Brighton and Hove City proved there is life after talismanic thrower Claire Smithson as they kicked off the Southern Women's League campaign with a solid performance.

Reigning national discus champion Smithson threw Brighton's preparations for the new division one season into turmoil when she quit athletics at the age of 23 three weeks ago.

Smithson - who represented England in the previous two Commonwealth Games - led Brighton's young team to promotion last season but decided to take a break from the sport due to a lack of support from the governing body, UK Athletics.

Brighton manager Ann Fielding- Smith feared her young side would struggle without the experienced international but they responded with an encouraging third place at Crawley's K2 Centre on the opening day.

Fielding-Smith said: "Claire would be guaranteed first place in the discus at every match and probably the shot putt as well so she will be sorely missed.

"I tried to talk her out of it but when someone decides she has had enough there is no point trying to change their minds. Claire has been very badly treated by UK Athletics and the club is going to write to them to complain.

"She was one of our leading contenders for the London Olympics in 2012 but she was not given any funding to help her progress and when she left university she had huge debts.

"I did worry we would struggle when she told me she was taking a break but we have got some good talent coming through and it gives the youngsters a chance to shine. We were delighted with the result considering it is our first season back in division one."

Youngster Amber O'Brien stepped up to the plate in Smithson's absence to come second in the shot putt while there were victories for Jenny Coe in the long jump with a personal best of 5.43m and Bella Hailstone in the 80m hurdles and 300m hurdles.

Victory Laura Hitchman also played her part with second place in both sprints before anchoring the 4x100m relay team to victory in the penultimate event as Brighton pipped Basildon to third place by half a point with a tally of 156.

The result puts Brighton on top of the pile of the four Sussex clubs in division one as Crawley, Horsham Blue Star and Hastings all finished fourth in their respective matches.

Crawley look to be facing another year of struggle in the top flight after only being spared relegation last season due to a restructuring of the league.

They claimed 140 points at Sutton with the highlight being the tri- Star Smithson's gone but young talent steps up umphant return to track action of former England Schools bronze medallist Helen Parsons as she won the B string 400m.

Cara Pain made another successful comeback from the glandular fever which has dogged her for the last three years as promoted Hastings collected 140 points at Handy Cross.

Pain won the 400m hurdles while Nicky Avery was first in the long jump with a personal best of 5.32m.

Louise Hoyte triumphed in the 3,000m and Sarah Wigmore finished second in the 1,500m in a personal best of 4min.50.3sec as Horsham managed to accumulate 148 points at Horspath.

Laura Penfold led the way as Haywards Heath Harriers got off to a flying start in division three east with victory over East Grinstead and Lewes at the K2 Centre.

Penfold won the 110m (12.6sec) and 200m (26.5sec), was runner-up in the high jump and helped Harriers to second place in the sprint relay.

The result puts Heath third in the table with East Grinstead fifth but it was a difficult day for Phoenix as they could only manage 20 points and are third from bottom.