THE Fire Brigade’s reign as Inter-Firm Town Relay kings were extinguished by the new-look Post Office squad last evening. The team of Dave Gardner, Tristan Robilliard, Vijay Wiltshire and Sam Dowding romped to a comfortable win over the one-mile long course which had its start and finish on the Albert Pier.

Seventeen teams came to the start line for the GIAAC-organised Island Games fund-raiser, but it was soon apparent the main honours would be fought out by the Posties and the emergency services.

There was just a few metres in it as the Post Office’s lead off runner, Dave Gardner, handed over to Robilliard just behind the pacesetters from the Rugby Club.

But Robilliard soon had the advantage.

‘By the time I got around the Slaughterhouse we had a big lead’ said Robilliard and thereafter the Posties were never threatened despite a blistering leg from the Rugby Club’s Tim Coates.

‘We knew we could win it if we ran well,’ said Sam Dowding, who clinched the victory.

Dowding is well experienced in the annual event, but one of the team was making his race debut.

‘Vijay was our new boy,’ said Robilliard. ‘The new kid on the block,’ he added.

Nor did the St Martin’s footballer let the team down.

The Fire Brigade, showing two changes from the squad that won in 2003, had to settle for fourth spot on this occasion as the Rugby Club took the runner-spot spot and Ambulance and Rescue claimed third.

The quickest run of the night came from Coates who clocked 5min. 11sec., four seconds faster than Generali’s Francis Kehoe.

Adam Heaume was next quickest in 5-17, while Frankie Middleton was the fastest woman on view with 6-05, 10sec. quicker than Debbie Doherty and Caroline Wickham.

nﾆMeanwhile, Dave Dyke outsprinted Pete Wickins to end his rival’s hopes of landing the GIAAC 5,000m track title for the first time in 27 years.

The two were locked together for nearly all the 12-and-a-half laps at Foote’s Lane, but Dyke had the killer kick in the final straight to win the trophy for the first time in his own long career with a time of 17min. 30sec. Louise Perrio won the women’s title at her first attempt, clocking a handy 19-52 in very windy conditions.