing) first V35 in 12th.
In Division 1 Lewes were team winners while Chichester celebrated in division 2. Eastbourne were the top vet women’s team.
In the senior and vet men’s race, Ross Skelton (HY Runner) was back to winning ways after placing second at Ardingly. 
He crossed the line first with Under 20 Brighton & Hove athletes Alexander Riley and Henry Yelling second and third. In 9th overall, Zared Arasaretham-Hale (Brighton & Hove) was first V40 and James Wright first V50 in 19th.
In the team contest, Brighton & Hove scored 9 points to lead division 1, Chichester 83 in division 2 and Brighton Phoenix 23 in the vet’s league.
This was the last race of the day. The day had begun at midday with the Under 11 races where there were wins for Skye Widdows (Brighton & Hove) and Xander Wagjiani (Crawley). Both these young athletes have won all 3 of the races this year.
As always thank you to all the Sussex officials, volunteers and in particular to the event hosts, Brighton & Hove AC, for putting on a successful day.
The next league fixture will be at Glyndebourne in February 2024. Before that we have the Sussex Cross Country Champs on Jan 6th, 2024, at Bexhill.