Chichester ace Potter shines in Ardingly

Will Boutwood and Ned Potter ran well for Chi Runners at Ardingly / Picture: Derek Martin

The first of this year’s road races in Sussex went ahead at Ardingly Showground - with four of Chichester’s middle distance contingent taking advantage of the chance to show how their winter’s training had paid off.

In spite of bitterly cold winds, more than 500 runners of all ages lined up for four seeded races. While all the Chichester squad performed with credit, it was 18-year-old Ned Potter who produced the breakthrough performance of the day.

Building on his Sussex senior cross country win in November 2019 followed by his winning run in the Corporate Challenge just over a year ago, Potter knocked 45 seconds off his previous best to record 14min 20sec and finish sixth in the A race. This puts Potter in the top 30 in the UK at this early stage in the season and seventh in the under-20 age group.