Although Cross-country championships were held in Sussex before 1925 it was that year that saw the first race under the auspices of the new Sussex County Amateur Athletic Association.
Prior to 1924 athletics in Sussex were organised by a Sussex Committee on behalf of the “Southern Committee” of the Amateur Athletic Association.
To celebrate this first event the Royal Corps of Signals, who were based at Crowborough and were frequent participants in Sussex events, presented the Association with a silver statuette of the “Winged Messenger” Mercury.
Because of their base at Crowborough the Regiment were allowed to compete in the Sussex County championships and fittingly they not only won the first team title but also provided the individual winner W.M. Joe Cottrell, who was one of the top British runners of his day.
Although basically a Surrey man, I believe, Cottrell did compete in the International Cross-Country championship from 1922 to 1926 finishing second in both 22/23 and winning the title in 1924.
I have been unable, as yet, to find results earlier than 1925 for the men.
As regards the women’s list I think there was the odd Sussex championship event prior to 1964 and I will need to do some more dredging to discover that information.
I believe in the 1930s there were also a few championship races although not every year and Lillian Styles from Littlehampton, who was a top British half-miler, did win at least once.
Intermediates (U17) were considered seniors for this event until the mid seventies when an Intermediate championship was introduced although they still competed in the Senior race.
I have been unable to find mention of a team winner in 1974 but it is possible that no club completed a scoring four in that year.
SUSSEX SENIOR WOMEN
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS
1964 Margaret Raybould BH Brighton
1965 Penny Yule Ch Crawley
1966 Magaret Raybould BH Brighton
1967 Margaret Raybould BH Brighton
1968 Merlyn Larkin BH Brighton
1969 Beryl Bush Cr Brighton
1970 Penny Yule BH Hay Hea
1971 Beryl Bush BH HayHeaGram
1972 Penny Yule BH Brighton
1973 Penny Yule BH Brighton
1974 Regina Joyce Cr ?
1975 Penny Fowler BH Brighton
1:30 winning margin
1976 Sandra Charman Cr Brighton
(4th in race won by Claire Trotter Hhh Inter)
1977 Regina Joyce Cr Crawley
1978 Regina Joyce Cr Crawley
1979 Wendy Hamlyn Wdh Brighton
1980 Julie Barleycorn Cr Crawley
1981 Debbie Peel Cr Crawley
(Race won by Sonia Vinall* intermediate)
1982 Debbie Peel Cr Hay Hea
1983 Suzanne Morley BH Brighton
1984 Debbie Peel Cr Crawley
1985 Bridget Smyth (18y3m) Ph Crawley
1986 Tracy Howard Cr Crawley
1987 Julie Ince V BH Arena 80
1988 Julie Briggs Cr Arena 80
1989 Sonia McGeorge* BH Crawley
1990 Sonia McGeorge* BH Brighton
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