DALE GARLAND and James Brehaut were the home winners at the inaugural Royal Bank of Canada CI Multi-Events meeting at Foote’s Lane. Garland won the senior men’s competition from John Heanley, one of the UK’s leading decathletes, while James Brehaut took the under-13 boys title on the back of some excellent hurdling and fine javelin throwing.

Jenny Christie, like Heanley, a member of the massive Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow club, won the women’s title but elsewhere it was Jersey Spartan athletes that led the way.

The Jersey club brought a large contingent of athletes over for the inaugural multi-events meet, sadly outnumbering the GIAAC representation.

All competitors enjoyed a choice of one track race – 100m, sprint hurdles or 800m – one jump (long or high) and one throw (shot put or javelin).

Times and distances equated to points on the standard decathlon scoring tables and, as usual, there were big points hauls to be picked up from the more technical events, such as hurdles and long and high jump. In windy conditions, the distance runners were at a significant disadvantage.

Garland, the CI’s top multi-eventer, chose the 110m hurdles, long jump and javelin and triumphed by 61 points from Heanley.

But the single biggest points haul of the competing men came from Jersey high jumper, Simon Phelan, who scored 878 for his personal best 2.08m clearance.