ALTHOUGH conditions seemed perfect for Sunday’s Jersey Spartan Half Marathon, both men’s winner Steve Dawes and women’s champion Jo Gorrod admitted to finding the going tough.

Guernsey athlete Dawes finished the race, this year sponsored by Victor Hugo, Modern Hotels and Aztec Group, in 1hr 11min. 50sec. having remained unchallenged out in front.

However, the real battle in the men’s event was the race for second place as there was nothing to separate Jersey’s James Cunningham and Guernsey’s Tristan Robilliard upon entering FB Fields for the final lap.

Cunningham out-kicked his rival, though, to cross the line in 1-16-20, just seven seconds ahead of the Sarnian who admitted he ‘hit a wall’ on the sprint finish and had nothing left.