HAILSHAM Harriers finished runners-up in the sixth and final round of the East Sussex Sunday Cross-Country League.

The Harriers team of seven put in some great performances in cold weather on a new five-mile course across compact snowy fields and through the hilly wood in Snape Wood, Wadhurst.

For the men, Lee Ashworth had a superb run to finish fourth in a time of 32m25s in a race won by Kris Everett, from Hastings Athletic Club, in 31m36s.

Martin Bell followed up with another good performance to gain 31st in 39m20s and the evergreen Brian Winn, who crossed the line 77th with 50m47s, added to the points tally.

Once again, however, it was the ladies who gained valuable points with Emma Richards first lady again and 15th overall with 36m56s.

Hot on her heels was Sam Alvarez, who was second lady and 17th overall with 37m39s.

Jo Curran was third lady and 19th overall in 38m04s, with Olivia Webb fourth lady and 20th overall in 38m22s.

A number of Harriers also collected category awards for the series with the best four scores from the six events counting: Senior men - 2nd Lee Ashworth 792pts; over-50 men - 3rd Dale Martin 725pts; over-65 men - 1st John Taylor 547pts; senior ladies - 1st Emma Richards 800pts, 2nd Jo Curran 794pts; over-35 ladies - 1st Sam Alvarez 797pts, 2nd Olivia Webb 780pts.

Harriers continue to train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm at Summerheath Hall, Hailsham, and all runners are welcome. Further information is available on the club website www.hailsham-harriers.org.uk

RIGHT: Lee Ashworth

Eastbourne Swimming Club’s Masters took a nine strong team to Crawley’s K2 to compete in the South East Region Long Course Championships.

The Eastbourne team was slightly smaller than usual but the event was well attended with swimmers from all over the country, as well as Europe.

Carrying on recent great form every member of the Eastbourne team won at least one medal.

Leading the way, and as usual showing the others in his age group just how it’s done, was Dave Cumming, with a win in two of the toughest events run over the weekend, the 200m Fly and the 400m IM. He also tried his hand at one of the shortest events, demonstrating versatility with a silver in the 50 Fly.

Close on his heels was Wendy Pritchard (pictured) with wins in her age group in the 50m Fly and 50m Backstroke, swimming in a heat against a previous Olympic swimmer. Sarah Knapman and Ian Woodward picked up a gold and silver each, with medals also for Gary Brickley, Melissa Wright, Greg Knapman, Jim Brent and Janet Jefferies.

The total tally was six gold, eight silvers and three bronze medals.

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Royal Eastbourne Ladies were back on Thursday in their first competition since the big thaw.

The course looked none the worse for wear after recent snow as 16 teams took part in a nine hole Texas Scramble.

In a very close game the winning team of Lizzie Carol, Nora Ferris, Wilma Hyndford and Sue Htoon took first place with net 33, just beating Lesley Williams, Denise Wishart, Penny Valentine and Winnie Perry who scored net 33.1.

In third place were Anne Garner, Alice Millest, Caroline Hunt and Linda Dove with 33.4.

The winter mixed league saw Alistair Wadsworth and Gill Illsley shade first place by a single Stableford point over John Bateman and Jan Edwards, 41 & 40 being the respective scores.

John Harmer and Wilma Hyndford’ s 39 placed them third.

Willingdon Golf Club: Winner of Division one of the February Stableford competition was Nick Pavey with 39 points on the back 9 from Alan Huggett.

Tony Rochester won Division two with 37 points from Ian Fletcher on 36 points.

Division three was won by Derek Kirkman with 35 points.

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Eastbourne Hockey Club need to ‘push just a little bit more’ if they’re to stand a chance of staying in the South Premier Division One this season.

The squad put in a much improved performance against promotion-chasers London Wayfarers on Saturday and hope to carry that into this weekend when they face a crucial clash away at Banbury.

