Andrew Robinson romped to one of the biggest wins in Sussex Cross Country Championship history at Stanmer Park.

Robinson, a silver and bronze medal winner in previous years, wound up the pace after half a mile and ran most of the 7.5-mile course alone.

He stretched his lead over each of the three laps and his winning time of 38min.15sec was more than one minute clear of his nearest rival.

Robinson, who runs for Horsham Blue Star Harriers, said: "I felt fine. I've been going quite well in training and expected to come under a little more pressure today but I'm perfectly happy with my running.

"I am not sure whether I will be able to run for Sussex in the Inter Counties at the beginning of March as I plan to return to Colorado for some warm weather training as I am aiming to improve my steeplechasing this summer."

Tom Naylor (Phoenix), who has made few competitive appearances in the last 12 months, was the surprise runner up.

Naylor had led the chasing group with Hailsham's Ben Warren but accelerated on the last lap to finish 30 metres clear in 39min.32sec for the silver medal.

Warren, the reigning under-20 champion, took the bronze medal ahead of Chichester's Jamie Baker.

The team form book was turned upside down as reigning champions Crawley, who have dominated racing in Sussex this season, fell apart.

After their first ever team victory last season and wins in all three league matches this season they were expected to retain the title.

But they were without their Surrey-based athletes and Brighton and Hove City, led home by Matt Bristow and Keith Newton in sixth and seventh places, took advantage and regained the Silver Trophy of Mercury.

Rachel Ogden dominated the women's race to win by nearly 50 metres over Brighton and Hove veteran Julia Armstrong.

Ogden, who had had a fine track season in 2003, established an early lead and was never in danger of being caught.

She said: "I really wanted a good run out. I do not plan many cross country race this season and will not be available for the Sussex squad at the Inter Counties as I will race in the short course trials on the same day."

Armstrong had a tremendous race to take the silver medal ahead of Emma Satterly (Phoenix) who won the title when the race was last held in Stanmer Park two years ago.

Brighton and Hove's Julia Downes, who was expected to challenge for the title, only entered at the last minute because she was suffering with a heavy cold.

She struggled with her breathing and was well down after the first of the two laps and, although she made up several places on the second lap, could only manage seventh, one place behind Arena 80's Alice Naylor who was making her cross country debut in Sussex this season.

The team event could not have been closer but Arena 80 managed to hang on to their crown scoring 38 points.

Brighton and Hove City were second with 39 points with Phoenix a further three points behind with 42 in third.