Haywards Heath Harriers retain road-racing title

The Harriers secured the 2015 Sussex Grand Prix title

Having won the overall team competition for the first time in its history in 2014, the Harriers retained their title in a battle with Hailsham Harriers and Wadhurst Runners, again winning the separate men’s and ladies’ team competitions.

The ladies also successfully retained their second place in the vets’ team competition.

With 18 races across the counties, the Grand Prix takes in distances from 5k to 15 mile and having performed well in the final league fixture in Crowborough at the end of November, the Club had faced an agonising wait to hear the good news.

“It is a magnificent achievement for the Harriers to retain the team titles we won last year, especially as some of our faster members were, for various reasons, unable to take part this year,” said Harriers’ Captain Carl Bicknell.

“This, combined with other rule changes, meant that participation in the races across the Club became more important than ever.

“As a result there are many new names in this year’s winning teams, and it is wonderful to see different members contributing towards the Club’s overall success.

“There were also strong individual performances. Kim Lo, Penny Rea and Peter Cobbett each won their respective age categories.

“Kim Lo was second overall lady and second vet lady in the individual competitions.

“The senior men dominated with Rob Watts, Tom Mullen and Jack Chivers all scoring well in the top ten.”

Goring Road Runners hosted their Hangover five mile race on 1st January in the first race of the West Sussex Fun Run League season.

Eight plucky Harriers ventured out to clear their fuzzy heads in the trail climb up to Cissbury Ring and back.

Full results

38:45 Tim Hicks, 44:07 Stuart Austin, 46:59 Graham Kenward, 47:39 Mike Essex, 49:05 Mark Sykes, 53:17 Natalie Chivers, 54:25 Richard Bates, 1:14:30 Julie Essex

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