Hastings AC in the medals at county relays

Hastings Athletic Club enjoyed great success at the Sussex Cross-Country Relays on Saturday.
Hastings Athletic Club's under-15 girls proudly display their gold medals. Picture courtesy Terry SkeltonHastings Athletic Club's under-15 girls proudly display their gold medals. Picture courtesy Terry Skelton
Hastings Athletic Club's under-15 girls proudly display their gold medals. Picture courtesy Terry Skelton

The Ark William Parker Academy-based club won two gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the curtain-raiser for the winter season at Goodwood.

On a day when torrential rain on the journey west across the county gave way to bright sunshine by the time of the races, Hastings AC fared as well as any other club.

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The two gold medals were provided by the under-15 girls’ and boys’ teams, and both were achieved via splendid runs on the final leg.

The under-15 boys with the gold medals they won at Goodwood. Picture courtesy Terry SkeltonThe under-15 boys with the gold medals they won at Goodwood. Picture courtesy Terry Skelton
The under-15 boys with the gold medals they won at Goodwood. Picture courtesy Terry Skelton

George Pool, back after missing of last season but still not quite up to full fitness, lifted Hastings AC from fifth to first on the final leg of the boys’ race courtesy of the second fastest time in the event. James Crombie and Isaac Elam had run the first two legs.

It was a similar story in the girls’ race as Harmony Cooper steered Hastings AC to victory by 10 seconds having been 61 seconds adrift of the lead girl when she took over.A blinding final leg from Cooper was also the second fastest individual time behind her team-mate Maya Ramnarine. Evie Clements made up the triumphant trio.

The under-17 boys’ team of Alex Goldstone, Marcus Ramnarine and Joe Body took silver, with Body clocking the second fastest time in that event.

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Their result was matched by the veteran ladies’ team of Riz Maslen, Kim Brown and Karen Murdoch.

The bronze medal was achieved by the under-13 girls’ team of Shannon Hopkins-Parry, Freya Henry and Erica Body, while Jonas Judah ran very well in the under-13 boys’ event.

Distance running ace Rhys Boorman, meanwhile, picked up another victory by being first home in the Lewes 10-Mile Downland Run on Sunday.

The Hastings Athletic Club talent won the extremely hilly race across the top of the South Downs in style, coming in two-and-a-half minutes ahead of the second-placed runner with a time of one hour and 42 seconds.

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He said: “I was very pleased to win this race today. It was my first race out since I won the Bewl 15-mile in July.

“It’s a really hilly course, climbing and falling over 600 feet, but I like hills, and hope it will help me with my training for the 1066 Way to Battle on Sunday October 16.”

Boorman received two trophies, one for first runner home and another for being the first senior man.

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