REIGNING champion Steve Dawes will be hoping to correct a blip in his recent form in the GIAAC/Fusion Cross Country League four-mile event to be held over two laps of the new L’Ancresse ‘Stonecrusher’ course tomorrow.

A surprise win in the opening league event by Alan Rowe and a solid second place by Mark Mercier relegated Dawes (pictured) to third, but despite another below par in the Portsmouth Great South Run last weekend the multiple Island Games medallist has higher expectations.

‘I feel I should be much more competitive at the front,’ he said.

It will be the first time the new course will feature in the league and GIAAC endurance event organiser Paul Ingrouille explained: ‘We first used the course for this year’s Easter relay event and while it was generally well received, there was some criticism of the running surface from international coach Mike Woods.

‘You have to take such comments on board and we have adjusted the route to utilise some smoother, faster running tracks over the opening section of the two-mile lap.

‘We always need to make compromises and compact courses such as this create a great race atmosphere but invariably require some tight turns.’