Athletics with Reg Hook

CONDITIONS were really tough at the South of England Cross Country championships at Parliament Hill Fields on Saturday where persistent driving rain welcomed the athletes when they arrived at this Hampstead Heath course, and it was still pouring and blowing when the last runners left five hours later.

East Hoathley s 'Super-vet Nigel Gates chalked up a remarkable run at the age of 48.

Illness deprived Nigel of a run in the Sussex championships at the turn of the year, but he has certainly made a great recovery and his 18th place, the first Sussex runner to finish, over this really tough nine-mile course, was an excellent run in this field of nearly a thousand athletes.

At this stage of his career Nigel tends to be pretty selective in his racing and had he been able to race in the county event he would have given Saturday s race a miss.

Nigel has yet to decide whether he will contest the Area and National Veteran s championships next month.

Making his debut at Parliament Hill and in this championship, Husseyin Ibrahim from Newhaven was the third Sussex runner to finish, placing a splendid 80th. A fine run from a runner who has been building a good reputation in road races.

Two places back came Ali Parkin from Uckfield and this was certainly his best ever cross country run while twin brother Tim did not take kindly to the course and conditions and finished 210th. Steve Dabson from Lewes closed the Brighton & Hove team, that filled tenth place, in 232nd position.

In the Under 20 six-mile championship, both former Lewes Tertiary runners, Darryl Hards and Ditchling s Jack Vail, had brilliant runs.

Darryl recorded his best ever placing in this event finishing sixth while Jack, who is in his first year in this age group, excelled himself in ninth place.

In the Under 17 girls championship Ringmer sprinters Mari Longhurst and Caroline Bennett continued to enjoy their cross country running, although I doubt that they would have been aware of the severity of the conditions before making the trip to London. Mari finished 84th and Caroline 86th.

Tomorrow (Saturday) all eyes will be on the Sussex Schools cross-country championships at the Thomas Bennett School at Crawley.

As age groups are one different to the groupings the runners have been used to so far this season, there could be some surprise winners, but Jack Vail must be a hot favourite for the senior boys title while Ringmer s Craig Ivemy is expected to retain his Under 17 title.

Lewes Tertiary s Alice Coutinho had not appeared much over the country this season and will be hard pressed to retain her senior girls title against some of the newcomers to the age group.

The championships start at 10.30am. with the senior events.