Another busy weekend for Burgess Hill Runners

Starting on Saturday, The club sent mens and ladies teams to the final round of the Sussex Cross Country league at a very muddy Bexhill. Despite the conditions there were some excellent performances, with the mens team coming top of Division 2 on the day and third overall, easily a best-ever performance that delighted Head Coach Stuart Condie and moved them into third place overall, the clubs highest ever placing in the Cross Country League.

Individually, those scoring were Paul Sargent was 9th in 30.40, James Collins 12th in 32.38, Darryl Webb 29th in 32.38 and Neil Grigg 40th in 33.48. The team was also strongly supported by Jason Collett (33.35), Andy Sayers (39.26), Stuart Condie (40.02) and John Palmer (47.51). The ladies also had an excellent day, finishing in 5th place overall, also in Division 2, of the 19 competing teams and a final placing of 9th for the season.

The club were represented by Sharona Harrington (30th, 24.34), Janet Clapton (39th, 26.27) and Ali Dunks (65th, 30.05). Sunday saw even more action with two large local events being held. Firstly, the on road and popular Eastbourne half marathon was made tricky by the windy conditions around the 13.1 mile course but this did not prevent James Sorbie from finishing in an excellent 1hr 37 mins for 130th place, closely followed by Jon Boxall just 30 seconds behind.

There were good performances to from Oliver Dewdney (1.48.16), John Palmer (1.58), Hugh Stevenage (2.11.27) and Kevin Walker (2.17.20). Meanwhile, personal bests were out of the question at the Steyning Stinger Marathon and half marathon with event veterans in broad agreement that the off-road, Downland course was the muddiest it has ever been. In the half marathon, Darryl Webb showed no signs of fatigue from Saturday’s cross country, finishing 4th in 1:40:21 followed by Alan Fry (2:02:52), Sharona Harrington (6th female in 2:11:39), Jason Wadey (2:28:02), Stephanie Harding (2:46:53), Jon Lavis (3:02:33), Helen Pratt (3:22:25), Paula Ridley (3:22:25) and Caz Wadey (3:22:29).

Four club members braved the full energy sapping 26.2 mile full marathon course and were led home by Paul Sargent (3:26:37 and 6th place overall), Neil Dawson was delighted to break 5 hours (4:59:22) followed by wife Nick Dawson in a superb 5:10:48 and Jan Lavis (5:19:31). All Stinger participants enjoyed a full English breakfast back at Race HQ Steyning Grammar School after this wonderful event organised by Steyning AC.