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Firle Beacon, 18 December 2011
This was the third of six races in the East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League calendar this winter, moved from Plumpton because of problems with that venue, and hosted by Lewes AC. The temperature at the start was 3C and the road up to the car park was so thickly frosted that some of us had to slither rather drive than up it, sliding from side to side of the road. The choice of course was inspired: a five mile horseshoe plunging down from a farm near the car park and then climbing back up through superlative views, lit by yellow winter sunshine, over the Beacon itself and back along the ridge to the car park. However the length of the climb up to the Beacon, together with the bitter headwind between there and the finish, made it hard for runners to appreciate these aesthetic points.
A total of 24 Lewes runners raced, though unfortunately some of our best runners were not among them because of injury or illness, and instead were marshalling. The first five Lewes finishers in the women’s race were Maria Judd (5th woman, 37:40), Catherine Swinson (7th, 39:19), Sally Norris (11th, 41:00), Carole Walters (17th, 42:59), and Stephanie Crespin (25th, 47:36), and in the men’s race they were Tom Morris (2nd man, 30:46), Ian Cumming (11th, 33:47), Chris Hunt (16th, 35:18), Matt Homewood (21st, 36:41) and Matt Haycocks (26th, 37:26). The winner of the women’s race was Emma Richards (Hailsham, 34:38) and of the men’s Kris Everett (Hastings AC, 30:34).
As a team Lewes AC scored 590 points (the fewer points the better), our best result so far in the season. Unfortunately our rivals Hailsham also excelled themselves and scored just 432, giving them a third successive victory, and Lewes a third successive number two position. After winning the league for the last two years, our grip on the cup seems to be weakening. However theoretically we could still come back and take it. The next race in the league is at Pett Levels, 8 January 2012.
Thanks to all who organised and marshalled, and especially to Simon Thomas as organiser-in-chief.
The full results, as well as photos and details of the next ESSXCL events, are at http://www.eastsussexcrosscountry.co.uk.