In a repeat of last year’s result Brighton & Hove’s Keith Newton notched up his tenth Sussex Cross-country title in the M50 race at the Sussex Master’s championships at Lancing on Saturday. Newton won no less than eighth M40 titles and on Saturday notched up his second M50 title when he again got the better Haywards Heath Harrier Paul Cousins who had won the title in 2014. Newton took control of the race from the start and finished thirteen seconds clear in 31:46s.
Horsham Joggers won the team title over Brighton & Hove scoring 21 points to 25 with Lewes scoring 38 in third place.
The Women were next on the scene and Hailsham took the team title with 13 points to Arena 80’s 20 and Brighton & Hove’s 28.
In the W45’s Brighton & Hove took the team title with 18 points to Arena 80’s 22 and Horsham Jogger’s 42.
The afternoon finished with a run-a-way victory for Brighton & Hove’s Howard Bristow in the M40 championships.
Earlier in the month he missed the County championships, where he may well have challenged for an individual medal, because of an Achilles niggle but on Saturday he was in a class of his own as he romped to victory in 34:23s approaching three minutes clear of newcomer Mike Ellicock (Lewes) 37:02s with fellow Lewes runner Lewis Sida, who had finished sixth last year, not far away in third place in 37:10s.
Brighton & Hove took the team title with 19 points ahead of Lewes’ 25 and Brighton Phoenix’s 57.