Category: Sports

TOWN Mayor Nick Hodges has presented East Grinstead sports clubs with Town Council grants to encourage young people to participate in sport.

Five hundred pounds was awarded to Chartham Park Golf Club, East Grinstead Swimming Club, Synergy Academy, the Cricket Club, Estcots Tennis Club and Imberhorne school.

A grant of £400 was give to East Grinstead Athletics Club.

Chartham Park will offer all Year 11 students at Imberhorne six one-hour coaching sessions which will take place at the school, enabling them to sample the skills needed in the game and to use equipment.

After their initial sessions, the youngsters will have a further free session at Chartham Park to introduce them to the course so they can decide if they would like to pursue golf in the future, with special membership deals designed to make the game accessible to youngsters.

The Cricket Club will be funding coaches for indoor net training and providing free taster sessions for potential new players at the start of the season.

The Athletics Club needs additional equipment for year Four and Five pupils and to support training for assistants which will allow the Club to expand.

Imberhorne school will be putting its grant towards setting up a Young Coaches Academy for youngsters aged 16-24 who would then create and develop sporting activities for younger people in the town, both through the school and through other clubs in the town.

The East Grinstead Swimming Club will be using its grant for more coaches to expand membership, while the Synergy Sports Academy based at the Kings Centre are fundraising for safety equipment to help in trampoline training.

The Estcots Lawn Tennis Club will be using its grant for cleaning and relining slippery courts.

IMBERHORNE school has been awarded funding towards 9v9 Junior goals, as part of The FA’s ongoing youth football initiative.

The grant means that children of Imberhorne Lower School and clubs in the local community, will now be able to play matches on pitches with goalposts that suit their size and age.

With a pair of goalposts costing on average £1,000, the Football Foundation has ring-fenced a funding pot of £750,000 to help pay for 50% of the cost of purchasing the youth goals.

This funding has been made available throughThe FA providing £650,000 and the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) themselves providing a further £100,000. This investment will support schools and leagues adopting nine-a-side and smaller formats of the game – underlining a key part of The FA’s new approach to youth football.

Extensive research has shown that the game is more enjoyable for youngsters on size appropriate pitches with size appropriate equipment – as they receive more touches of the ball and the game is less likely to be dominated by larger, more physical players.

The ESFA 9v9 goalpost requirement was introduced as part of The FA’s Youth Football initiative to encourage schools and local communities to nurture young English footballers with high levels of technical skill.

This year, the smaller formats of the game – which make use of appropriate size pitches and goals – were made mandatory for all age groups Under-12 this season.

In 2012 the Foundation worked with the County FAs to direct £1.5m of FA investment towards the purchase of small-sided goalposts, with over 2,000 clubs and schools benefitting from Foundation grants across all regions of England.

Gareth Southgate, the England Under-21s Head Coach, welcomed the funding, saying: “Having helped to develop the small-sided game strategy at The FA before my current role with the Under-21s, I can only echo how crucial this is for young players.

“Youngsters will get so much more out of the game, with more touches on the ball and a far better quality of match being played. This format of the game will also have a significant impact in developing more technically-gifted home-grown players.

“I am delighted to see The FA, the ESFA and the Football Foundation working in partnership to make sure this investment helps schools such as Imberhorne make the transition to the small-sided game.”

Steve Hill, School Sports Co-ordinator for East Grinstead and Imberhorne, said: “The funding from the Football Foundation is a fantastic initiative as it not only benefits the current and future students of Imberhorne, but it also improves provision for our community football clubs as well.”

TOWN Clerk Julie Holden has accepted £3,000 from Mid Sussex District Council on behalf of two East Grinstead sports clubs.

The cash was raised by last May’s ‘three towns’ Marathon which saw more than 1,000 runners complete the three-part Mid Sussex Marathon run in East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

The hugely-popular event helped to raise money for local charities and attracted hundreds of visitors into the three towns to spectate on race days.

The Marathon money raised has now been given to sports clubs across the District to improve sporting opportunities for residents.

The East Grinstead Athletics Club and Activate East Grinstead have been granted £3000 for local running projects. The clubs will use £1500 for the 321 initiative, a project pioneered by Run England which encourages people who have stopped taking exercise to become active again. Signage will be displayed around the town to mark out jogging routes from 1 to 5km, varied distances that will appeal to runners of all abilities.

The remainder of the money has been set aside to establish a weekly Park Run in the town.

