GIAAC 1999/2000 CHAMPIONSHIP TOWER TO TOWER
(PEMBROKE 5.5 Miles XC)
SUNDAY 17TH OCTOBER 1999

Tower to Tower Winners

Guernsey Press - Friday 22 October 1999

Unchallenged, but by no means uncommitted, Alan Rowe and Val Phillips swept to their first GIAAC championship points of the season, easily winning their respective categories in the annual five and a half mile Tower to Tower race at Pembroke.

On the initial circuit around the tower overlooking L’Ancresse and back, Rowe had been content to sit in with Paul Ingrouille and Mike Yarnall. Phillips, on the other hand, had already broken clear of Chris de la Mare, who in turn was slightly ahead of Tracey Queripel. Once Rowe got into gear though, there was no touching the Island Games 1,500m medallist, and he crossed the line in 29 min. 55 sec., half a minute outside his own course record. To his credit, Ingrouille never lost concentration, finishing just over a minute behind, and a similar distance ahead of Yarnall.

By the finish Phillips had given herself a two minute cushion over her nearest rivals. Chris de la Mare was never out of Tracey Queripel’s sights, but managed to stay safely in second. The double out-and-back nature of this now traditional fixture meant that competitors felt the full force of the stiff north-easterly on the return leg of the race, but without exception, there were encouraging performances from all 49 finishers. The most welcome display of all had to be that of Barry Marley, out of competitive action for six months, who was sixth overall and first veteran.

Brothers James and William Bodkin enjoyed a double family success as they won their respective events in the Colts handicap races. James finished 19 sec. ahead of Michael Batiste in the Under 11 race, over one and a half laps of the Dalancey Park circuit, while William was a mere eight seconds to the good of Matthew Ceresa in the one lap Under 9 event. James Brehaut was third, but Daniel Carre’s 3.46 was the fastest actual time of the day. Earlier Mark Mercier had won the Under 13 two-lap race in 6.46.

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