Cross Country Season Climax at Glyndebourne
Arena runners have been busy racing across a variety of surfaces – and even countries – over the past fortnight. We begin with the final cross-country fixture of the season at the ever-scenic Glyndebourne.
Sussex League Finale at Glyndebourne
The last race of the Sussex League season took place on 14 February, with Arena represented in both the senior women’s and men’s events.
In the women’s race, Luisa Ramirez produced an excellent run to finish 17th overall and 3rd senior woman (26:58). Jane Heathwood followed with a strong performance, placing 4th in the V45 category in 28:53.
The men’s race saw Martin Eccles clock 42:59 to secure 8th place in the V45 category on a typically testing cross-country course.
Half Marathon Racing — From Malta to Wokingham
Four Arena athletes made the trip to Malta for this year’s Malta Half Marathon, where Nicky Yeates delivered a standout result, winning the Female Over-65 category.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Time | Category | Cat. Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 388 | Chris Keene | 1:32:48 | Male Over 45 | 35 |
| 716 | Angelina Smy | 1:39:36 | Female Over 40 | 13 |
| 889 | John Thompson | 1:42:55 | Male Over 60 | 15 |
| 1250 | Nicky Yeates | 1:49:07 | Female Over 65 | 1 |
Closer to home, the Wokingham Half Marathon saw three Arena runners take part and the results were as follows:
| Pos | Name | Time | Category | Cat. Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | Al Silvester | 1:23:02 | M40 | 71 |
| 391 | Jim Watson | 1:27:21 | M50 | 26 |
| 768 | Dan Vaughan | 1:37:30 | M50 | 81 |
And finally, Christine Gibbons and Michael Gibbons took part in the Alicante 10K, and you can see them enjoying the sun below.
South Downs Way Relay Recces Continue
Preparation for the South Downs Way Relay has also ramped up, with runners tackling sections of the South Downs Way in some very challenging winter conditions.
On 15 February, a hardy group led by vice-captain Jamie Hinks travelled to Seaford to recce two legs of the course. Starting at Seven Sisters Country Park, they ran Leg 2 to Bo Peep before continuing along Leg 3 to Southease. Plans to extend the day were shelved after a battering from wind and rain, with the group sensibly opting for a flatter finish along the river into Lewes.
The following Sunday saw a larger turnout for a back-and-out recce of Leg 6, running from Ditchling Beacon to Saddlescombe – one of the quicker legs of the relay, though no less exposed to the elements.
With racing, travel, and relay preparation all in full swing, Arena runners are building strong momentum as the spring season approaches.