It was the pull shot which launched the biggest party Sussex cricket has ever witnessed.

Those scenes which greeted Murray Goodwin's cracking four off Phil DeFreitas at a shade before quarter-to-two yesterday will always be treasured by the 3,500 or so who were there.

Just as they will by thousands more who, in years to come, might just claim to have been there.

That was the moment generations of Sussex supporters had longed for as the county clinched their first ever Championship crown.

The question buzzing around the County Ground since play started on Wednesday had been not whether Sussex would win the title but how would they mark the achievement when the winning point was secured.

As it turned out, they did it in style.

Skipper Chris Adams, at the non-striker's end, leapt in the air three times with both arms raised in celebration.

Sussex By The Sea boomed out from the loudspeaker system.

Then, as the crowd roared their approval, vice-captain James Kirtley led the rest of the team on to the field to take their salute.

That was a nice touch by Sussex, whose players had stood side by side on their balcony waiting for the great moment.

They were all there, not just the eleven involved in the match, and they were decked out in their proper whites, rather than training gear.

Full marks to the umpires and Leicestershire too, who were happy to stop the game for six or seven minutes and allow Sussex to enjoy a lap of honour while the backdrop music changed to Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now.

As the celebrations kicked off, Sussex coach Peter Moores declared: "This is absolutely fantastic. The players have earned the title with their form from April to September.

"They have been the best team, they have worked harder than anybody else and they deserve everything."

Superb scenes at the sun-bathed old ground and in contrast to the hush which had swept in almost like a short-lived sea fret in the minutes before Goodwin's four.

That was certainly the case in the north west corner of the ground, where many Sussex members like to congregate.

With its undulating grassy bank, its deck chairs and benches, its overhanging trees and the distant view of the sea, this area feels more like an orchard than a top flight sporting venue.

Which, by the way, is a compliment, not a criticism.

As the magical 300 neared, the atmosphere was slightly surreal. Apart from the vast numbers present, it felt for a few minutes just like a normal Thursday afternoon at the ground as members went rather quiet.

Then Goodwin fired two successive fours and the title drew closer.

Former Sussex man Vasbert Drakes was adamant he would not be the man to be hit for the clinching runs. He proved that by finishing off a tight over with a bouncer to Adams.

Goodwin blocked a couple of balls from DeFreitas before both he and the skipper collected singles to nudge their side to 298.

Cue a crack of the Goodwin willow and party time at Hove.

If those few dot balls were the countdown on the clock and Goodwin's boundary the striking of midnight, what followed was the carefree fun which kicks off a new year or, in this case, a new era for Sussex.

A few spectators sipped champagne but most toasted the occasion with cans of beer, cups of tea, chips or ice cream while, out in the middle, Adams and Goodwin served up a feast of strokeplay fit for Championship kings.

Goodwin to his 200, Goodwin to his best ever score, Adams to his century, the landmarks kept coming.

On the club website, one supporter called for Sussex to bat on until they had scored 1,000.

Back at Hove, there was hardly a spare seat in the house.

Over by the main scoreboard, the area which offers the most sweeping view of the ground in all its glory, spectators took the few remaining plastic chairs and watched the game while evesdropping on a television interview being recorded with Kirtley.

Seats were hard to come by too up in the Twenty20 Stand. That is not the official name for the enclosure on top of the pavilion, by the way, but it should be because that is the only time it is ever full. Until now.

Down at the club shop, a sign on the door promised: "Championship merchandise on sale Friday a.m." while, inside, Mushtaq Ahmed tee-shirts sold briskly.

The magical Pakistani leg-spinner had to be in there somewhere.

Mushy has had such an impact on Sussex this year and he was the ice-breaker at this particular party too.

It was his 100th wicket of the season, exactly 25 hours before Goodwin's historic four, which changed the atmosphere from nervy expectation to realisation.

The next passage of play was the time when you really felt the mood shift as it dawned on those who have supported the county through thick and thin that dreams were coming true.

No doubt all of them were pleased the title had not been clinched with a washout in Manchester but secured here on their treasured ground by the sea.

As the sun beat down, a breeze came in gently off the sea and the runs flowed, it was easy to believe the golden cricketing summer of 2003 could go on forever.

It will certainly never be forgotten.