Ben Warren and Julia Downes stormed home in the latest Sussex Cross Country League match.

A week after claiming the county titles, the pair dominated at Stanmer Park, Brighton.

Warren (Hailsham) finished the five-mile course in 24min.47sec. He was 27 seconds ahead of Matt Bristow (Brighton and Hove) with early pacesetter Jamie Baker (Chichester) third (25min.46sec).

Baker led up the first hill but Warren and Bristow overtook him before the top on a day of mild temperatures and firm grip underfoot.

Warren said: "Whoever is in front at the top of the hill on the first of the two laps usually goes on to win. The rest of the lap sloped down and everyone ran roughly at the same speed down hill. I'm delighted winning back-to-back races and felt strong."

Downes took the lead early on and was never headed.

She finished the three-mile course in 18min.22sec with Julie Briggs (Arena 80) second (18min.28sec).

Under-20 athlete Dani Christmas (Crawley) was third (18min.29sec).

Downes, 27, said: "I ran better than I did in the Sussex Championships. I was happy with the way I ran last week so it is encouraging to have felt even stronger at Stanmer Park.

"I made sure I was in front. I knew my rivals would be breathing down my neck but felt good throughout."

Brighton and Hove won the team competitions for men and women.

The men had 62 points through the scoring six Bristow, Andrew Donno (fifth), Richard Alrey (ninth), Jason Benniman, Martin Alrey and Louis Taub.

Phoenix were second (155) and Crawley third (180).

Brighton and Hove women's team finished with 36 points.

The scoring-four, besides Downes, were Florence Ray (eighth), Laura Burton and Julia Westlake. Arena 80 were second (37) and Crawley third (49).

Brighton and Hove manager Richard Carter said: "We had good turnouts, with 16 men and 18 women, and they all did well on one of the best cross country courses in Sussex."