Cross country makes fantastic return to Goodwood

Who's that coming over the hill? Cross-country action at Goodwood, with the white and green of Chi Runners to the fore / Picture: Lee Hollyer

Cross-country running returned to Goodwood when 400 of the top Sussex runners of all ages battled for honours in the Sussex relays.

After the cancellation of last year’s event, clubs from across the county unanimously said it was good to be back.

There was fierce competition across all seven age groups in both men’s and women’s categories.

Chichester scooped a fine haul of seven team medals to finish second in the medal table, one behind formidable Brighton & Hove. Ten of the 60-plus Chichester athletes in action came away with top three fastest lap times in their age groups.

Under-13s and under-15s

The under 13 races had slightly smaller fields than in previous years as a result of restrictions over the past 18 months, during which clubs have been unable to pursue their usual recruiting initiatives.

However those in action produced some fast times on their 2800m undulating lap.

Chichester’s girls – Grace Howarth, Elodie Hill and Iona Sherwood – finished in a creditable fourth place.

The Chichester under-13 boys were led off by Stanley Wilkes in second place with the third best time of the day. Harry Dunne hung on to the silver medal position but were short of a third team member so joined up with a Worthing reserve and came home in second place overall. The trio are not eligible for a Sussex team award, but will still receive medals in the open race.

In the under-15 races Chichester’s boys were given a fine start by Josh Dunne who stormed into the lead on the opening lap to give his team a ten-second advantage.

Goodwood cross-country picture special.

Having his best run of the year, Alessandro Schmitt slipped into second behind eventual winners Brighton Phoenix but established a clear lead over the rest.

Promoted into the club’s A team, Digby Fulford had to off strong runners from Haywards Heath and Brighton & Hove and stuck to his task, even though his lead over his two older rivals was being eroded. All three runners made a dash for the line but it was a tremendous burst of finishing speed which brought Chichester home for the silver medals in the most exciting finish of the day.