Sussex County XC Championships Saturday 3^rd October 2009

The promising start to the 2009-10 cross country season made by the Brighton & Hove boys at the Aldershot relays last weekend continued into the first county race of the winter.

Five Under 13’s turned out with the ‘A’ team completing the 3 x 2.8K in a total time of 32.05. Harry Sullivan-Jones led off in a time of 11:38. Steven Ferroni then took up the chase to complete the course in 10:13. The anchor leg run by James Oliver in a time of 10:14 brought the boys home in silver medal position. Meanwhile the incomplete ‘B’ team first leg was contested by George Turner, who in his first cross county race for the team, came home in 11:02. Second leg for the ‘B’ team was Henry Golton, youngest of the three Golton’s running for the club, who finished with a time of 11:43

The Silver Medal three of James Oliver, Steven Ferroni and Harry Sullivan-Jones

Under 15’s

The Under 15’s ‘A’ team put in the most dominant performances of the day in all the races. Running over the same course as the Under 13’s Jake Elliott stormed around in a time of 9:14, two seconds off of the championship best time and fastest Under 15 time of the day, to build a healthy lead. Next came Ian Crow-Wright who finished with a time of 9:37 increasing the lead to 52 seconds. Liam Hurley then completed the excellent team effort with a 9:17 run, second fastest of the day to finish nearly two minutes ahead of the second placed team. The ‘B’ team of Charlie Noakes 10:40, Harvey Noakes 11:12 and Louis Golton 10:28 finished in seventh place and Tom Coyle who ran in a combined team with Hastings competed the course in 11:04.

The Victorious Under 15 A team of Ian, Liam & Jake.

The Under 17’s ran in the last race of the day against the senior and veteran men competing over a 3 x 4K course. Will Gray complete the first leg in a time of 13:14, Tom Wilmot ran the second leg in 13:47 and Kieran Silsby, with a time of 13:16, kept the second place occupied by the team throughout the race to win the second team silver of the day. Alex Rice was selected to run third for the senior ‘B’ team finished in 13:25 with the team just being piped for senior bronze.

Under 17 Silver Medallist Tom, Kieran & Will

Sunday 27th September, Rushmore Arena, Aldershot

There was a good performance from the Brighton men at the Southern 6 stage Road Relay Championships which saw them achieve their goal of finishing in the top 25 and qualifying for the National Road Relays next month in Birmingham.

Many of the teams put their best runners on the earlier legs and it was Josh Painter who took up the challenge. It was a well paced leg from Josh (19:58) which saw him come through from back at the start to finish 38th out of the 92 teams which started. James McCarthy on leg two ran out of his skin in what was probably his best performance to date. With a time of 19:43 he gained 9 places to take the team into 29th place. Another good leg from Martyn Bean, who was using the race as a sharpener for the Portland marathon next week, gained the team seven places to 22nd place. Richard Airey and Andrew Donno ran solid legs each dropping just one position each. It was then left to Chris Thomson to finsih the job and with a final leg of 19:38 the Brighton men finished in 22nd place to clinch qualification.

Full Results

The four leg relays were run in warm, dry and sunny conditions at the Rushmoor arena. The under 13’s were off first. Stephen Ferroni battling with boys a year older than himself to come in with a time of 11:46 and 21^st of the 46 running the first leg. He handed on to Tom O’Brian who moved the team up to 20^th place with a time of 11:20 for the 3K course. Harry Sullivan-Jones took over for the third leg completing in a time of 12:51. The anchor leg was contended by James Oliver whose strong finishing in a time of 11:13 pulled the team up to 18^th of the 33 teams that completed the course.

The gun went off for the under 15’s 4 x 3K relays at 1:15. All bar one of the boys had had pervious experience of the SEEA relays. The best of last year’s under 15’s, Jake Elliott, led the A team off and immediately got in the middle of the action in third place going around the first bend. He kept the pressure up in the leading group coming home in 10^th place with the 12^th fastest time of the day for the under 15’s of 9:51. Although it was Tom Coyle’s first outing at the under 15 level he had a solid run finishing with a time of 12:09 for the B team first leg.

Next away for the A team was Ian Crowe-Wright. Ian converted his recent good training form into a storming run finishing with a time of 10:16 raising the team to 5^th place. Harvey Noakes went away second for the B team. Although carrying an injury Harvey got around with a time of 11:49 to finish for the incomplete B team.

Meanwhile Harvey’s twin Charlie kept the A team in the hunt for a top 10 finish by completing the third leg in 11^th place with a time of 11:05. Liam Hurley picked his way through the field to finish with a time of 10:04 and 7^th place of the 37 teams.

By the time the under 17’s went under starters orders at 2:55 for the 4 x 3.8K, the weather felt more like high summer than early autumn. The four boys had the ‘enjoyment’ of being taken on an un-planned detour of Guildford town centre by an ‘only slightly lost’ Jackie Silsby.

Despite the navigational skills of Kieran’s Mum, all arrived safely and champing at the bit. After a quick mutiny, sorry, input on team tactics, the running order was settled and Will Gray was off first. Will weathered the challenge of the first leg to complete the first leg 27^th of 57 in a time of 13:13 to hand on to Alex Rice. Alex was undaunted by the move up from under 15’s last year and picked up places finishing with a time of 13:31.

The baton then passed to Tom Wilmot, who built on the performance of the other two to get the team in 18^th place with a time of 12:55. Kieran Silsby then showed that he is over his long-term injury of the summer by pulling back another two places and bringing the team home in 16^th place of 43 with a time of 13:10.

All in all a good solid start to the season that shows good promise for the winter ahead.

Will be held on Saturday 5th December @Alfresco

The full ticket price of £22.50 includes a hot and cold buffet, a DJ and the opportunity to see fellow club members using their legs for something other than running!

To enable us to secure the venue we are asking that all those interested in attending the event put down a £10 per ticket deposit.

Please could you drop off an envelope containing either cash or a cheque (made payable to Cynthia Samblas) to the Jog Shop clearly stating your name and address and how many tickets you require.

Hopefully see you all there