GUERNSEY clinched the men’s team inter-insular cross-country title for the 16th consecutive time at the weekend, but it was not so rosy for the women.

Held at Delancey Park, the home side had nine out of the top 10 finishers in the men’s event, including the winner Steve Dawes.

In the women’s race Louise Perrio was second to all-conquering Caesarean Jo Gorrod.

‘I’m really pleased [about the men’s result] but it was a bit of a shame for the women,’ said event organiser and veteran distance runner, Paul Ingrouille.

‘But I think there’s no doubt that our women are gaining in strength and depth.’

Dawes, 27, won the six-mile race in a time of 32min. dead and 18sec. ahead of fellow island runner Alan Rowe in second, while Mark Mercier, Ronan Shally and Lee Garland made up the first five to cross the line.

Simon Roderick was the only Jersey runner to finish in the top 10.

Ingrouille explained why Guernsey dominate men’s cross-country.

‘We’re going to try and keep it for 20 years,’ he joked.

‘In the early years we had an influx of good runners from the UK like Alan Rowe and Francis Keyho, and that was followed by some good local runners coming through and the strength of the team has carried on ever since.

‘Jersey had a particularly weak team [this year] but, to be honest, it’s been like that every other year. They had some very good runners in the early 1990s but they don’t seem to be able to hold on to them and build any strength in depth.’