Corporate Challenge could be another record-breaker

Three of the younger winners at last year's final race night Picture by Kate Shemilt C140335-4

The first race night in the series of three is on Wednesday, February 25, and numbers have been edging up over the past few years as runners and supporters enjoy a fabulous atmosphere in the city centre.

Now in its 24th year, what started as a race for local businesses and athletes has grown into a packed programme for all ages.

The primary-school runners will get things under way at 6.30pm with two laps of the junior circuit around the precinct, starting from race HQ at the Assembly Rooms in North Street, going along St Martins and back to North Street via St Peters.

The secondary schools will tackle three or four laps of the same circuit while the seniors who start at 7.30pm will go farther down East Street before turning into East Walls and Priory Road, making a circuit of 1,125m which they will complete four times for a 4,500m total.

The faster senior runners will go off first in the A race while the B race will complete the evening and will include a number who will be running in a competitive event for the first time, perhaps representing a workplace team or a social group.

Would-be entrants are reminded the closing date for entries is Monday, February 23 although teams are advised not to leave it until the last minute.

Entry forms are available from www.chichester-runners.org.uk or from the club noticeboard at Westgate Leisure.

* Because the planned Bexhill course has still not recovered from the pounding it took in the recent Sussex championships, Sussex Cross Country League organisers have been forced to look for an alternative venue for this Saturday’s fixture and it will now be held at Lancing Manor.

* One notable absentee from the Chichester 10k was James Baker, who has still not fully recovered from a heavy fall while training over the Christmas holiday.

He chose to run in the Hampshire League at Bournemouth instead on the Saturday and was pleased to finish sixth, his best of the season.

In the same event Olivia Wiseman was a fine third in the under-13 girls’ race despite being hampered by a cold, and Charlotte Bullard had her best run to date to finish 11th in the same race.

PHIL BAKER