Brighton and Hove City's Stephen Rees-Jones retained his Sussex senior cross-country title in the mud of Bexhill Down.

Arena 80's Caroline Hoyte, meanwhile, notched up her fourth women's victory.

Apart from a little difficulty for athletes coming from the north of the county few, if any, failed to get to Bexhill because of the weather.

Injuries and illness did however affect Crawley and champions Brighton and Hove City in the senior men's race.

Crawley won their first ever senior team title The Bexhill Down course has traditionally been the muddiest in Sussex even after a dry spell but, with the heavy rains of the past couple of months, the course well and truly lived up to its reputation.

Drainage work prevented the full use of the lower stretches of the course that usually involves ankle deep water as well as the mud.

Any firm stretches had been well churned up by younger athletes before the senior men started.

After a minor diversion soon after the start, when Brighton and Hove's Tim Cook found himself in the lead, Rees-Jones, the reigning champion, was always at the head of the field.

Andrew Robinson (Horsham) kept Rees-Jones company until halfway through the seven-and-a-quarter mile race with former champion Patrick Davoren (Phoenix) just a place behind. Before they had started the fourth and final lap the champion was away and clear.

Twelve months ago Robinson finished just 13 seconds adrift of the winner at Stanmer Park but this time he was one minute adrift and was pushed into bronze medal position by Davoren, who won a desperate sprint to the line although both were credited with the same time.

Rees-Jones said: "I'm quite happy in the mud but was a little surprised no one came with me when I squeezed the pace over the second half of the race.

"I have been running quite well at Sheffield so I was fairly confident."

Rees-Jones is now looking forward to racing again in Sussex in the World Championship short course selection race at Stanmer Park in March.

Hoyte regained the women's title in convincing fashion over and three-and-a-quarter miles. The 2001 winner finished nearly one minute clear of Wendy Holden from Lewes, the 1999 title winner, who made a brilliant return to serious competition after 18 months away from top class racing.

Julia Downes (Brighton and Hove) led early on. She suffered in the middle stages of the race and looked like finishing outside the medals but recovered to overtake county veteran's champion Sarah Coope, from Eastbourne, in the final half-mile and collect bronze.

Crawley completed a team double by depriving champions Brighton and Hove City of their crown.

Hoyte said: "I don't enjoy the mud. I am pleased with my win but give me a road race anyday."

In the under-20 championships, the three medallists from last year's under 17s scooped the prizes. Last year's bronze medallist Hayley Stanton, from Crawley, took the title from club mate Sam Webb and Worthing's Philippa Aukett.

Hailsham's Ben Warren won the men's race by more than one minute from Brighton and Hove's Joe Stephenson and Mark Barham, from Hastings.