Charlotte Browning and Craig Ivemy retained their titles at the Sussex Schools' Cross Country Championships.

They both won from the front at the Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley, just has they had done 12 months ago.

Victory in the junior girls' 3km race was particularly sweet for Charlotte, a pupil at Chichester High School for Girls.

A virus caused havoc with her season, particularly the National Reebok Series, and a cold further undermined her form in the South of England Championships.

She said: "I was really pleased with the run and delighted to retain my title. I was able to get a good start and shake off the leading group quite early.

"I have been struggling in some races this season because of the virus I picked up early in the season. I have tried to run through it but it caught up with me now and again. It was horrible and certainly weakened me.

"But I felt great at Crawley, very strong, and hope my troubles are now behind me.

"The win has given me the confidence to believe I can win the national title at the end of the month.

"There is virtually non-stop racing for the next few weeks and I will have to pick and choose as it would not be sensible to race every week. But I will compete for Sussex in the Inter-county Championships at Nottingham this weekend."

Charlotte looked in fine fettle as she chalked up the largest winning margin of the afternoon.

She put 1min.09sec between herself and Jasmine Heard (Bishop Luffa), who enjoyed her best-ever cross country run.

Hannah Morley (Downlands, Hassocks) was third in only her second appearance over the country this season.

Ivemy cruised home in the intermediate boys' event. He was helped by the elevation into the seniors of Mark Barham (Bexhill College), the only runner to challenge his superiority in Sussex this season.

Ivemy, who attends Ringmer Community College, said: "I had a comfortable run. I did push quite hard but I was not really challenged which was a relief because there are so many races coming up in the next few weeks."

With Ivemy out on is own, the real battle was for the silver medal. Nick Lucas (Lewes Priory) dragged the chasing group along for most of the race only to be overtaken in the last few strides by David Giles (Imberhorne, East Grinstead), leaving his Lewes rival with the bronze medal.

Katy Moore (Brighton and Hove High) provided the big surprise of the Championships when she won the intermediate girls' race over 3.8km in her first year in the age group.

She only managed fourth place in the junior event last year behind Charlotte and the Heath twins, Cheryl and Jenna, from Hillcrest, Hastings.

But she turned the tables on the Heaths to win convincingly from Cheryl, who got the better of bronze-medallist Jenna for a second year running.

Katy, who only took up cross country just over a year ago, said: "I was surprised Cheryl and Jenna let me get away so easily.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my run and particularly the gold medal.

"There are important races every weekend for the next five weeks but I may miss a couple as I want to be in good form for the nationals, which comes at the end of the season."

Hannah Bates (Patcham) showed better form than of late to finish fourth, one place up on last year's posiiton in the junior race.

Rowan James (Dorothy Stringer, Brighton) claimed the junior boys' title over 4.5km.

He won the Sussex Schools Year Eight Championship title last year from Scott Randall (Tanbridge House) and Daniel Stepney (Longhill).

But, although Randall and Stepney ran with him at Crawley, James was the only one to carry his form forward.

He scored a convincing victory over Simon Baker (William Parker, Hastings) and little-known Lee Jules (Filsham Valley).

Randall was seventh, one place up on last year. Stepney was below form, finishing 16th after placing fourth 12 months ago.