LEE MERRIEN smashed the event record and Louise Perrio ran her quickest ever time for the full course by some distance in a high-quality Boxing Day Guernsey Open cross-country at L’Ancresse yesterday.

A fortnight short of the annual Hampshire county championships the performances of the two island stars bodes well for the island’s premier distance runners when they encounter the county’s elite at Dibden Inclosure on the edge of the New Forest on the first Saturday in January.

Merrien had his own course record of 23-02 in his sights yesterday, but ultimately fell just short of his target with a time of 23-15.

Nevertheless, it was still the fastest of his five winning Boxing Day times over the club’s traditional 4.75-mile course, which has its start and finish under Rocque Balan.