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Encouraging Start to 2026 for Lewes AC at Sussex AA Cross Country Championships
Lewes Athletic Club enjoyed an excellent start to 2026 at the Sussex AA Cross Country Championships in Bexhill, with strong performances and podium finishes across several age groups.
The standout result of the day came from the U20 Men, who secured an impressive 2nd place in the team competition over 5 miles (8km). Isaac Tarafder led the team home in 7th place, supported by George Brooks (11th) and Harvey Perry (13th).
Lewes AC also recorded top-five team finishes in the junior races. The U15 Girls finished 4th place, led by Ella Bartholomew’s excellent 4th-place individual performance, while the U15 Boys team placed 5th, with Harry Chapman finishing 6th individually.
Another podium finish followed in the Senior Women’s team race, where Lewes AC claimed 3rd place over 5 miles (8km). Darja Knotkova-Hanley led the scoring team in 7th place, alongside Eileen Beach, Rachel Hillman and Charlotte Hurst.
Across the younger age groups, Lewes athletes also performed strongly, including a 13th-place finish for Charlotte Welman-Bailey in the U13 Girls race, as well as solid performances throughout the U17, senior men’s and women’s events.
Club Chair Philip Westbury praised the athletes, saying: “The first weekend back racing and our club members did not disappoint. There was some great running across all age groups, which is very encouraging for the season ahead.”
Next Fixture
- Saturday 17th January 2026 | Sussex Masters Cross Country Championships | Coombe Farm, Lancing
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 with distance based track sessions Thursday evenings, or time based track sessions on Saturday mornings. Sign up here.
- 10k/Half Marathon Training: Get help feeling confident and hitting PBs on race days with our new dedicated Saturday morning track based training sessions. Sign up here