Raya Petrova – 1st for Sussex – Intermediate Girls Race (year 10/11)
The 100th prestigious English Schools Cross Country Championships took place on Saturday 15th March at the South Of England Showground, Ardingly.
The event brings together the best athletes in each of the 46 counties in England to compete for the honour of being the best in the Country.
Amongst the Sussex Teams, 8 athletes from Eastbourne Rovers gained selection. For anyone familiar to the event, you will appreciate that to even be chosen to represent your county at the prestigious event is a success in itself, as the top athletes from each county had to battle it out in qualifiers on a local school level to earn their place on the start line. The top 6 finishers out of the team of 8 scored.
Conditions were dry, and some might say ‘rather kind’ underfoot compared to previous muddy events at the venue. However, runners were challenged as they negotiated many narrow twists and turns, whilst withstanding a fierce bitterly north easterly wind.
Kicking off was the Intermediate girls race (year 10&11) where Raya Petrova had an impressive run placing 25th (1st Sussex). Daisy Connor ran strongly in 44th (5th Sussex) and late call up, Evie Lennard didn’t disappoint, placing 197 out of 281 county athletes. Evie has another year in this age group. Together, the Sussex team impressively achieved the 3rd team place (281 points).
Intermediate Girls Team (year 10/11) – 3rd – Raya Petrova, Evie Lennard and Daisy Connor (Eastbourne athletes)
Byron Roberts showed immense resilience in the Junior boys race (year 9 & 10). After an incredible cross country season, Byron was struck with injury and illness over recent weeks, but still made the start line and placed 5th from Sussex, contributing towards the overall 2nd place for the team.
Byron Roberts from Eastbourne Rovers – part of the Junior boys Sussex team (year 8/9) who took 2nd place
For the intermediate boys race (year 10/11), 3 talented Eastbourne athletes raced well tactically amongst the vast field of 330 top county runners. First home from Sussex was George Armstrong Smith (41st), followed by Fin Lumber – Fry (50th) and Ben Wright (159th). All 3 athletes will remain in the same age group next year should they qualify.
Intermediate Boys Race (year 10/11) – Fin Lumber – Fry, George Armstrong Smith and Ben Wright (Eastbourne athletes)
Fintan Pearce ended his cross country season in style in the Senior Boys race (year 12/13), placing 4th in the Sussex Team. He was also part of the David Minter Wigan ‘team of 8 team’, a trophy awarded to the first county to have all 8 runners finish (excluding the top 3 placing counties).
Fintan Pearce – Winners of the David Minter Wigan ‘ Team of 8’ trophy. Senior boys race (year 12/13)
Other worthy mentions go to the Sussex Junior Girls team (year 8/9) taking 3rd and Senior Girls team (year 12/13) – 1st. A superb overall set of results for Sussex.
So as the cross country season comes to a close for many who raced, other Eastbourne Rovers athletes ran at the final East Sussex XC league on Sunday 16th at Pett. In addition, some of the year 7s and 8s have their SE schools cross country next Saturday, further reports to follow…..