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Lewes AC Hosts Successful First Fixture of East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League Season
Lewes Athletic Club proudly hosted the opening fixture of the 2025/2026 East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League (ESSCCL), welcoming runners from across the county to a challenging and scenic five-mile course starting and finishing in the Meadow at Landport Bottom.
In ideal running conditions, cool, dry, and touched with autumnal sunshine, 48 Lewes AC members took part in the event, tackling an uphill start onto the South Downs, across Blackcap, and down via Mount Harry to the finish in the meadow.
The ESSCCL brings together 18 teams representing 23 clubs from across the region. Over the course of six events, held from October to March, runners compete on varied off-road routes of around five miles.
Lewes AC entered this season determined to defend its title as Champions of the 2024/2025, League. The team made a strong start by finishing the first fixture in first place overall.
Among standout individual performances for Lewes AC:
- Patrick Wilding (M35) – 4th place, 29:17
- Toby Meanwell (M45) – 6th place, 29:30
- Jonathan Darley (M35) – 30th place, 32:25
- Flaminia Gold (SW) – 1st woman, 32:34
- Emma Rollings (F45) – 1st V45 woman, 37:09
- Katherine McCorry (F40) – 37:59
Lewes AC Chair Philip Westbury said: ““We’re thrilled to kick off the new season with such a strong team turnout and performance. Hosting this event on beloved Blackcap always brings out the best in our runners, and today’s results set a great tone for the months ahead. I’d also like to give heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who made the day possible… those who marshalled, manned registration, timed the runners, directed parking, and supported behind the scenes. Their hard work and good spirit ensured everything ran smoothly.”
The next fixture in the ESSCCL will be held on Sunday 23rd November 2025, hosted by Wadhurst Runners at Snape Wood.
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.