Ice underfoot and bitterly cold temperatures marked the annual Sussex Schools Cross Championships last week.
A total of 767 battled the conditions at Waterhall, Brighton, to finish the 6 races across the afternoon.
First up were the junior girls (years 8/9) where Daisy Connor (St Catherine’s College) won gold followed by Freda Pearce (The Cavendish) and Bibi Webb (Great Walstead).
Brighton College were the team winners with 82 points with two of their athletes (Juliana Christopherson, 16th, and Abi Smiky, 20th) finishing in coveted top 20 spots.
It was a battle to the end in the Junior Boys age group, but it was Shoreham College’s George Gilbert who was victorious in the end. Saul Bennett (Paca) was second and Freddy Boniface (The Forest School) third.
This age group had the most finishers on the day with 250 crossing the line. It was Brighton College again who won the team spot with 122 points.
In the Inter Girls’ (Years 10/11) Stephanie Shaw (Oriel High School) was the clear winner with Grace Tuesday (Uckfield College) taking the silver and Rosie Gasson (Brighton Girls) bronze.
Hurstpierpoint College, led by Katie Foss in 11th, were team winners (108 points).
Another close race came with the Inter Boys where Finlay Goodman (Home Schooled) and Owen Wallek (Downlands Community School) pushed each other round the 6K course. Goodman managed to pull clear at the end for the gold. Finn Sutcliffe (Lancing College) was third.
With three out of the four team members in the top 20, Hove Park School took the Inter Boys title for the first time in their history with Rowan Curtis 6th, Thomas Matthews 7th and Freddie Matthews 18th.
In the Inter Girls (Years 12/13), Gold went to Eleanor Strevens (Claremont Senior). Eadie Yelling (Varndean College) was second and Ellie McLean (Lewes College) third. With only one school/college fielding enough athletes to make a full team, Hurstpierpoint College took the team title.
Alexander Sproston (Hazlewick School) displayed fine running in the Inter Boys to take the win. Henry Yelling (Bhasvic) was second and Matt Geddes (Eastbourne College) third.
Bhasvic were clear team winners with second, 9th (Ben Connolly) 10th (Stan Pendered) and 14th (Ravi Clarke) place finishers.
The Sussex Schools is a vital cross country race that can only take place thanks to Simon Lilley and his organising team from Hurst, along with the hard work of the Sussex AA officials and volunteers.
The top 20 in each race will now go on to compete at Ardingly on February 4 in the Regional Schools XC Champs. Following this eight will be selected to represent Sussex at the English Schools in March.