The Brighton & Hove under 15 and under 17 boys cross country teams came out on top at the last Sussex League meeting at Lancing on 28th February.
A smaller field than usual lined up for the non-scoring under 13 boys race due to the inter-county schools race at Bexley taking place on the same day. The league was decided over the previous three meetings. Brighton & Hove boys secured third place at Bexhill last time out. Two Brighton & Hove boys ran the Lancing race Tom Stewart-Green came 6th of 18 and Harry Sullivan-Jones finished 11th.
With medals still to be won in the other two junior age groups spirits within the team were high. Due to the combination of scoring at the three previous races all of the four runners in the under 15’s were in with a chance of securing an individual medal. The team had been leading the pack from the first meeting at Goodwood in October and started the race 25 points in front of Eastbourne Rovers in second place.
After the first two laps of the Bowling Green all four of the Brighton & Hove boys were running together in the leading group. As the race developed over the 4.5 K course the team got strung out. Alex Rice crossed the finish line 5th of the 21 runners in a time of 16:56 followed by Liam Hurley 6th in 16:58, Jake Elliott 8th in 17:16 and Tom Wilmot 9th in 17:26. The ‘A’ team finished with gold winning the league by 34 points. As all four of the boys had scored for the ‘A’ team in at least one race they all received medals. Unfortunately, they all missed out on individual medals. Of all the boys that took part in three scoring races Jake Elliott came 4th of 15, Alex Rice 5th, Liam Hurley 6th and Tom Wilmot 8th. The two other stalwarts of the under 15’s this winter Charlie and Harvey Noakes were unavailable for the last race of the season but their efforts help with the ‘B’ team finishing the league in 8th place and the ‘C’ team 15th.
Tom and Liam with the Under 15 Shield.
As with the Under 15s’ the Under 17 boys had been top of the league all season and started the last meeting 15 points in front of Lewes. It was nearly a full turn out for the fourth race. The only absence being Jonny Crickmore who was busy winning the under 16 British Orienteering Championships at Fordingbridge.
James McCarthy who had been so dominant in the league all season led the field home in a time of 16:50. Kieran Silsby finished 5th with a time of 17:38, Adam Smith 7th, 17:54, Will Grey 8th, 18:01 and Chris Woolcott 11th, 18:29. The ‘A’ team increased the winning margin to 44 points with James, Kieran, Jonny, Adam and Will scoring in at least one race. The ‘B’ team finished the league in 6th place of the 12 teams. Individual placings for the boys who finished at least three races were. James McCarthy 1st of 18, Kieran Silsby 5th, Will Grey 8th and Chris Woolcott 11th.
Adam, Kieran, James and Will with the Under 17 Shield.
