Press Release 6th August
Victory in the seventh and final stage saw Ronan Shally successfully across
the line as the overall winner of the 2011 OSA All Terrain Challenge.
Shally has won 4 of the 7 the stages but it was only after the penultimate
stage, the 8km Cliff path time trial, that he firmly was in the driving
seat. In last night's 4mile cross country event he successfully negotiated
the hills and sand of a tough Herm course and crossed the line 17 seconds
clear of Matt Loveridge in a time of 23 minutes 15 seconds. Third placed
Colin Jeffreys - a further 2 seconds back - was comfortably close enough to
secure 2nd overall with Loveridge 3rd.
Tom
Swain was division two winner on the night and overall.
The
division three podium placers finished in reverse order on the night but
ultimately it was Matt de Carteret that took the division from Sam Cooper
and Dave Watson.
Despite being pipped by Julia Falla and event regular Jonathan Bartlett
Laura Quayle was a solid overall winner of division four.
Press Release 5th August
Ronan Shally has one hand on the OSA All Terrain Challenge Trophy after last
evening's 8KM Cliff Path time trial at Icart.
In
one of the closest competitions in the 15 annual stagings of the event
Shally went to the start line with a mere 21 second lead over Colin Jeffreys
but, after starting the time trial a minute interval behind, all but caught
Jeffreys and will go into tonights final Herm Cross country event with a
margin of 1 minute 16 seconds.
The
main contenders Shally, Jeffreys and Matt Loveridge all passed through the
Bon Port 'Mile' point in 5 minutes 50 seconds but Shally made ground in the
middle section of the race and was over 30 seconds faster then Jeffreys by
the time the runners returned past Bon Port, after the first major climb at
Moulin Huet. In turn Jeffreys was 30 seconds quicker than
Loveridge.
Shally ran strongly on the descent to Saints and the climb thereafter to
post a final time of 33 minutes 33 seconds and was a full 55 seconds faster
then Jeffreys 34:28. Loveridge finished in 34:31 to strengthen his podium
position.
With
a time of 34:42 Wilen ran nearly 3 minutes quicker than last Sunday's mass
start race version over the same course and has leap frogged over Martins
Vabulis into 4th overall.
Nikki Neal was again fastest woman in 37:56.
James Harrison was fastest Division two runner, and has moved ahead of Simon
Bowden but Tom Swain remains at the head of this division.
The
winner of of division 3 was James Edwards but Matt De Carteret maintains his
divisional lead whilst Laura Quayle strengthened her position as leader of
4.
Press Release 4th August - Matt finish takes gloss off Shally's Yellow
Day 5 of
the OSA All Terrain Challenge saw the event move to Footes lane for the
track night and a series of "Devil
Takes The Hindmost" track races where the last placed runner is eliminated
each time the field passes through the lap point.
It was a
good night to be called Matthew as the division 1, 2 & 3 winners were
Messrs Loveridge, Bailey & De Carteret respectively. Div 4 went to Steve
Ozanne.
Despite yielding to Matt Loveridge in the Division One event Ronan Shally
made a 5 second time gain on Colin Jeffreys although his overall lead is a
mere 21 seconds.
Matthew Bailey, a member of the Guernsey Commonwealth 4x400m team, was an
impressive winner of division 2 but Tom Swain ran solidly and his third
placing saw him extend his divisional lead to over a minute.
Already leading division 3, Matt De Carteret made big time gains with his
win on the night. With his closest rivals James Edwards and Dave Watson
being eliminated early in the competition De Carteret's lead is now in
excess of 1minute 20 seconds.
Behind Steve Ozanne in the division 4 event were leading contenders Laura
Quayle and Claire Smit meaning the overall positions in the division
remained largely unchanged, Quayle now holding a 34 second margin over Smit.
The
event moves back to Icart this evening for the 8km cliff path time trial.
