This Is Guernsey

The start of one of the boys races at Les Quennevais. (Picture by Matthew Hotton, 0557783)

OUTSTANDING individual performances were the highlight of the inaugural junior schools’ cross-country championships held in Jersey at the weekend.

The Guernsey team won three of the four Years 5 and 6 boys’ and girls’ races but lost out on the overall team prize. The event was held over the dunes at Les Quennevais and it was clear from the first race that superb individual performances were going to be the order of the day as Katie Rowe overwhelmed all Year 5 girls in a scintillating display of power running. Her victory by almost half-a-minute was excellent.

Hannah English came home in third place – a real achievement as English is still a Year 4 pupil and was competing with girls a year older than her. Max Robin followed Rowe’s example and convincingly won the Year 5 boys’ race.  He was 11 seconds ahead of the second-placed Jersey boy. Tom Nightingale and James Browning fought bravely and did well to come home in fourth and fifth respectively.

The Year 6 races were held over a longer, 1,800m course and that played to the strengths of Megan Chapple, whose endurance strength meant that she came home in first well clear of the second-placed Jersey girl.

Another highlight was the performance of Courtney Chapman, whose fourth place was the result of plucky determination.

Among the Year 6 boys, Alex Stewart was just pipped from first place in the closest finish of the day, closely followed by Logan Fallaize, whose fourth place was impressive against such a strong Jersey team.

All Guernsey competitors ran impressively and coped well with a difficult course.

Team manager Alun Williams was proud of the efforts of all 24 runners.

‘Home advantage is key in cross-country races, especially when the course is very distinctive,’ he said.

‘That was the case here as there was such a mix of tight corners, technically challenging sections and a range of surfaces including sand dunes, woodland and a fast finish.

‘We can’t wait to get them back to our Rue Maingy course next year.’