Merrien bides his time for home win

Saturday 22nd March 2008, 8:38AM GMT.

Nottingham’s Jonny Thewlis set the pace with Lee Merrien in the opening stages of the first Easter race.

LEE MERRIEN bided his time before showing his class and pulling away to win the opening event of the 27th Easter Festival, the Healthspan 10k road race.

‘The horrendous wind’ – Merrien’s words – meant slow times on the exposed coastal course which had its start and finish at Port Soif.

Nottingham University’s Jonny Thewlis made a flying start with the wind at his back, but by the two kilometre mark Guernsey’s number one had eased onto his shoulder and in the closing stages opened a significant advantage to win by 26sec. ‘Times were completely irrelevant today,’ said the winner afterwards. ‘I just wanted to make sure I won the race.’