Home » Latest Club News »
Muddy medals for Lewes AC teams in the Sussex Cross Country Championships
At what was probably the muddiest course ever at Bexhill Common Lewes AC came away with four Championship team medals in four different age groups. The best result must be the silver team medal won by the senior women the first senior women’s team medal in the 30 year history of the club.
As the women’s race was last race of the afternoon the course was well and truly churned up for the race making it a real test of stamina and fortitude. Emerging out of the mud and the late afternoon rain the Lewes team led by Joscelin Lowden in 8th position secured second team spot with 67 points. This was just behind Worthing with 48 points and in front of Brighton AC with 74 points. Backing up Joscelin and making up the scoring team were Lara Barazzuol (12th); Emma Robertson (15th) and Helen Sida (32nd); Also having strong runs were Megan Taylor (34th) and Lizzie Keep (46th)
The men’s team also had a great Championship with the Lewes AC team of six men winning a well earned bronze medal behind Brighton Phoenix and Brighton & Hove AC. Leading the team’s charge was Patrick Hough in 9th position closely followed by David Bradford in 10th position. Through out the race both were locked in a personal dual with Patrick just getting the edge over the last part of the 4 lap race. Third scoring team member was Matt Bradford finishing in 15th position hating every minute of running on his least favoured surface.(Mud not road) Close behind was Chris Gilbert (20th) Ben Pepler (43rd) and Andrew Masters making up the scoring six in 47th position having just returned from a month’s lay off due the dreaded winter flu bug.
Winning an individual bronze medal in the under 13 boy’s race was Leo Brewer who’s third position led the Lewes team to the silver medal result. Making up the medal winning team were Jay Atkins (7th) and Ben Walters (12th). Also having great runs were Sam Horn (15th) Atticus Mohapi-Dobouny (17th) Will Carey (25th) and Japhy Shepherd (45th).These positions meant the Lewes B team finished in 7th position.
The under 17 men’s team completed the haul of 4 team medals won by the Lewes AC athletes with a superb silver medal. This was despite a number of team members not being able to run due to illness. Even with depleted numbers the Lewes team were only 4 points away from gold and the Lewes B team only 2 points away from a bronze medal.
Tom Stone with a great run in 7th and Harry Strong having his best run of the season in 10th and with Sam Rogers in 11th secured the silver medal for the team. Just missing gaining a bronze medal were Sam Jackson (15th) Toby Baker (18th) and James Martin (21st)
Despite other Lewes AC age group teams being depleted due to illnesses there were some impressive individual performances. Eva Johnston-Ellis had an impressive run in 7th position in the under 13 girl’s race. There was another strong run by Nia Hall also finishing 7th in the U17 Women’s race. Nia is now consistently being selected to represent Sussex.