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Cross country battle in the wind, rain and mist at Firle Beacon
With thick mist, high winds and driving rain over 200 hardy souls took part in the 5th East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League event at Firle Beacon. Equally hardy were the marshals and timekeepers that guided the runners through the mist, mud and rain to the finish and to record their positions and times. Medals all round.
This was a critical race for the two leading clubs Hailsham Harriers and Lewes AC. Going into the race the Hailsham club was League leader with Lewes AC lying in second place after 5 of the 6 league events. Lewes AC needed to win the Firle race so as to draw level with Hailsham so as to go into the last event at Pett Village as joint leaders. The league trophy would then be decided at the last race of the series.
The Lewes AC runners rose to the occasion despite the weather and at the head of the race packed 5 runners into the first 7 places. First across the line for the Lewes team was Josh Burgess in 2nd place overall followed by Mike Ellicock in 4th position, Chris Gilbert 5th Lewis Sida 6th and David Bradford 7th. As part of the team 5 senior men need to score and the five places were made up of Toby Baker (16th) Will Monnington (18th) and Gyles Abbot (37th)
As part of the team three men over 40 were needed to score and these places were filled by Mike Ellicock, Chris Gilbert and Lewis Sida. The man aged over 50 place in the team was taken by Jonathon Burrell who finished in 12th position and the man over 60 finishing for the team was Andrew Chitty in 77th place.
The leading women for Lewes AC was Issy Coomber who had a fantastic run in the rain to finish as the first senior woman in the race in 15th position overall. Close behind Issy was Megan Taylor who finished as the second senior woman in the race in 30th position. Occupying the woman over 35 slot for the Lewes team was Dinah Godfree who finished in 86th position. Moving up the age groups Helen Sida running in the team’s over 45 category finished in 44th position with Andrea Ingram in the women’s over 55 category finished in 127th position.
Despite the weather this was a great day for the Lewes AC team. The Hailsham team finished in the race with 638 points which is a great score only beaten by the Lewes AC team with 514 points. It is now down to the last race at Pett Village on the 21st February to decide who will win the League the Hailsham club or Lewes AC. A great race is expected.