STEVE DAWES emerged from a tactical race with another local cross-country victory at L’Ancresse.

The leading contenders for the Division One six-mile (three laps) event appeared to be watching each other closely in the opening stages and, at one point, 12-year-old Ed Mason, starting his one-lap, two-mile event off the same startline, broke for the front with his main age-group challenger Alex Rowe, also in the top 10.

At the lap point, Dawes had taken control but was joined by Mike Wilesmith and Tristan Robilliard, while Tim Coates was just drifting off the leading trio and was just ahead of Louise Perrio and Dave Crosland.

Mason was still in the top 10 and duly won the under-13 race.