Stubbington Green Runners

CHICHESTER Runners’ James Baker makes a habit of winning the Covers St Wilfrid’s Cross Country Challenge in West Sussex.

The fleet-footed runner has tasted victory in the 10-mile event on at least nine occasions, and not even the best efforts of Stubbington’s Zippy Grice could deny the Baker-man the winner’s laurels.

On a wet, muddy and windy day by West Wittering, runners headed through muddy fields and flooded tracks. Money raised from the race went towards the St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

James won the race in a time of 1hr 0min 35sec, with Zippy not far behind in a time of 1:02.15. The next runners home were a further four minutes adrift.

Twelve months ago, James won the race in a time of 57min 16sec, with Zippy in third place in 59.04 - a measure of how tough conditions were this time around.
This year, a total of 175 runners took part in the race, among them Stubby Julia Park who finished in 116th place with a time of 1:38.13.