Under 11’s team spirit – Olivia Massey-Perlaki, Ella Baxter, Ada Messer, Emily Petrova, Elsie Smith & Imogen Myers
With slight drizzle, little wind and very long grass underfoot, more than 500 competitors completed the 3rd Sussex Cross Country event of the season at Ardingly.
Starting with the U11 Girls, Eastbourne’s Emily Petrova was first over the line for the team (13th) with Olivia Massey-Perlaki (20th) continuing their fine form over the showground course to take top 20 places, with team mate Ella Baxter (28th) showing great promise for the cross country distance. Returning from injury, Ada Messer (31st) ran a solid race alongside a determined Imogen Myers (33rd) and Elsie Smith (39th).
Aidian Wai took 7th place in the U11 Boys race, proudly wearing both his Rovers vest and the biggest smile of the day. Dylan Fox (29th) and league newcomer Rio Ducille (39th) were cheered on by a large crowd of older Rovers athletes and their parents as they crossed the line. Unfortunately, some runners took a wrong turn in two places meaning the race results were made void. The Bexhill fixture on 4 January will now double up as a championship for this group as well as providing a fourth opportunity to decide individual league standings.
The under 15 boys displayed a club masterclass. Finishing in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 14th, the A team placed 1st and the B 3rd, truly impressive running by the squad. It was Byron Roberts who was individually victorious, followed by George Armstrong – Smith, Fin Lumber – Fry, Ben Wright, Jonah Messer, Adam Meyer, Archie Franklin and Joshua Webster.
Byron Roberts – 1st – Under 15 boys race
For the under 17 girls, Raya Petrova ran bravely amongst the tough competition placing 3rd, with team mates Freda Pearce 5th and Katherine Brown running strongly yet again (13th).
Fintan Pearce once again had a superb run placing 3rd (U20) with his season continuing to go from strength to strength.
Senior men were 2nd in division 2 with Fintan Pearce (10th), Patrick Marsden (30th) , Stuart Pelling (42nd) and Richard Davis (53rd). Men’s 35-50 team were 3rd overall in their category.
Eastbourne had three under 13 girls: Grace Luford Brown, Georgia Lennard and Poppy Charlwood in 25th, 27th and 32nd, 9th team, only 7 points behind Lewes in 6th.
Evie Lennard is working her way back up the placings with a 12th place in the under 15 girls race. Thomas Petherick took 9th in the under 17 boys race.
Eastbourne’s senior ladies ran well over the 5k course with Becci Holdaway (3rd V40), Flick Webster (8th V45), Jennifer Brown (2nd V50), Liz Lumber (2nd V55). Eastbourne women’s team are placed 1st in division 2.
The Eastbourne Rovers athletes are now making their preparations for the Sussex Cross Country Championships to be held at the local Bexhill Little Common venue on Saturday 4th January.