Free-scoring London Wayfarers took the lead within 20 minutes at The Saffrons, but Eastbourne’s Andy Edwards managed to equalise just before the interval.

However, a goal ten minutes from time and a last-minute penalty ensured the visitors left with a 3-1 victory.

Last time the two sides met, London Wayfarer thrashed Eastbourne 8-0 and team manager David Adelston believes the most recent score line is testament to how far the team have come since then.

“Our concentration was much better than it has been. It’s just frustrating when we’re putting in good performances but not getting the points.

“It was a very good performance, especially from Rob Cornell, and I think the match was a lot less one-sided than the shoreline suggests.”

As Eastbourne continue the hunt for their first win since November, they come up against the side who were their last victims; Banbury.

Like Eastbourne, Banbury are struggling at the foot of the table and Adelstone believes the outcome of this match will determine the fate for the losing side.

“The side that loses will probably go down, whereas the one that wins will still have a chance of survival. It’s an absolute must-win match.

“It’ll be an early start for us and we’ll just have to see what happens on the day, but I hope we win.”

Eastbourne Men’s seconds also put in a very good performance last weekend, winning 6-2 against Penguin firsts, and now face Brighton and Hove Albion Men’s thirds on Saturday.

Eastbourne Ladies firsts narrowly lost out as they slipped to a 4-3 defeat to Lewes Ladies firsts. They face London Wayfarers Ladies firsts this weekend.

Middleton & Bognor 2

Hailsham Men’s 1st XI 2

THE Hailsham men’s first team had to settle for a draw on Saturday after opening up a two-goal lead.

Hailsham fielded an altered line-up in this South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One fixture with youngster Josh Headey having an excellent game on his first start.

Despite the bleak weather, Hailsham made a positive start with Dan Ivemy slotting home a loose ball midway through the first half. Hailsham grabbed a second soon after through a precise flick into the top corner by George Cyster.

Hailsham had goalkeeper Richard Burraston to thank for keeping them in the lead with a string of fine saves, but the defence were breached just before the half time whistle when Burraston was beaten by a fine finish.

The home team were lucky to remain with 11 players for the second half after a Middleton player was seen and heard threatening a Hailsham man.

The second half saw continued pressure from Hailsham, but despite powerful flicks from Sam Headey which struck the post and bar, the visitors couldn’t capitalise.

Middleton & Bognor didn’t allow this to go unpunished and after two Hailsham players were sin-binned, the visitors were humbled by a last minute equaliser after some scrappy play in the D.

Hoping to take another step forward in the Ladies County Singles, Julia Savin of Langney played against Sheila Simmons of Eastbourne and District I.B.C.

Although Sheila made a good start, scoring a three on the first end, Julia immediately broke back with a four and from then on was ahead for the rest of the game, winning 21 - 11 when her opponent conceded the game after the 15th end.

Julia’s next game will be to play for a place in the semi-finals of the competition. Meanwhile, Langney Ladies welcomed bowlers from clubs all over the county, led by the president Carol Bowles, for their game against Sussex County Women’s Indoor Bowls Association.

In a game played in a very friendly and sporting spirit, Langney Ladies took an early lead, holding it throughout the match to win 135 - 91.

Top rink - Rene Cook, Vera White, Marie Sellers, Edie Vine v Cora White 38 - 6. Other rinks - Audrey Wheeldon, Fran Baxter, Brenda Tarrant, Sheila Holmans v Carol Templeman 14 - 23. Josie Martin, Pauline Beale, Alice Cooper, Rose Riggs v Audrey Lake 28 - 13. Mavis Buist, Lynn Parker, Brenda Thomas, Kath Selby v Anne Poid 21 - 10. Phyll Atkin, Rose Doidge, Catharina Vogels, Joan Leeson v Jean Bracey 17 - 25. Anne Beauchamp, Jean Reed, Anne Cousin, Julia Savin v Carol Bowles 17 - 14.

