Potter helps Chichester make club history in Sussex Cross Country League

Organisers had to act quickly to find an alternative venue for this second fixture of the campaign and were able to use Stanmer Park, Brighton, one of the county’s best established courses.

The day went well with many great Chichester performances, despite the latter part of the programme suffering a deluge which left the normally dry chalk surface awash with torrents of water resulting in some of the most challenging conditions seen for many years.

Senior men

The final race of the day brought some of the worst conditions but it’s where Chichester had the most success with two of the first three home for the first time in their history.

On the first of three laps of the undulating course club pairing Potter and James Baker passed the post for the first time with a comfortable lead. Both had achieved top-ten placings at the opening fixture at Goodwood but the pair seemed to be spurring each other on this time.

They were joined by in-form Max Dumbrell from Horsham and it was Potter who clung on to the Horsham man with Baker having to drop back, although safe in third place.

Coming into the downhill finish for the final time Potter made a last push for the line and was delighted to achieve his first-ever senior victory by a couple of seconds from Dumbrell, with Baker just over 20 seconds further back.

An athlete who has been involved with the Chi club since primary school, Potter has come through the ranks but this season has been a breakthrough year for him.

Will Boutwood had his first race back after a lay-off and was delighted with 19th place while the rest of the first team was made up of under-20s with

Brodie Keates 68th, Harry Sage 86th and David Bisatt 119th, earning sixth place in division one for the team.

For the B team Paul Stallard was 126th, Mike Moorcroft 130th, Tom Blaylock 154th and Peter Dunne 162nd with reserves Wim Amir 168th and Peter Anderson 173rd.

Senior women and under-17s

With all age groups running together in the senior women’s race there was a mixture of youth and experience for the Chichester A team.

Jane Harrop made her customary steady start and moved through the field over the second lap to finish in 27th, easily top over-55 runner.

Not far behind was Maggie King in 29th, eighth in her under-17 age group. Another under-17, Nicole Boltwood, in 52nd just got the better of Sophie Wright in 54th to make Chichester fifth team in division one, making good strides to preserving Chichester’s status in the top division for another year.

For the B team Aleksandra Vargin in 64th was followed by Kim Nelson in 71st, Amanda Godfrey 82nd and Persephone Hagan 98th with reserve Wendy Whelan a fine 127th overall, just missing out on top over-65 spot by two seconds.

In the under-17 men’s race held over the same 5k distance as the senior women, Liam Dunne was content to run with a well-bunched leading pack of about a dozen over the opening half of the race.

The group got whittled down until just three runners were left. It was late in the race when Dunne decided to make his move and broke away from his rivals to win by a clear ten seconds.

In the same race Archie Sadler had another improving run in 28th and well in touch with the leading group for much of the race.