Up for the Cup
A truly remarkable day in East Sussex saw FVO reclaim the British Club Championship, seven years after their last success at this level, and at the same venue as in 2019.
The Compass Sport Cup tests squad depth, with 25 scorers required across at least seven race classes, and although FVO has been in the top three since joining the Large Clubs division in 2016, the last five years have been dominated by South Yorkshire. Holiday clashes deprived the team of several genuine point-scorers, and the smallest squad in recent memory, comprising of just 41 athlefes, was assembled to do battle at Pippingford Park, near East Grinstead.
With every point a prisoner, and two courses having no FVO entries, a banner day was required right across the squad, and each and every one of the 41 FVO stars contributed 100% to the team total, with those who didn't get on the scoresheet denying vital points to rival teams.
The Brown men led the way, as they notched four of the top five course places to set things in motion, James Hammond (45.44) forewent his final run as an M20 to take on the men, and he was 2nd on the course, 57 seconds ahead of Chris Smithard. Graham Gristwood (4th in 47.53) and Peter Molloy (5th in 49.05) ensured a massive points haul from the class.
The Short Brown men weren't to be deterred in their bid for glory, and took three of the top four places. Marcus Pinker won the course in 42.02, with Will Hensman nine seconds back in silver, and Roger Goddard backing them up with 4th place (43.57).
Blue women had a smaller than normal entry field, with the opportunity for major points, and Laura Brown took full advantage,was 2nd in the race, back in 55.20, with Alison Q Smithard also on the scoresheet in 5th place (36.01).
There was a large FVO entry on Blue men, and Jason Inman was the pick of the local talent, as he was 3rd in 36.01. This was supplemented by another course win, for Sarah Rollins on Green women (30..19) and Rona Molloy's 6th place (38.24) on the same course added to the points total, and on Veteran Short Green, both athletes scored big, as Alison Cunningham (29.02) was another course winner, and Heather Fellbaum (34.40) was 5th.
The juniors also contributed in a major way to the result, as Lucas Baikie (23.52) won Light Green boys, backed up by Fraser Cheyne (30.10) who was 7th. Orange boys saw Lachlan Carruthers (16.51) 2nd and Sean Truswell (21.43) 6th, and in Orange girls, Hannah Inman (16.17) was the fifth course champion of the day, as Esme Finch (23.15) was 4th on the course.