It was a welcome break from the rain at the Year 7 and 8 Sussex Schools Cross Country Champs last Thursday.
As the athletes gathered at a windy Christs Hospital, Horsham, the sun shone but conditions underfoot were extremely wet and muddy.
The afternoon kicked off with the Year 7 girls. 
Ardingly’s Katie Foss took an early lead but was being closely tracked by Rihannon Daniels (Oriel) and Esme Stephenson (Priory) throughout. As the race moved into the closing stages Fosse was overtaken and Daniels cleared for gold with Stephenson silver.
In the year 7 boys, Corbin Bailey (Priory) ran from the front from the start.
Closing the gap as the race progressed was Thomas Matthews, Hove Park, but Bailey kept a great command on the race to finish first with Matthews’ second. Arun Khursheed (St Paul’s Catholic College) came in third with a gap from the rest of the pack.
Dulcie Yelling (Varndean) continued her impressive cross country season taking the Year 8 girls’ title. 
In second place was Rae Le Fay (Heathfield CC) and Stephanie Shaw (Oriel High) third.
It was the Year 8 boys’ race that brought the most exciting finish of the day with Charlie Leedham (St Andrews’ C of E High School) and Jude Clayton (Worthing High School) battling it right to the finish line for winning glory. Leedham came out on top to take the gold with Clayton silver. In third place was Andrew Martin (Chatsmore Catholic High School).
The winners of the team awards were Windlesham in the Year 7 boys, Cardinal Newman in the Year 7 girls, Downlands in the Year 8 boys and Ardingly the Year 8 girls.