Castle cricket role is a huge one
A squad of 48 of the best young cross country runners from across Sussex travelled to Pontefract for the highlight of the English schools season.
And they came away with two unprecented team wins as well as two fourth places, one fifth and a seventh from the six races.
Out of the 45 county teams in action Sussex emerged in overall second place to Surrey – beating the likes of London, Essex, Greater Manchester and a host of other well-fancied counties in the process.
Joint team manager Tim Brown, of Bishop Luffa School, ranked the performance as the best day’s action he could remember for Sussex.
Chichester-based athletes more than played their part with multi-talented Ben Stewart making the top 20 in his first race at this level and helping to guide Sussex to a famous win in the junior boys’ race.
Hertfordshire and London
were their nearest challengers and they were well ahead of Surrey, Essex and a strong northern challenge.
Fellow Bishop Luffa pupil Elodie Hill squeezed into the top 100 for the junior girls, who just missed lout on a team medal.
Such is the closeness of competition at this event that Hill was barely a minute outside the top 10.
In the senior girls’ race, Chichester College student Anya Barrett was sixth Sussex scorer in 110th place helping the team to a fine fifth place.
There was also a local Hampshire connection as Ela Pemberton, a student at Churchers College in Petersfield, was delighted to be called into the Hampshire intermediate girls team at short notice.
Two of the Hampshirebased stars of the first Corporate Challenge were in action with Florence East a fine eighth in the same race while Onjoro Sumba, who gave Will Boutwood a run for his money on the streets of Chichester, made the top 50 in a high class senior boys’ race.
The cross country season is now ending – but there’s little time for athletes to rest before the track and field season begins.
- PHIL BAKER
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Alistair Subba Row, the incoming chairman at Arundel Castle Cricket Club, says he is honoured, proud and excited to help start writing a new chapter in the rich history of this famous sporting ground.
Alistair is executive chairman at London-based Farebrother, a privately-owned commercial real estate consultancy, and is focused on ensuring the cricket club continues to flourish. He succeeds Amanda Jupp at one of the most famous cricket grounds, not just in the heart of West Sussex but in the cricketing world.
His family history is steeped in cricket folklore thanks to his father, Raman Subba Row CBE, a former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire. He was also an influential figure at Lord's having served as chairman of the TCCB, (now ECB) and as an ICC match referee.
He said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to become the new chairman of Arundel Castle Cricket Club. Cricket has been played at the castle ground for over 125 years and staged some of the most incredible matches hosting international and domestic teams. The club has a deeprooted history since the ground was built in 1895 and a solid relationship with the Duke of Norfolk’s Estate.
"We really are so lucky to have the Duke’s continuous support for the club and foundation activities. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a lazy summer’s afternoon watching cricket in the famous and naturally landscaped amphitheatre. We will provide high quality cricket on an amazing stage.” –