Stephen and Emily star as college sweeps the board

Sussex, the reigning national men's college champions, were doubtful of success as they had lost half of last year's winning team.

But Stephen Jules, who has had a rather low profile this season, rose to the occasion to sweep to victory, and this should hold him in good stead when the county championships are held early in the new year.

Chris Johnson had a splendid run to finish third, while Lee Jules who, like his brother has been quiet this season, finished in sixth place, with Dan Stepney completing the scoring four in eighth position.

Andy Busby was the non-scoring member of the squad, filling 14th place.

For the first time Sussex Downs had a team in the women's race, and Emily Goodall underlined her talent with a convincing victory.

Natasha Collins and Monica Walton repeated their battle in the Sussex League at Bexhill the previous weekend, with Collins again getting the better of the encounter in placing seventh to Walton's eighth, while Toni Thomas completed the winning scoring four in 13th position.

Placing 23rd was the non-scoring member of the team Emily Wood, who is better known on the track as a hurdler.

The former Julia Armstrong from Framfield, now Julia Westlake, is back in action again after nearly 18 months sidelined nursing a leg injury.

The former Sussex 10km, senior and veterans cross-country champion showed that she is well on her way to full fitness with good runs in both the Brighton & Hove 10km road race and the Sussex Cross-Country League.

At Brighton she finished a splendid 23rd in 40min 31sec, which placed her third in the over-45 age group, while at Bexhill she was 17th.

Clocking 21.02 for the five kilometres of Bexhill mud, Westlake's time earned her second place behind Peacehaven's Chris Naylor in the over-45s.

The pair are expected to clash again this weekend in the Sussex Veterans Cross-Country Championships at Denne Park, Horsham.

Several local runners will be donning the Sussex vests tomorrow in the South of England Inter-County Cross-Country Championships at Thetford in Suffolk.

It is hoped that Stephen Jules will compete in the under-23 race, while Lewes's Matt Basford will run for the under-17 team.

Three Lewes runners '“ Ashley Williams, Matt Suter and Josh Burgess '“ compete in the under-15 age group.

In the under-17 girls' team Emily Goodall, Natasha Collins, Belinda Norris, Monica Walton and Becky Hawkes have been invited to run.

Lewes's Jessica Lewis is first reserve for the under-15 squad, while Hailsham's Melissa Ruffell and Maresfield's Beth Kidger are in the under-13 team.