Chichester’s cross country crew enjoy the challenge of Stanmer
Once the frost had cleared, perfect conditions greeted the best cross country runners in the county for the third Sussex League fixture at Stanmer Park, Brighton.
At one of the most iconic venues in the county, the fixture was a chance for both individuals and teams to consolidate their positions before the Christmas break – as well as being an opportunity for the top athletes in each age group to show their form before heading to Oxford this Saturday for the South East Inter Counties Championships.
While the club’s juniors were in their usual good form, it was the combined strength of Chichester’s senior men and women which caught the eye and brought the day’s racing to a very satisfying conclusion.
The senior women’s race was again dominated by a large group of under-17s at the front of proceedings with Anya Barrett among them and finishing in a fine 11th place overall and eighth in her age group.
Senior Grace Wills and under-17 Carrie Anelay crossed the line virtually stride for stride in 23rd and 25th respectively giving a team total of 59 points.
Chichester’s third win in a row in Division 2 making it virtually certain they will to return to Division 1 next season – barring a disaster in the final match in February.
For the B team it was top veterans Sarah Fenmor Collins and Lisa Pemberton who were next home in 32nd and 45th with under-17 Millie Isitt hhaving her best run of the season in 61st overall and 20th in her age group.
This meant that the senior B team closed in with 138 points, good enough for third place on the day together with a 41-point total for the under-17s in fifth spot.
Nadia Anderson had her usual consistent run in 70th overall and fourth over-55 while Sue Baker had the same place in her over-65 age group in 112th – whie evergreen Wendy Whelan battled over the hilly 5k course in 124th and flying the flag for the over-75s.
Credit must also go to under-17 Salome Vonk in her first ever race at this level in 96th.
There was a real mixture of ages in the senior men’s squad with the scoring A team quartet having an age range of nearly 30 years between them.
Showing greatly improved form from his first race back from injury at Ardingly, Harvey Mcguiness was in sparkling form to finish in 10th place overall and a close fourth in his under-20 age group.
Hot on his heels after his usual steady start was veteran James Baker in 11th and just behind his Brighton V40 rival whom he beat at Goodwood in October.
Mike Houston was not far behind in 20th and fourth veteran with senior Mikeey Kwoka continuing his good form in 42nd to give the team a total of 83 points – and a big gap of 50 points in front of their Division 2 rivals.
Wesley Adams led the B team home in 52nd in front of Steve Davy in 94th, Jason Boswell 103rd and Tim Brown 119th. Peter Anderson was 151st.