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Lewes AC Fields 70 Runners for 2025/2026 SCCL Stanmer Park Fixture
Seventy members of Lewes Athletic Club showcased their team spirit at Stanmer Park, Brighton, on Saturday, 8th November, competing in the second fixture of the 2025/26 Sussex Cross Country League. The event, part of a four-race winter series running from October to March, brought together athletes from across the county for a day of competitive running.
Strong Performances Across All Ages
Lewes AC fielded runners in every age category, from Under 11s to Veteran 60s. Notable performances were achieved in both individual and team standings.
In the Under 11 races, Aaron Otoide (9th) led the Lewes boys’ team, while Teya Groenendal (17th) was the top finisher for the girls. The Under 13 Girls team showed real depth with ten runners finishing strongly, led home by Lara Stevens in 14th place.
The Under 15 Boys team had an excellent showing, with Harry Chapman (5th) and Otto de Burca (9th) both finishing in the top ten. Among the U15 Girls, Ella Bartholomew (8th) also delivered a standout run.
Among the senior women, Rachel Hillman produced a superb run to claim 1st place in the V40 category, while Emma Shepherd earned a strong 3rd place in the V35s. Congratulations to Darja Knotkova-Hanley, who secured 8th place and 4th among Senior Women. Flaminia Gold and Eileen Beach also contributed valuable points to the overall senior standings, helping to secure competitive team results across the divisions. The Women’s Vets 35–50 team performed particularly well, finishing 2nd overall,
The men’s team saw further success, with Joshua Burgess taking an outstanding overall win in the Senior Men’s 8K race. Joshua has been a member of Lewes AC since childhood.
Veteran performances were equally impressive: Toby Meanwell claimed 2nd in the V45 category, Lewis Sida took 1st in the V55s, and Michael Ussher triumphed as 1st in the V60 age group. Strong backup came from Ben Pepler (12th) and Theo Tarafder (25th). These results helped the Lewes AC ‘A’ team to secure a brilliant 3rd place in Division 1 of the senior men’s competition. The Men’s Vet 50+ team achieved an impressive 2nd place.
Challenging Yet Rewarding Conditions
The Stanmer Park course, renowned for its undulating terrain and woodland trails, challenged runners with its combination of open parkland and muddy sections. Conditions were relatively kind. It was a moderately sunny day with light winds and a temperature of around 14°C.
Lewes AC Head Coach Dave Leach commented: “It was a brilliant turnout from the club. The atmosphere, teamwork, and determination shown by runners of all ages really reflect the spirit of Lewes AC. We’re proud of how everyone performed on such a testing course.”
Looking Ahead
This event marks the midpoint of the Sussex Cross Country League season, with two more fixtures to come in December (Ardingly Showground) and February (Glyndebourne). Lewes AC will continue to build on these performances as athletes aim for both individual and team achievements in the league standings.
Want to Improve Your Running Performance with Lewes AC?
Lewes AC offers various training sessions to help boost your performance at road and trail running events:
- Strength and Conditioning: Join our coaches on Monday nights to improve core strength and stability. Sign up here.
- Track Sessions: Fine-tune your technique, pacing, and endurance on Thursday evenings, or try beginner track sessions on Saturday mornings. Sign up here.