The Sussex Cross Country League was back up and running at the weekend as more than 500 athletes took to Goodwood.
As is tradition, the day opened with the under 11 races where the winners were HY’s Benji Pocock (7.08) in the boys and Ada Greenaway (Brighton & Hove) in 7.10 in the girls.
There was a clear winner in the under 13 girls’ race as Skye Widdows (Brighton & Hove) cruised through the line in 11.17, Darcie Wickenden (Crawley) second in 11.43 and Stella Gambie (Phoenix) third in 11.58.
With two other top ten finishers, Brighton & Hove topped the teams (16 points), HY Runners second (29) and Horsham Blue Stars third (46).
The biggest junior field on the day turned out for the under 13 boys contest where Lewes’ Harry Chapman ran 10.38 for the win, Rory Grant (Brighton & Hove) second in 10.56 and Xander Wagjiani (Crawley) third in 11.00.
Brighton & Hove also topped this age group table on the day scoring a collective 14 points whilst Crawley hit 32 and Lewes 37.
Isabella Buchanan (HY) looked in fine form in the under 15 girls’ contest as she crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of Izzy Wheeler (Horsham) then behind her was Katherine Haslip (Phoenix).
HY scored 24 as a team whilst Crawley AC and Chichester both came away with 27 points.
There would be no doubt on who dominated the under 15 boys’ age group.
With all of the top three from the same club, Eastbourne Rovers scored a fantastic 6 points. Deciding who won individually was more of a battle as Fin Lumber Fry just pipped Byron Roberts – both in the same time of 13.25. Team mate George Armstrong Smith ran 13.41.
Chichester were the second team with 22 points followed by 30.
Entries in the under 17 men’s race were lower than has become the usual, but still performances were strong with Finlay Goodman (Brighton & Hove) showing his consistent dominance coming first in 15.32 followed by Thomas Petherick (Eastbourne) in 15.59 and Jake Pursey (Phoenix) third in 16.04.
Brighton & Hove were team winners (12 points), Phoenix second (25) and Crawley third (40).
The next race was the senior women’s which included all age groups from under 17 upwards. The race was won by under 17 Eastbourne athlete, Raya Petrova, in an impressive 17.28 followed by senior women Imogen Matthews 18.05 (Chichester) and Darja Knotkova (Lewes) 18.09 third.
Second and third under 17 women were Eastbourne’s Freda Pearce (5th overall) and Brighton & Hove’s Lara Cox (6th overall).
Eastbourne were the top under 17 team on 21, Chichester scored 25 whilst Brighton & Hove and Crawley both collected 26.
Anya Barrett was the first under 20 woman to cross the line in seventh place overall.
First individual in the 35-50 vets age group was Alice Robinson (WDH), who was ninth overall in 18.0 whilst in in the over 50 band V40 Linda Schofield was fourth overall in 18.11.
Teamwise Chichester topped the 35-50 division with 20 points followed by HY’s 22 and Lewes’ 29.
Brighton & Hove scored 8 in the Over 50s, Haywards Heath 24 and Eastbourne 52.
Topping the senior women’s division one was Brighton & Hove on 31 followed by Chichester (38) and Lewes (80).
In Division 2 Eastbourne scored 28, Chichester B 73 and Horsham Blue Stars 77.
As the day progressed the weather worsened and at times the wind and rain made conditions tricky.
This was the backdrop for the last race of the day, the senior men.
This was dominated by Brighton & Hove with the top three all from this club – Andrew Green (25.01), Kieran Barnes (25.18) and Matt Grindrod (25.31).
With a further six athletes in the top 15, it is no surprise the club’s A team were first with 23 points and the B team second (103 points). Lewes were third (125).
Brighton and Hove also topped the age 35-50 vets league on 9 points led home by Zared Arasaretnam-Hale (V40) who was fourth overall in 25.51.
Haywards Heath won the over 50s on the day with 11 points led by Marcus Kimmins finishing 38th overall in 29.06.
First year in the age group, Fintan Pearce was the first under 20 to cross the line in 26.12 and eighth overall.
A brilliant start to the new season – next up Glyndebourne on November 9th.