Sussex XC Championships

The Sussex Cross Country Championships took place on a very wet and muddy course in Bexhill on Saturday 7^th January. For many of the top athletes the championships are a key focus as the top 4 in each race are selected for the Intercounties in Loughborough on 11^thMarch.

The Eastbourne Rovers athletes had many superb performances, the highlight being talented under 15 Freda Pearce who stormed to victory to become county champion & earning her well-deserved gold medal.
Teammate Daisy Connor had a strong finish along the final boggy stretch to clinch the silver medal. Together with 3^rd team member Katherine Brown, they achieved 3^rd
 team. Chae West had a strong finish as the 4^th under 15 Eastbourne team athlete.

Evie Lennard took her cross-country season from strength to strength to earn a well-deserved bronze medal. Lexie Mclean placed 23^rd with Alicia Stone improving on her previous race to place 41^st.
Ilya korchev timed his return to top form perfectly, placing a comfortable 4^th in the Under 15 boys’ race. It was encouraging to see the return to the cross-country stage of Oscar Mizen who placed 20^th after a long spell out with injury last season. 

Under 11 Fox Andrews showed his mature pacing yet again by creeping into the top 10 with an impressive 9^th place. Charlie Davey banked yet another super run n 13^th with new recruit Jake Cooper in 30^th. Grace Luford – Brown and Georgia Lennard battled through the mud placing 10^th & 17^th in the under 11 girls’ race.

Eastbourne’s Under 13 boys’ team of George Armstrong – Smith (8^th), Byron Roberts (24^th) and Fin Lumber – Fry (7^th) claimed a very well deserved bronze team medal. Some of the experienced under 13 team were unfortunately affected through injury and illness but Armstrong – Smith & Roberts performances were outstanding to clinch their first county medal.  Eastbourne’s Archie Franklin also placed well in a credible 32^nd.

Other worthy mentions go to Eleanor Strevens (4^th) and Ellie Mclean (5^th)  in the Under 17 girls race, Ben Brown (16^th), Fintan Pearce (17^th) & Dermot O Rourke 22^nd in the Under 17 boys race.

Patrick Marsden had an impressive debut for Eastbourne in the senior men’s race placing well up the strong field in 20^th, with teammates Richard Jones (35^th), Richard Davis (67^th), Phil Wood (81^st) & Stephen Marsden 100th. Jenny Brown was the first senior lady from Eastbourne crossing the line in 12^th with Sue Fry (16^th) and Liz Lumber (20^th)

Coming up on the cross-country calendar for Eastbourne Rovers Juniors is the Sussex Schools Cross Country Championships on Tuesday 17^th January at Waterhill, Brighton. There is a lot to race for as the top 20 in each race will be selected for the Southeast Schools Intercounties with the top 4 in each race earning automatic Sussex selection for the English Schools National Cross Country Championships in Nottingham on 18^thMarch.