Young athletes are in the medals at cross-country relays

For nearly a quarter of a century the event has been the traditional cross country season opener and the 2026 edition proved a bumper one of for Chichester Runners.

Across the board Chichester were challenging for medals, from the youngest primary school age groups through to the over-60s and over-65s. The day also saw a club record in terms of turnout with well over 100 runners in action.

After straight races for the under-10s and under-12s, the relay action started with the under-14s with Chichester having eight teams in action in the combined girls and boys race.

Leah Stopps had the responsibility of the opening leg for the girls’ A team and put Chichester in a great position at the end of the tough undulating 2800m circuit handing over in 4th place just behind the leading trio.

Poppy Alden kept up the pace on leg two to hand over to Amelie Adams on the final leg. She proceeded to run a storming leg to overhaul everyone except the winning Brighton team and gain team silver. Adams was also rewarded with a 10min 28sec clocking, the second fastest in her age group.

Showing good depth in this age group, the B team finished 5th thanks to Bethany Rees, Imogen Younghusband and Annie Harris.

The C team were not far back in 12th thanks to good running from Hermelle Timblick, Jess White and Sophie Gray and four places further back were the D team of Joanie Baderman, Sarah Knight and Ameerah Saoud.

For the boys’ U14s Finlay Cammack led the A team off with a quick time of 10.00 in his first race in the age group. With Elliott Ambrose and Nate Jolly on the final two legs, Chichester were battling for a top three place throughout the race but were just denied at the end and had to settle for 4th place, just outside the medals.

Also making the top 10 were the B team in 9th thanks to Jamie Buchanan, William Judge and Freddie Ford while the C team were two places further back thanks to Ethan Cowell, Henry Olswworth-Peter and Oscar Squires.

As with the girls, the club’s future looks bright in this age group – with back-up from the D team with Dexter Brookes, Austin Heath-Coleman and Archie Frogley, and Ted Seaman a good reserve.

In the U16 race Emmy Pemberton led the girls’ A team on the opening leg and did well to keep close to the leading pair, who set the fastest times of the day.

Pemberton’s 10.27 proved the 4th fastest and provided a solid opening to hand over to Emily Summerfield on leg two. Heather Hand then took up the challenge to sweep past a fading Brighton Phoenix runner on the final leg to gain well deserved bronzes for Chichester.

The B team of Erin Brookes, Matilda Hammond and Rebecca Jolly were 9th.

The boys’ U16 race was probably the most competitive of the day with Chichester finishing 5th but less than a minute behind the runners-up.

Albie Dormer gave the team a great start with a 9.05, the club’s fastest junior run of the day. Battling hard were Levi Pearce and Lucas Bulger on the final two legs to keep Chichester in the mix.

Just two places behind the A team were the Bs, Maddox Matthews, Harrison Sopp and Jacques Dormer, while a further three teams finished between 16th and 18th.

Alfie Luxford, Jude Gaskell and Isaac Page were 16th, a place in front of David Sherwell, Edwin Sharman and Jack Ford, and the E team of Noah Smart, Finlay Hill and Seb Bergerhad the distinction of making Chichester the only club with five complete teams in any of the 20 age groups.

The relay event was preceded with straight races for the under-12s running over 2000m and for the first time the under-10s had a single 1000m lap. Some 39 of Chichester’s rapidly growing junior section were in action, an important contribution to the record club turnout.

The seniors, U18s and veteran were also in the medals – with a report on their achievements to follow next week.