Photo above: Representatives from local sports clubs meet  Cllr Pru Moore to receive their funding. 

(Left to Right) Stuart Condie from Burgess Hill Runners, Councillor Mims Davies, Mike Essex from Haywards Heath Harriers, Councillor Pru Moore, Lucie Venables from Haywards Heath Harriers and Julie Holden, East Grinstead Town Clerk who accepted the funding on behalf of East Grinstead Athletics Club and Activate East Grinstead.

Top athletes and fun runners enjoyed some glorious running conditions for the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend on 3rd, 4th and 5th May. More than 1000 runners completed the main races and over 100 youngsters and new runners took part in the Mid Sussex Mile side events.

Local businesses, Town Councils and the District Council all worked together to stage a fabulous running event for the whole community.

The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend comprised three races, which took place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. The event opened with a 10-mile race in East Grinstead on Saturday 3rd May, moved to Haywards Heath for a 10-mile race on Sunday 4th May and finished with a 10k race in Burgess Hill on Monday 5th May. Combined, the three races covered a total of 26.2 miles – the classic marathon distance.

One hundred and ninety-two runners entered all three races and by completing the total distance they each received a special commemorative Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend medal.

Glorious Bank Holiday sunshine bought many spectators into the three towns on race day and they were kept entertained throughout by local radio stations Meridian FM and Bright FM, who broadcast live from the event.

The dry conditions helped the leading competitors to record some impressive finishing times and the winners of each race were as follows:

East Grinstead 10 Mile race
1st Russ Mullen – 1 hour 3 minutes and 3 seconds
2nd Michael Chapman – 1 hour 3 minutes and 53 seconds
3rd Jim Addison – 1 hour 3 minutes and 56 seconds

Haywards Heath 10 Mile race
1st Stewart Gregory – 58 minutes 21 seconds
2nd Gareth Williams – 59 minutes 1 second
3rd Russ Mullen – 59 minutes 23 seconds

Burgess Hill 10 Kilometre race
1st Simon Heath – 35 minutes 31 seconds
2nd Louis Taub – 37 minutes 5 seconds
3rd Kevin Tourle – 37 minutes 22 seconds

The overall Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend winner was Russ Mullen, who completed the three races in a total time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 11 seconds. The highest placed woman was Annie Rebindaine, who completed the races in 3 hours 11 minutes and 7 seconds. They each received the top prizes of dinner and an overnight stay for two at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa.

The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend was organised by specialist race managers Nice Work on behalf of Mid Sussex District Council, with support from Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath Town Councils. The event was sponsored by Freedom Leisure, Mansell McTaggart, Crest Nicholson, The Orchards Shopping Centre in Haywards Heath and the Burgess Hill Town Centre Partnership. A great deal of credit must also go to the many shops and local businesses that showed their support by contributing gifts and prizes.

“We had another great turnout for the Mid Sussex Marathon this year and it was fantastic to see so many youngsters, and people who are new to running, taking part in our Mid Sussex Mile events,” said Glen Wilkinson, Mid Sussex District Council Leisure Contract Officer. “I would like to thank race organisers Nice Work, our Town Council partners, all the sponsors and the many volunteers who gave up their time to make it all happen. We couldn’t have held the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend without you.”

TOWN MP Nicholas Soames joined the mayor, Margaret Belsey, to send off the runners taking part in the East Grinstead leg of the Mid Sussex Marathon on Saturday.

The sun shone as a crowded field set off on the ten mile route around Weirwood Reservoir, and included one runner who took his Teddy along for the ride.

Results will be up here as soon as we have them, but meanwhile pictured below we have the winners of the children’s one mile race, Cllr Nick Hodges and his daughter who both took part in the event, a field of runners heading off into the countryside and of course, Teddy!

The local business community has pulled together to show their support for the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend, which takes place on 3, 4 and 5 May 2014.

Local companies have lined up to become official sponsors and to give their backing to the exciting Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend.

Freedom Leisure, Mansell McTaggart, Crest Nicholson, The Orchards Shopping Centre in Haywards Heath and the Burgess Hill Town Centre Partnership are the five main sponsors of the event and the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend would simply not be possible without their financial support. Many other local businesses have chosen to get behind the event by contributing prizes that encourage people to get involved.

Runners lining up to take part in the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend will find their efforts well rewarded thanks to a fantastic range of prizes that have been donated by generous local businesses. Hamilton Studios in East Grinstead has provided a free photo shoot and print worth £95, Haywards Heath based personal training specialists Fit for Moore are offering 3 month training courses and Smiles & Styles in Burgess Hill is giving away vouchers for free hair and beauty treatments as well as a selection of pampering products for men and women.

