The final Sussex league meeting was held in dry conditions. Our Brighton youngsters, despite half-term holidays, came away with 5 league titles, 4 individual league winners and winning no fewer than 34 medals.
In the u/13 girls’ race, Katherine, after her fine run in the Southerns, led the team home in 2nd place and with Gracie 7th and Juliana 8th, they were the 1st team on the day and won the league title by 10 points. Great support again came from our B team with Seren 10th, Mia P 15th, Kira 22nd, Evie 29th, Lola 33rd and Mia D 35th; the team was just outside the medals in 4th place.
In the u/13 boys’ race, Brighton and Eastbourne went into the final race level on points and another excellent run from George in 1st place, Taylor in 5th and Oliver in 7th; they won on the day by just 1 point. It could not have been any closer over the 4 meetings. Again, like the girls, the B team led home by Joaquin in 10th, Seb 12th, Jude 28th, Felix 32nd, Elliott R 36th, and James 39th; the team was also 4th overall.
In the u/15 girls race, Julieana led the team home in 8th place, Lara came 15th, Merle 16th and Angelina 23rd. The girls all have another year in the age group and were just outside the medals in 4th place.
In the u/15 boys race, Finlay had another easy win. With Freddie having his best run of the season in 4th and Alex 7th, the team were again easy winners on the day and won the league title by over 100 points. The B team of Tom B in 10th, Lewis 17th, Oliver 26th, and Sam 29th the team were 6th on the day; however, with the depth in this age group over the 1st 3 meetings, they were the 2nd team in the league.
In the u/17 women/senior race, Rosie had another fine run coming 2nd (10th), Tilly was 7th (27th) Marnie 10th (32nd). The team came 2nd on the day. However, they still won the league title by 18 points. Good backup came from Nicole just outside the scoring 3 in 11th (35th) Eva in 15th (52nd), and Mae in 18th (64th); the B team were 4th on the day.
In the u/17 men’s race, Alex was our 3rd winner of the day, and with Jude 5th and Ruben Di Carlo 16th the team were also 2nd on the day and like the women, they were the league winners by 21 points.
In the individual league standings, Katherine and George were both joint league winners in the u/13, Finlay won the u/15 title with Tom M collecting 3rd place, Alex won the u/17 men’s title, and Rosie held on to 3rd place.
The final standings and medal winners over the 4 meetings.
U/13 Girls 1st Team, Katherine, Gracie, Juliana, Seren and Elodie.
U/13 Boys 1st Team, George, Oliver, Taylor and Sammy.
U/15 Girls 4th team.
U/15 Boys 1st Team, Finlay, Tom M, Saul, Freddie and Alex.
U/15 Boys B 2nd team, Tom B, Lewis and Oliver.
U/17 Women 1st Team, Rosie, Dulcie, Marnie, Tilly, Xanthe and Macy.
U/17 Men 1st Team, Alex, Jude, Charlie, Rowan and Ruben Di Carlo.
So the Age Group Winners and Gold medalists are :
U11G Skye W
U13G Katherine H
U15B Finlay G
U17M Alex R
U20M Matt G
V40M Craig H
Silver medalists are :
U11B Jem B
U20M Henry Y
U20W Emily M
Bronze medalists are :
U15B Tom M
U17W Rosie G
Senior M Sam W
Additionally and very significantly more than 40 team medals were earned.
Gold Team Medals for Senior Men, U13B, U13G, U15B, U17M, U17W
Silver for U15B B Team
Bronze for Senior Women.
Well done to everyone who has competed over the season. For those who did not score, you still contributed to the team in the club’s best-ever league season.
Thanks also to Kate, her officials, and all the parents who helped marshal and to Adrian, who helped me mark the course on the day.
by Pete Witcomb and Gill Gasson-Underwood