Gail Merrien in transition on her way to victory in the Ogier Jersey Triathlon women’s race. (Picture by Tony Pike, 0623715)

GAIL MERRIEN was a convincing winner of the women’s race in Sunday’s Ogier Jersey triathlon. However, the 42-year-old Sarnian said afterwards that she would have wished for a more competitive race.

She was disappointed that Guernsey Island Games teammate Sam Herridge had not taken part and that Rachel Eeles, who made up the Sarnian trio in Rhodes, would have given her much stiffer opposition if she had not crashed in the ride down to St Ouen from La Pulente.

‘Either Sam or Rachel would have pushed me on,’ Merrien said. ‘But this is sport. You never know from one competition to the next what fate holds in store for you.

‘I might be back next year, but at the moment I’m more excited about quadrathlon [swim, kayak, bike and run].’