HERM provided a scenic backdrop for the final night of the All-Terrain Challenge and the tough course and dramatic views brought the best out of Dave Dyke.

The GIAAC veteran produced arguably the run of the evening as he finished second to Division One winner Steve Dawes to force himself onto the podium ahead of Tristan Robilliard, who had led him going into the final event, a 7km cross-country.

Dyke took 30sec. out of Robilliard to nip 11sec. ahead of him in the general classification, with Mark Mercier taking the runner-up spot and Dawes in a class of his own at the front.

By the end his overall advantage had stretched to nearly six-and-a-half minutes and perhaps only the unlikely arrival of Lee Merrien will prevent him winning again in 2010.

Down the divisions, Neil Mahy found himself headed by Jim Wyatt in the final race but still did enough to win the Division Two title, while Pete Beausire stayed with Chris O’Neill, his only rival for the championship, to clinch that group.

But the real excitement was again in Division Four, which has been largely dominated by women most of the week.

Carolyn Le Cocq’s superb Icart cliff path time-trial on Thursday had given her the overall lead, but on arriving in Herm Natalie Whitty and Katie Robinson were not out of it by any means.

Whitty ran hard from the start and won on the night, which impressed organiser Paul Ingrouille.

‘It was a brave run, she really went for it.’

Le Cocq had enjoyed a 40sec. advantage going into the race and Whitty trimmed 12sec. off that, while Robinson was not far adrift of both overall, after beating Le Cocq for second place over the mix of tough climbs, dunes and common on the holiday isle.

With it all over for another year, Ingrouille said it had been another successful event and was keen to sing the praises of those new to the experience.

‘People like James de Garis, Neil Mahy and Jim Wyatt were superb. Likewise, Michael [Batiste]. They all ran 36/37min. for the time trial and the amount of good solid times on the cliff paths was impressive.OSA Recruitment All-Terrain Challenge: Final race in Herm