The overall winners of the Men’s and Women’s Marathon will receive dinner and an overnight stay for two courtesy of the Felbridge Hotel and Spa.

Race day prizes are not just for adults, youngsters will have the chance to win as well. The top three finishers in each age category of the Mid Sussex Mile races will receive a free swimming session at a nearby Mid Sussex District Council leisure centre courtesy of centre operators Freedom Leisure.

The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend is organised by specialist race managers Nice Work on behalf of Mid Sussex District Council, with support from Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath Town Councils.

There is still time for local companies to get involved and any businesses that would like to support this unique event should contact Glen Wilkinson at Glen.Wilkinson@midsussex.gov.uk or by calling 01444 477207.

“The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend is a fantastic event for the whole community and I’m delighted that local companies have been so quick to show their support and get involved”, said Councillor Frank Osborne, East Grinstead Town Council Member for Amenities and Tourism. “The generous donations we have already received from local businesses have ensured there are plenty of terrific prizes for runners to win by taking part in the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend this year.

“The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend is a unique event that appeals to families, fun runners and long-distance athletes. The marathon distance is split over three races on three consecutive days, so you can pick the distance that’s right for you.

“Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome so if you’re not already registered then what are you waiting for? Sign up today.”

The Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend begins with a 10-mile race in East Grinstead on Saturday 3 May, moves to Haywards Heath for a 10-mile race on Sunday 4 May and finishes with a 10-kilometre race in Burgess Hill on Monday 5 May. Combined, the three races cover a total of 26.2 miles – the classic marathon distance. Younger runners aged 8-11 and 12-14 years, as well as adults who are new to running, will be able take part in Mid Sussex Mile races in each of the three towns.

Full details on the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend, including information on how to enter online or by post, are available at www.midsussexmarathon.co.uk.

As you might be aware from the last couple of EG Sports Development Group meetings, East Grinstead Town FC were successful in their grant application to the Budweiser Club Futures programme and our major ground improvement project is underway and due for completion for the start of next season.

But there’s a real chance you and your club could help EGTFC secure an extra £100,000 towards a 3G training area. They are one of eight clubs with a chance of winning the Budweiser Club Futures Super Grant (there’s more info on their website www.egtfc.co.uk).

Simply log into Facebook, follow this link to the Budweiser Facebook page https://apps.facebook.com/budweiserclubfutures click on the Wasps logo to watch the video and most importantly please VOTE. It’s your vote that counts as the club that receives the most votes wins £100,000 towards their project.

It’s as simple as that – so please vote and ask all your friends, family, colleagues and contacts to vote for East Grinstead Town FC!

Plans for the third annual Mid Sussex Marathon are underway, with the three day event planned for the first bank holiday weekend in May 3rd to 5th May 2014.

The classic marathon distance of 26.2 miles spread over three races, will kick off in East Grinstead with a 10 mile, mostly cross country course, which starts and finishes at the East Grinstead Sports Club, passing through some of the most beautiful landscape our region has to offer. Runners will follow the tried and tested route, using footpaths down to Weir Wood Reservoir, passing the National Trust property of Standen before heading across fields and woodlands towards Brambletye and onto the Forest Way. A short road section leads onto the West Sussex Border Path then across fields through farm land and back down to the reservoir before retracing the outward route back up a challenging hill to the finish.

The second leg, also a 10 mile race takes place in Haywards Heath and the event will be rounded off on the Bank Holiday Monday with the remaining 6.2 miles (10K) in Burgess Hill.

Participants can enter now for all three or any individual race at www.nice-work.org.uk or www.runnersworld.co.uk/events

For further information, please call race organisers Nice Work on 01797 230572

Anyone interested in helping to marshal, sponsor or donate prizes for the East Grinstead leg of the Mid Sussex Marathon please contact Dawn Spalding on 01342 410121

JULIAN Spencer raised more than £1,000 for the town’s Saturday dementia respite club when he took part in the East Grinstead 10k on 22 September.

Cllr Danny Favor congratulated Julian for his money-raising run, and everyone who had worked hard to arrange the event.

“It was a great success due to the generosity and support of various community groups and individuals, and a million thanks must go to everyone who worked so hard to make this good cause happen.”

* Anyone who would like to donate money to support the work of the dementia club can still do so at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/julianspencereg10k2013