LEE MERRIEN denied Steve Dawes a hat-trick of Boxing Day cross-country triumphs with a comfortable win over the GIAAC’s traditional 4.6mile cross-country course at L’Ancresse.

Merrien (pictured) eased home almost a minute clear of Dawes in a time of 24min. 39sec., 13sec. slower than his winning performance in 2007, the last occasion he ran the event.

Not that this was the GB international in full flight, the winner sticking to his plans of running at ‘tempo’ as opposed to flat out on a day when a stiff south-westerly were not conducive to fast times.

At the two-mile mark Merrien was a mere six seconds clear, but he slipped up a gear in the closing stages.

Dawes enjoyed a good run himself, his finishing time of 25-37, being nearly half-a-minute up on his winning 2008 run.

This was one of many strong performances in the bumper entry of well over 100.