Athletics

SIMON Morley from Ditchling led the Sussex Police team into third place in the National Police Cross-country championships at Southampton.

Former Sussex and All England Schools 800 metre champion Simon (pictured) is now in the Veterans age group and his duties do not allow him to take part in many club races, but he is still in pretty good shape.

Over the fast seven-mile course Simon finished in 12th place overall in 40.12sec.

Peter Bidmead from Alciston, who is now in the over 50 age group, was the second Sussex runner home clocking 43min. 16sec. and this run earnt him second place in the Over 50 race.

In the women s event former Army champion Sarah Bradbury, who is now with the Hampshire Police, had a brilliant run to take second place.

Clocking 27min. 32sec. for the four and one half mile course, she was only ten seconds down on the race winner Chris Howard from Derbyshire.

Despite being only 17 Ditchling s Jack Vail made his senior debut in the South of England Road Relay championship at Aldershot and ran a brilliant fifth leg for the Brighton & Hove team.

Taking over in 19th place Jack lifted the team three places clocking 19min. 53sec. for the 6km. race. The final leg runner however was delayed en route and a substitute had to jog round the final leg and the team dropped out of the top 20 places.

Former Lewes Tertiary College athlete Darryl Hards, who is now at Leicester University, ran a brilliant second leg for the Phoenix team. He moved up two places in 19min. 10sec. which was to prove the fourth fastest time by a Sussex runner at Aldershot and his team eventually led the Sussex teams home in 10th place.

Running for the Phoenix B team the Parkin twins from Uckfield, Ali and Tim, both had steady runs with Ali clocking 20min. 14sec. in the third leg and Tim 20min. 31sec. on lap four.

Crowborough Runners star Darrell Smith won the Hove 5-miler in 25-34, while his team-mates recorded the followingtimes: Dave Lear 27-38, Graham Stevens 28-57, Roger Watts 29-15, Kevin Battell 29-33 (PB), Ian Coates 32-12, James Welbury 33-26, Mark Taylor 36-35, Andy Parkin 37-16, Dave Crosby 39-34, Jane Boulton 31-15, Tracy Watson 34-23, Lyn Coates 39-38 (PB), Tanya Edmondson 39-59, Avis Holden 40-45 and Elaine Taylor 51-08.