Press Release 3rd August
Ronan Shally reclaimed the overall leader's yellow vest with a dominant run
in the fourth stage of the 2011 OSA All Terrain Challenge
Colin Jeffreys, who went into the race with a slender 9 second lead, was
vying for victory with Shally for half of last evening's stage held over 8
laps of a tight 630M circuit at Saumarez Park, just clear of a chasing group
of Ben Wilen. Matt Loveridge and Mark Mercier. However, despite
his own concerns about the muscular soreness caused by the previous stages,
Shally appeared to be running increasingly smoothly and broke clear just
after the halfway pint to build a substantial lead and cross the finish line
with a time 17 minutes 11 seconds for the 5.1 k race.
Wilen, running his best race of the week so far also passed the fading
yellow vest holder in the closing laps to finish second, 19 seconds behind
Shally. Jeffreys' 25 second deficit on the night means he now trails
the leader by 16 seconds in the overall standings.
As is the tradition, the evening's races were separated into divisions for
the first time. After competitive races in the 4th Division won by
Julian Falla, and 3rd division won by Ben Le Huray, the race of the night
was arguably provided by the division two runners. Divisional leader
Tom Swain was locked in battle with resurgent Martine Scholes for 7 of the 8
laps but, having remained anonymous for much of the race, Matt Bailey closed
to within a few seconds at the bell. Once on the leader's heels, he
showed off his track credentials to take victory in the final 200 metres.
Having put the disappointing run on the Steps event behind him, Bailey, a
member of Guernsey's record breaking 4x400M squad, will be one athlete in
particular who will look forward to Wednesday evening's track stage at
Footes Lane.
Press Release 2nd August
Showing an awesome mix of power and endurance Matt Loveridge produced a
stunning 1 minute 43 second run last evening and was a mere second outside
Nick Despres 2003 record for the Telegraph bay - Jerbourg Cliff path time
trial..
Runners started the 600M time trial at minute intervals and, lying third
overall prior to the climb Loveridge, started after Martin's Vabulis whose 1
minute 58 second effort was the first sub 2 minute time of the evening.
Impressive as Vabulis' time was he had only just crossed the line as cheers
could be heard for Loveridge who was powering up the final section to win by
a 15 second margin.
Penultimate runner Colins Jeffreys' time of 2 minutes dead was enough for
third place but with yellow vest holder Ronan Shally following and
finishing outside 2 minute 10 seconds it is Jeffreys who will wear the
leaders vest in Tuesday's Saumarez Park circuit race.
Most would have tipped 800m specialist Natalie Whitty to finish the night as
fastest woman, and she duly did with a strong 2 minute 39 second climb, but
belying her marathon credentials Nikki Neal was a mere second in arrears and
maintains a healthy overall lead amongst the women. Martine Scholes
maintained her podium spot with a time of 2 minutes 56 seconds.
Press Release 1st August
Press Release 31st July
Guernsey's Island Games athletes Ronan Shally and Nikki
Neal emerged as the Male & Female winners after the opening 4km stage in the
2011 OSA All terrain challenge but with 6 days remaining there is all to
play for.
After a close race Shally, who placed 4th in the the
island games 5000m, was a mere 7 seconds clear of June "Fathers Day" half
marathon winner Colin Jeffireys with a time of 12 minutes 50 seconds for
the hilly 4Km road course. Ben Wilen was third a further 27 seconds adrift.
Neal held a stronger margin as victor in the women's
category with a time of 14:31, Martine Scholes was just over 30 seconds
adrift with Nat Whitty a further 8 seconds behind.
Action moves onto the cliff paths for Sunday's second
stage over the gruelling Icart 8Km Cliff course.
A unique racing experience - 7 races in 7 days over varying terrain and distances. Split into divisions it offers competitive racing for all ages and abilities.
Essential Information
Runners will be split into 4 divisions according to ability / experience.
Positions decided on cummulative time.
Prizes for first three in each division, plus spot prizes.
All events start at 6:30pm unless stated otherwise.
In Time trials athletes start in reverse Overall Position order at 1 minute intervals.
Minimum age 16.
Entries will be strictly limited to 70 competitors - first come first served.
Entry fee £40, includes boat fare to Herm, food at Herm presentation. (£38 GIAAC members).
Additional spectators for Herm - including food £20
On the day entry (if numbers allow) - Additional £5
Download an entry form
here