HIS first National Six-Stage Road Relay proved a golden experience for Lee Merrien – although it was so nearly a shambles for the Guernseyman.

The Sarnian star (pictured) was involved with a chaotic number change just as his Newham & Essex Beagles teammate Chris MacKay was approaching him for the second-to-third-leg changeover in their gold-medal-winning performance.

‘It turned out that earlier, when we arrived, Newham had been given a few wrong numbers within the team numbers,’ Merrien explained.

‘Without paying too much attention, I just pinned on my front and back numbers only to be made aware on the start-line literally 60sec. before I was due to go that my back and front number did not match.

‘Fortunately Dave Mitchinson, our first-leg runner, was passing at the time so between the two of us we used part of his number, pinning it over the top of mine to make the numbers match.

‘We literally had the last pin in as Chris came into the changeover area and I was off on the course.’

Merrien admitted that the incident got his adrenalin going and he was forced into making a conscious effort to ease back in the early stages of his leg.

As it turned out, he performed admirably with the eighth fastest leg of the day, clocking 17min. 10sec. as he helped his team – who also included Kevin Skinner Moumin Geele and Mo Farah – to first place in a new course record time around Sutton Park.