Dawes strides to third victory

Monday 1st December 2008, 2:29PM GMT.

IN LEE MERRIEN’S absence, Steve Dawes (pictured) pulled away from Alan Rowe on the final lap of three two-mile circuits at L’Ancresse to clinch the overall OSA Recruitment winter cross-country league.

Dawes, who has won three of the first four races, with Merrien the other, crossed the line in an unofficial 31min. 51sec. for six miles.

Rowe again took second as he eased home 18 seconds adrift of the champion, while Ronan Shally ran a lonely race in third throughout and occupied that place at the Lucksall start/finish point.

Dawes and Rowe covered the first lap in 10-35 and were still together as they went through the second with 21-24 on the clock, 30sec. up on Shally.

The women’s honours again went to Louise Perrio with Martine Scholes second, Sarah Mercier third and Katrina Thomson fourth.