Chichester's fun runners enjoy near-perfect start to 2012

A good turnout of 30 athletes started off 2012 in fine style for Chichester tackling the mud and hills of the Hangover five-mile race on the Downs near Goring.

Also serving as the opener to the West Sussex Fun Run League season, the race attracted nearly 400 finishers ranging from county standard to fun runners.

As well as gaining the maximum participation points, Chichester also gained maximum bonus points from James Baker and Angela Carpenter, who both had the distinction of finishing second in their categories, as well as Jon Healy whose 11th place was his best to date.

For the third year running, Baker was deprived of a winning start to his year by Tom Owens from Scottish champions Shettleston Harriers, who celebrates his new year in West Sussex.

Carpenter had to give way to in-form Susan Scott of Worthing & District Harriers but was the third Chichester athlete home in 34th overall.

Next home in 44th was John Leonard with a nine-point bonus which was matched by Anneliese Dziubak, 16th in the women’s race, followed by Jane Leonard in 20th.

This resulted in a score of 82 points out of 85 to leave Chichester in second place among the 17 clubs in the league, beaten only by a strong maximum score from Worthing Harriers.