Chichester athletes will be run off their feet in January

Having had their activities curtailed by the wintry weather, Chichester-area athletes are in for one of the busiest months of racing ever in January.

Added to a packed programme is the rearranged date for the Sussex veterans’ cross-country championships which will take place at Lancing Manor on Saturday, January 22. The Sussex schools championships are scheduled for the morning at the same course.

Three other cross-country events are being held in the month, starting with the main Sussex championships for seniors and juniors at Stanmer Park, Brighton, on Saturday 8.

A week later, the third league fixture takes place at Bexhill and on Saturday 29, the cream of cross-country runners from all over the south of England meet at Parliament Hill Fields in London for the southern championships.

Away from the cross-country circuit, Chichester Runners aim for a good start in the West Sussex Fun Run League, which starts its 2011 campaign with the Goring Hillbarn Hangover 5 on Monday, January 3.

Chichester will be aiming to repeat last year’s excellent start, when maximum points meant an early overall lead from the other 16 clubs.

The organisers of the Plumpton Classic on Sunday 16 are hoping for better weather than 2010, which forced its cancellation.

The same fate befell the Stubbington 10k, which is planned for the same day.

Last but not least, the popular Worthing Lido four-mile road race, also part of the West Sussex Fun Run League, takes to the roads on Sunday, January 30, giving the road runners a final outing before Chichester’s 10k on the first weekend in February.

PHIL BAKER