Athletics with Reg Hook

Kate Kidger from Maresfield ran a brilliant race for the Sussex Under 20 team at the South of England Inter-county cross-country championships at Bury St.Edmunds.

The younger sister of Joel, one of the counties leading middle distance runners, Kate had a good run at the Haywards Heath races at Ardingly back in October when she won the Under 20 race and on the strength of this was included in the Sussex squad.

In a good class field Kate finished an excellent 22nd, the second Sussex runner to finish and helped the Sussex team into an excellent fourth team spot.

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Veteran Dave Lear from Crowborough won the tough Crowborough 10km. road race after heading the field throughout the race with the very much in form club mate Darrell Smith.

Dave was able to keep pace with his more illustrious club mate as they talked the tough hills of Crowborough and at the finish he just eased in front to take the title in 35min. 41sec., just one second ahead of Darrell.

Heathfield's Ian Horsfall-Turner from Heathfield ran well to fill sixth place in 36min. 58sec. with Heathfield club mate Paul Morley finishing eighth in 37min. 20sec. and also taking second place in the Over 40 group behind Dave Lear.

Barry Blackwell from Hailsham won the Over 50 group in 38min. 02sec. while Piers Plowman (Hailsham) took the Over 55 title in 42min. 03sec. and Ron Chambers (Lewes) the Over 65 title in 50min. 22sec.

In the team event the promoting club triumphed scoring 39 points to the Brighton Hash House Harriers's 66 points and Hailsham's 83 points.

In the Women's race Gill Stevenson from Crowborough had to give second best to Oxted's Tracey Mustoe finishing just over one minute adrift in 43min. 18sec.

Hailsham's Karen Bowler filled fourth place and was first Over 50 to finish in 44min. 25sec. with Sonia Alvarez from Hailsham in fifth place in 44min. 25sec.

Hailsham took the team title with 26 points ahead of Phoenix who scored 37 points and Crowborough's 49 points.