There was another excellent turnout for the third Sussex league meeting at Lancing where the conditions under foot were dry and weather conditions were good for December. As in the previous two league meetings there many outstanding performances and all our teams improved their league standings.
In the first race there was another easy win in the U/11 girls for Dulcie Yelling. In the U/11 Boys race there was a great battle with Archie Turner coming third, Tom Matthews fourth and Jude Clayton just behind in fifth.
In the U/13 Girls race 11 girls competed, most of them in their first year, with four placing in the first 10. Eadie Yelling led the team home in an excellent second place but probably the run of the day from a B&H U13G came from Rosie Gasson who was just behind in third place. With Ruby Wilson in sixth the team easily won on the day and are now in second place, just 10 points behind the leaders. There was great back up from the ‘B’ team led home by Mollie Barrett in eighth, Sophie Packham – 11th and with Sima Saadatzadeh in 21st the team finished first and were the fourth team on the day. Not far behind Maddie Badruzaman 24th, Tilly Wilburn 25th, Anya Hmaimou 28th, Allanah Clayton 32nd and Ella Kaps 34th completed a fine team performance.
In the U/13 Boys Henry Yelling, like his two sisters, had another excellent run in second place. Will Matthews, who fell just after the start, came back strongly to finish 10th and Sam Southgate completed the team, with his best run of the season, in 13th. On the day the team finished in second place and are now up to third in the league – 13 points behind the leaders. The next finisher was William Muzio in 43rd, Joe Wilburn 47th, Jonny Hancock 52nd and Rhys Laderick in 57th.
In the U/15 Girls Lois Dooley had another strong performance coming in second and with Rebecca Losh in fourth and Alex Nann ninth the team – as they have done all season – won the overall race and are now 42 points clear and are strong favourites to win the League title. Our ‘B’ team led home by Poppy Palmer-Malins in 11th, Emily Muzio 13th and Lacey Fowler 14th came third on the day and are now fourth in the league. Just behind Lacey came Gracie Barnard leading the ‘C’ team home in 15th and with Bertie Brooking 18th, Edie Seth 33rd the team came fifth, which again was another excellent team effort.
In the U/15 Boys race it was Tom Roberts leading the team home with an excellent sixth place and with Adam Firsht 13th and Patrick Connolly 15th the team came third and are now in fourth place eight points off third place. Again there was fine backup from Archie Rowles 17th, Harvey Grant 20th, Joesph Luker 21st and George Taylor in 32nd.
In the U/17 and U/20 Women’s races – again running with the Seniors – there were excellent runs from Olivia Lyon-Monk 12th overall – fifth U/17, Emma Gill 22nd -second U/20, Jemima Edwards 73rd – 12th U/17 and Amy Gamblin 77th out of 121 finishers.
In the U/17 Men’s race it was Tomer Tarragano leading the team home in fifth and with Joe Clayson seventh and Max Brazier 14th the team on the day came second, however they are now 29 points clear and like the U/15 girls are favourites to take the league title.
The last Sussex league meeting is on the 10th February in Stanmer Park, which should turn out to be an exciting day with all our teams challenging for medals.
Well done again to everyone. You all played your part and also a big thanks to Worthing for putting on another excellent meeting.