DESPITE losing both senior events Jersey left with six trophies to Guernsey’s five after the inter-insular cross-country competition at Noirmont Common on Saturday.
Jersey also came within a whisker of ending the Guernsey senior men’s ten-year run of victories, although there was disappointment for the senior ladies as Guernsey unexpectedly snatched victory.In the junior races there were clear signs of green shoots of recovery in the running scene among Jersey’s youngsters, even though Guernsey were handicapped by the absence of several stars at the English Schools championships.Jersey’s senior men gave Guernsey a great run for their money.
Although Guernsey’s classy Alan Rowe and team-mate Steve Dawes comfortably filled the first two positions, Jersey battled hard for the minor places led by Ian Carter and Bruno Francisco.Packing well in the middle of the field the home runners obliterated memories of a disastrous 2003 defeat and only three points separated them from a famous victory when the scores were totted up.The veteran and senior veteran men steam-rollered the visiting opposition with only Paul Ingrouville and Pete Wickens amongst the visitors mixing it with the strong Jersey contingent.
Nick Gorrod, Phil Morris and Peter Le Couilliard were the leading Jersey runners and they ensured that these two trophies remained in the Island for another year.The boot was on the other foot as the Guernsey senior women sprang a rare surprise by snatching the team trophy.Bolstered by several triathletes, Guernsey fielded a team which Jersey just couldn’t cope with.
However it was Jersey’s outstanding distance runner, Jo McGarry, who led the way home by nearly two minutes from Guernsey’s Gail Merrien.’She was so far ahead as she came to the finish that you could see for miles across the common and there was no-one in sight,’ said Spartan club secretary Roy McCarthy.Meanwhile, once again the Jersey women veterans proved too strong for their counterparts.
Barbara Parker made her mark by finishing in fourth place overall.
Sarah Corcoran had a storming run as did Sue Le Ruez who, dogged by three Guernsey runners throughout the first lap, put her foot on the gas to leave them struggling by the end.As with their male counterparts, the Jersey women therefore claimed both the vet and senior vet trophies.A young Jersey junior contingent did well to capture two of the five trophies on offer.
Nicola Milner and young Robyn Edwards gave their team a great boost by landing a one-two in the girls’ U-13 race and, although Guernsey took the next three places, Felicity Johnson-Deeley sneaked the last scoring place which guaranteed Jersey victory.Close behind was ten-year-old Rebecca Houze, indicating she is a runner of great promise.The U-15 girls race was a different matter and only brave runs by Gemma Dawkins and Eleanor Humphrey (running in an older age group to make up the team) kept the home team in contention, even though their efforts were not enough on this occasion.The Jersey U-13 boys were sunk without trace by a strong Guernsey outfit although Jamie Sewrey ran a gutsy race to finish third and an inexperienced Jersey team, which included ten-year-old Wade Le Marquand, made the opposition work hard for their win.Similary a makeshift U-17 mens team was no match for Guernsey although Peter Ilton had the satisfaction of leading the green vests over the line.Finally, great team running by Ryan Hodgson and Toby Edwards gave Jersey an unexpected victory in the boys’ U-15 race with Tom Brown nipping in to ensure the team victory.
Article posted on 15th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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