Glen Lough report

Round 3 of the Manx Gas Cross Challenge was held at a very wet and muddy Glen Lough Camp Site in Glen Vine last Sunday. The dreadful weather of the previous week had made underfoot conditions interesting to say the least, but in spite of this there was an excellent turnout of exactly 100 competitors across all classes. With four stream crossings and a steep hill to be negotiated on each lap there were plenty of thrills – and a few spills as well!

As always it was the junior age groups that provided some of the closest and most exciting racing. In the U9s, Jamie Garrett just overhauled Conor Davies in a sprint for the line to record his second win in a row, whilst in the girls race Danielle Barton just got the better of Aimee Cringle in yet another close battle between the pair.

In the U11s there was another dominant performance from Will Morris to win for the third time this season, but behind him Harvey Neale, Owen Dudley and Terence George are improving all the time. Katie Astin produced a strong and stylish performance to comfortably win the girls race ahead of Josie McGarrigle and Alicia Oates.

There was a fantastic turnout of 18 competitors in the U13B race, including several from QE2 School. Adam Young took his second win of the series but had to work very hard to stay just ahead of Shaun Moore, and an excellent run from newcomer Jak Morris brought him a great 3rd place. Alice Ashe won the girls race with something to spare despite good runs from Alexandra Ross and Sinead Kaneen.

For the first time this season there were competitors in the U15B category. Western AC’s Nathan Pierce took a hard-earned win ahead of the QE2 duo of Alex McQuarrie and James Smith. The U15G race was dominated by Hannah Scarlett and Polly Rogerson, who warmed up for their Lancs Cross Country debuts next month with strong runs in difficult conditions – excellent preparation for the testing Blackburn course.

Track specialist Tom Richmond produced a strong run to take victory in the U17M race ahead of Jordan Cain. In the U17L category, newcomer Alicia Corlett showed great determination to take the win over a longer distance than is usually set in this category.

The Short Course race was held over 3 laps, and it was good to see some new names on the leaderboard. June Collister came out on top with Eric Lee 2nd and Moira Hall 3rd.

The main events of the day were the races for S/V Men, S/V Women and J Men, held over 6, 4 and 5 laps respectively. John Halligan recorded yet another win in the Men’s race, but Kevin Loundes pushes him harder with every race. Darren Gray was the early leader, but by lap 3 it was Loundes at the head of the field being shadowed by Island Games team-mate Halligan. Loundes resisted Halligan’s first effort to get away, but the Rhodes gold medallist’s second effort on lap 5 was the decisive moment of the race. He appeared in the top field after the penultimate climb some 20 seconds clear, and despite a strong final lap by Loundes the eventual gap was 19 seconds. Nigel Armstrong overhauled Ed Gumbley on the final lap to take third, with former Island cross-country champions Gianni Epifani and Andy Cannell rounding off the top 6. Further down the field there was a tremendous sprint finish between Dave Newton and Michael George, with the evergreen ‘Newty’ just holding off the exhausted hotelier!

Island Games distance runner Gail Griffiths completed a hat-trick of wins in the Ladies series with a very impressive performance to beat Sarah Nelson by nearly a minute. There was little between the two Manx Harriers team-mates on the first 2 laps but Griffiths showed good strength on the uphill section to take a decisive lead on lap 3 which she steadily stretched to the end of the race. Ann Cain completed the top 3 ahead of former top race walker Liz Corran.

Ryan Fairclough was a decisive winner of the Junior Men’s race, showing good strength and stamina over 5 very testing laps.

Many thanks go to Western AC, all the officials, and the Quayle family for the use of the excellent facilities at Glen Lough. Round 4 of the series, which also doubles as the IOM Cross Country Championships, will be hosted by Northern AC at Crossags Farm in Ramsey on Sunday 20th January 2008. Double points will be awarded for the league in this round – all competitors should get that one in their diaries now!