Dyer advances

There was mixed success in County Competitions for the Ladies and Men’s sections at Eastbourne Bowls Club.

Playing at home in the Ladies County Pairs Sue Taylor and Pat Bain played Sheila Stocker and Chris Horsley from Adur IBC.

After 10 ends Sue and Pat led 11-6 and continued to play steadily going on to win 22-18. In the Men’s County Triples Tom Dickens Brian Henty and Jim Preston never got into the lead when they played a triple from Denton Island skipped by Stuart Anscell.

Needing four shots on the last end to get an extra end. Jim had two bowls to play when he forced the Jack into the ditch to hold three shots, trying to draw close to the ditch for a fourth shot his last bowl just dropped into the ditch to see them loose 12-13.

In the Men’s Championship Singles Competition players played for a place in the quarter finals.

Derek Dyer secured his place when he defeated last year’s winner Vince Smith 21-16,the scores were level at 16 all after 21ends Derek then scored 3,2 to win a close game.

Farther and son clashed in a nail biting game when Brian and James Henty battled it out to move into the next round. Young James led 19-16 after 25 ends. Using all his experience Brian finished the strongest scoring 1,2,1,2 to win 21-19.

Keiron Packham was losing 16- 17 after 20 ends to Frank Stevens then scored 3,1,1 to win 21-16. Alan Glenister led past champion Stephen Bain 15-5 after 10 ends Stephen fought back to trail 16-18 and then Alan scored four shots recorded a notable victory 22-16.

Tom Dickens Played steadily to beat Ken Hook 21-10. Roy Charlton played better as the game went on, when he played Glynn Burton, from 8 all after 10 ends he tip toed over the winning line 21- 18 after 26 ends. Peter Reynolds progressed to the next round when he defeated Competition Secretary David Bain 21-10. John Pannett booked the last quarter final place when he defeated Barry Colbran 21-11.

Glastonbury B continued their unbeaten run at the head of division one of the Eastbourne Snooker League with another 4-1 home victory against Angling Club A.

Paul Grimes got the league leaders off to a fine start by defeating the Angling Club skipper Richard Anderson 112-17 - Paul pocketed a 57 break in the process.

Dave Pringle for the Angling A stopped the whitewash by outpointing Ben Dain on the black 50-49 in the fourth frame.

Dolphin A moved back into second spot with a 4-1 home win over HMI Rutherfords. Paul Binks, Neil Sivyer, Peter Buckland and Phil White recorded the winning frames.

Nik Driver in frame five lost out on the black 49-45 to the Rutherfords skipper Dave Smith.

Hailsham MI C moved down into third spot following a 3-2 away loss at Meads A Kevin Walbrin, James Loft (51 break) and Mark James recorded the winning frame for Meads A. Ash Bull and Pete Watson replied for HMI C.

Glastonbury C were the visitors at the Nuthouse to take on the B team. Ross Mabbott and Bruce Meeks took the two opening frames against Barry Pugh and Dave Lee.

Gary Callingham and Steve Heals responded for the Nuthouse by winning frame three and four over Matt Lee and Jake Cleveland.

Mick Compton played the winning anchor role for the Glastonbury C team defeating Phil Feneron 66-9.

Bollards recorded a 3-2 home win against Glastonbury F. Allan Mills, Paul Sellings, and the Bollards skipper Mike Ashcroft recorded the winning frames.

Andy Simpson and Colin Sargent took the points for the Glastonbury F.

The Derby match between Polegate Legion A and B resulted in a win for the Legion A team.

Shaun Murphy, Gary Jones and Graham Brooker had the winning A team frames.

Alan Dean and Doug Izzard were winners for the B team.

Hailsham MI A took a 3-2 home win against Eastbourne Workingmens Club A. Scott McLean, Richard Frost, and Steve Jones won the last vital frame for the HMI A outfit.

Trevor Binks and Chris Bearne recorded the Workers wins