Within the first couple of miles he had opened a lead over the rest of the field that they never remotely looked like closing.
By the finish this lead had grown to over four minutes as he clocked 1 hr 15 min 48 sec to begin his new career as a veteran athlete with a bang.Meanwhile, the in-form Jon Coote had doggedly tracked local runner Artur Pires around the course and they were metres apart as they entered the FB Fields for the final 350m, before Pires showed he still had the strength left in his legs to pull away to claim the runners-up trophy.Bruno Francisco took fourth spot.Back down the road the Jersey women were having their own private battle, their race opening up because of Jo McGarry’s absence.It was triathlete Melissa Messervy who gradually pulled away from impressive newcomer Sue Le Gros to take the honours in 1.29.32.Sarah Bruce finished in third place and after that the Jersey women filled the remaining places down to ten, which is where the first ‘foreigner’, Lisa Hervé, from Guernsey, finished.Meanwhile there was a great scrap in the W45 category with Barbara Parker just holding off the fast finishing Sue Le Ruez.Elsewhere there was no lack of interest and it was one of a number of visitors from Ireland, Joe Copithorne, who won the M45 trophy, being placed seventh overall.In fact one of the features of the race was the number of visiting runners in the older age groups who picked up category wins.The women’s Open trophy was picked up by Laura Smiley, Julie Fairclough and Clare Brennan who were representing Abacus Jersey and who raised £1,000 for Children In Need in the process.Later on there was the unusual sight of the group from 47 Squadron RAF Lyneham, patiently awaiting their struggling teammate Gregor Jackson before pushing home their squadron chariot triumphantly and as a group.The total entry was a staggering 369, an increase of 74 from last year, made up of not only of local runners but by many athletes from both Britain and Ireland.Final words must go to local runner Peter Canham.
He stopped to take his exhausted running partner to hospital before re-starting his run.
He then found the back entrance gates of the FB Fields closed and running around to the front gates he then put in a big final sprint to the now deserted finishing line to claim a T-shirt – and the admiration of the two remaining spectators.The organisers, Jersey Spartan AC, would like to thank the innumerable helpers and in particular the honorary police of four parishes, plus St John Ambulance and sponsors Modern Hotels.
