THE last race of the East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League was held on Sunday at Snape Wood, Wadhurst. A cold day – with the undulating course covered in compacted snow – welcomed the runners. The combined Uckfield/Heathfield team entered the race in third place but with Crowborough/Wadhurst just one point behind, and Hastings AC two points behind, there was stiff competition for that third place spot. Uckfield/Heathfield and Crowborough/Wadhurst both put out strong teams. Lewes AC was first in the event, with Crowborough/Wadhurst finishing second and Uckfield/Heathfield third. This put the two teams on equal points and consequently in joint third place behind Lewes AC first and Hailsham Harriers second.

The runners from Uckfield/Heathfield were: Graham West 41.29, Will Blandford 41.37, Peter Wilkes 51.21, Fleur Blanford 54.56, Tanya Edmondson 55.14, Tony Fitzgerald 56.13, Rachael Hornigold 66.51, Emma Hyland 66.51. Tanya finished second in the Lady 60 category for the season and Peter just missed out on a medal in the Men 65 just being pushed down from third to fourth place in this final race. For further details of Uckfield Runners please visit the website www.utopiarunners.co.uk.

Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers are eyeing up Brighton’s Gustavo Poyet as a potential replacement for recently sacked Mick McCarthy.

The Black Country outfit had interviewed Alan Curbishley, Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce but were left having to widen their search after all three turned their backs on the job.

Reading’s Brian McDermott is also believed to also be on the Molineux club’s shortlist and is considered a more likely option than Poyet because of his greater experience in the second flight.

Poyet has previously said he would remain loyal to the Albion unless faced with an offer he considered too good to turn down.

However, with a relative inexperience in management and a CV which currently boasts a single promotion from League One, the popular boss is unlikely to be in the running for more high profile vacancies in the near future.

Online bookies SkyBet currently have Poyet as joint second favourite at 5/2 with McDermott at 9/4.

Sussex County Cricket Club have announced that they will be returning to Dubai in March as part of their pre-season preparations.

It is with thanks to the Crimson Hotel Group and Sport Arabia Ltd that Sussex are able to make another trip abroad following the Caribbean T20 last month and the club are grateful of their support and the continued partnership between themselves and the club.

The squad will fly out to the UAE on Tuesday 20th March and will play initially in the Emirates Airlines Twenty20 2012 Tournament, alongside Durham Dynamos, Lancashire Lightning and an MCC XI, featuring Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, with the matches taking place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

The tour’s primary objective though will be preparing the squad for four-day cricket with a program of practise sessions planned, culminating in a two-day game against Durham, as they look towards their season opener against Surrey at the Kia Oval, which begins on Thursday 5th April.

Sussex’s Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson said, “Guaranteeing being able to play on good wickets against good opposition in good weather is a key commodity in pre-season, and we’re grateful to our sponsors for not making us rely on the unpredictable English weather during this vital time.”

Sussex supporters can win a trip for two to Dubai to watch the Emirates Airline Twenty20 by visiting the Sport Arabia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sportarabia

]]> 1.3542402 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:15:58 +0000 http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/athletics_news_1_3534684

OVER six events taking place across East Sussex through the winter Lewes AC emerged as the overall league winners. With events taking place from Eastbourne to Wadhurst, and 12 teams competing in all weathers, the cross country league presents a challenge to both runners and clubs alike. It is therefore a great achievement for Lewes AC to come out top at the end of the series.

The team and individual awards were made after the last event which took place at Snapes Wood at Wadhurst. With in excess of 30 awards being presented Lewes runners took a third of the individual awards together with the league team ward. Taking pride of place in the individual awards were the gold medal winners of John Lowden in the over 50 men category and Anita Amies in the women over 55 category. The silver medal winners were Mat Homewood (men over 40) Simon Thomas (men over 50) Bob Hughes (men over 60) Alf Pollard (men over 65) Maria Judd (women over 45). The club’s bronze medal winners were Mike Lane (men over 65) Sally Norris (senior women) and Catherine Swinson (women over 45).

In the last event at Snapes Wood, five miles across snowy fields and through and around a hilly wood, Lewes had 22 runners. First for Lewes in 12th position was Tim Calliafas in a time of 35.55. Others were: Colin Bennett (M40 16th 37.35); Mat Homewood (M40 23rd 38.34); Maria Judd (24th and first W45 38.40); Alan Jackson (M40 26th 38.54); Gerard Dummett (M40 -27th 38.59); Sally Norris (SW 34th and third SW 40.10); Tony Deacon (M50 38th 41.21); Simon Roberts (M50 39th 41.24); Catherine Swinson (W45 43rd and third W45 42.08); Chris Hunt (M40 45th 42.36); David Foster (M40 48th 42.46); Tim Monson (M50 51st 43.07); Bob Hughes (M60 55th 44.13); Karin Divall (F45 57th 44.31); Carol Waters (W45 60th 44.54); Beth Gasgoyne (SW 63rd 45.43); Mike lane (M65 67th 47.03); Colin Brown (SM 69th 48.23); Andrea Ingram (W45 72nd 49.31); Toby Wolpe (M50 74th 49.52) and Anita Amies (W55 79th 51.43).