DEFENDING champion Steve Dawes pulled clear over the second of two two-mile laps to win the opening event of five in this year’s OSA cross-country league at L’Ancresse. Despite the counter-attractions of half-term, the Beachy Head marathon, in which there was strong Sarnian representation, the Dublin Marathon and the Morlaix 10k, 60 runners came to the start line, a figure boosted by a number of GIAAC juniors who ran just one lap.
Dawes and fit-again Mark Mercier broke away soon after the start and behind them the field splintered into small groups of three and four runners behind Alan Rowe, a solitary third.
The leaders reached halfway in 10min. 16sec., 10sec. ahead of Rowe.
But Dawes forged clear at the start of the second circuit to run impressively matching laps in terms of time.
A prolonged spell on the sidelines through injury ultimately caught up with the Hampshire under-20 cross-country champion, as did Rowe.
The latter passed the youngster with a mile remaining and finished 26sec. up on him at the finish.
Tim Coates, another to miss the Island Games through injury, signalled his return to fitness and form, by finally shaking off Ronan Shally and Matt Loveridge to take fourth.
Louise Perrio was the leading woman in 14th place overall, having gone through halfway in the third group on the course which also included triathlete Ian Scholes, Ian Taylor and Ben Wilen.
She slowed on the second lap and was involved in a sprint finish with Fortis work colleague and Island Games mountain biker Josh Gossselin.
Young Sarah Mercier, 16, was second woman, while Tricia Lewis and Kerry Robins continued their good form of the summer and another junior, Steph Lamb, showed good improvement down the field.
There was also a great finish to the accompanying under-15 race, with Sam Hall and Marcus Heaume dead-heating for first.
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