Tom Fuller won the senior title at the Sussex Schools' Cross Country Championships and dedicated the triumph to his brother and late grand-father.

The Chichester College student nearly pulled out of the event following the death of his grandfather .

But he produced a strong performance over an undulating, muddy 7km Stanmer Park course to win in 23min.35sec.

Stephen Jules (Sussex Downs College, Lewes) was second (23.51sec) and Jonathan Randle (Horsham) third (24min.05sec).

Fuller, 18, from Worthing, said: "I hadn't been training but thought the world of my grandad and decided to race in his memory. I also wanted to do it for my brother Ryan, who is ill, and cheer him up.

"Last week was a bad one for me because I failed my exam to get into the RAF by one point.

"At least victory has given me something to smile about."

Katie Moore (Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College) tore the field apart in the 4km girls' event. She clocked 15min.23sec, Esme Jalla (BHASVIC) was second in 16min.25sec and Eloise Lee (Mid Sussex) third (16min.45sec).

The younger age groups represented their districts and Lee Jules (Hastings), younger brother of Stephen, took the boys' intermediate crown.

The long-striding Jules youngster held off a strong challenge from Joe Isherwood (Brighton and Hove) to win in 21min.47sec over the 6km course, ahead of Isherwood (22min.17sec) and David Walton (Hastings) third (22min.32sec).

National champion Charlotte Browning (West Sussex West) gave a master class in the girls' race to retain her title.

She completed the 3.8km course in 16min.15sec from Sarah Garrett (WSW) who clocked 17min.05sec.

Matthew Barrie (Brighton and Hove) held off Phoenix clubmate Timmy Geddin (Mid Sussex) in a sprint for the junior boys' title. Barrie edged home in 13min.59sec and Geddin clocked 14min.02sec. over the 4km course.

Sundai Boulton (Brighton and Hove), giving away a year to many of her rivals, claimed the girls' title in the race of the day. She overtook runner-up Savannah Echel-Thomson (Brighton and Hove) at the mid-point hill to claim her second Sussex title of the season in 12min.34sec.

Team placings, intermediate boys: 1 Hastings 2 Brighton and Hove, 3 West Sussex South. Girls: 1 Mid Sussex, 2 West Sussex West, 3 Brighton and Hove.