Juniors turn in fine Sussex League show
After competing in the club’s combined team at Bournemouth in the National League, Chichester’s under13s and under-15s have had their first taste of action in separate competitions in the Sussex League.
The U13s were in action at the K2, Crawley. Despite only being able to field a couple of girls, the 10 boys in action more than pulled their weight to give Chichester an unexpected third team place.
The most successful event was the hurdles where Isaac Page enjoyed an impressive A string win in 15.6sec while Jack Ford ensured maximum points with a B string win in 16.8. Page recording a 4m long jump for second spot.
In the boys’ 600m, Levi Pearce was third, with the top three separated by half a second. Rocco Hodges ran well in the B string, for a sub 2-minute time while Alfie Luxford and Sebastian Berger were on form in the 1000m. Sprints were tackled by Oscar Felton, Oliver Lowrey, Finlay Hill and Jasper Robertson and they doubled up in high jump, discus, javelin and shot.
Two Year 6 girls added useful points – both middle distance runners, Olivia Pearson ran well in the 600m while Emmy Pemberton was runner-up in the A string 1000m.
The U15s went to the Withdean Stadium, Brighton, for their Sussex league match with 11 clubs competing.
Chichester’s squad of 16 were right in the mix and the tally of 364 points was one of only four over the 300 – just a handful of points separated them from Eastbourne in third, with Crawley and Brighton the top two.
The race of the evening came in the boys’ 1500m where Chichester’s Harry Dunne was up against Fin Lumber-fry, one of the stars of the Sussex cross country scene.
Dunne won in a new personal best by eight seconds in 4min 20.5sec, a top 10 UK ranking. This came just a couple of days after he had won an 800m on the same track, recording another best of 2.02.29, ranking him third in the UK in his age group.
In the U15 match, Reuben Shewan almost won the hurdles in his first attempt at the event and scored well in 100m and javelin.
Ben Stewart ran the 100, 200 and 300m with a new best of sub 40 seconds in the 300, with Dunne also breaking the mark.
Max Gayle and Ivo Edgar ran well in the 800m with Joe Stewart showing form in the 1500.
Frank James and Feddie Gay formed a fine pairing in discus and hammer.
For the girls it was a case of drawing into their energy reserves as half the team had come to the match straight from a schools rugby tournament.
Despite this, the four middle distance runners in action gave a good account of themselves with Isla Hill and Isla Pearson in the 800 and Elodie Hill and Isabella Pearson in the 1500.
Hurdler Kitty Goodband teamed up with Poppy Hine in the hammer with Hine scoring well in shot and javelin. Macie Ship shone in the high jump and long jump and there were useful sprint points.