Sebastian Foy, who was to finish sixth, runs ahead of Ronan Shally, the eventual runner-up, in Saturday’s second race in the FirstRand Winter Cross-Country League at L’Ancresse. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 1043195)

MIKE WILESMITH produce the run of the day to finish third in the second round of the FirstRand Winter Cross-Country League at L’Ancresse.

Like everybody else in the 81-strong senior field, which was enhanced by 13 juniors and novice women for the first of two laps, the Lee Merrien-trained newcomer trailed Steve Dawes by some way, but it was a notable effort by this addition to distance running, described by race organiser Paul Ingrouille as ‘a breakthrough run’.

While Dawes posted 21min. 22sec. for the two two-mile circuits on the club’s Millennium Stone course, which, as usual, was run in a gale, Wilesmith clocked 22-57, just 12sec. adrift of runner-up Ronan Shally and two seconds ahead of Lee Garland.

Louise Perrio ran superbly and intelligently among a group of men to protect herself from the strong wind and finished seventh in 23-19, while Nikki Neal again edged her battle with Martine Scholes and Sarah Mercier.