NEWTON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
GIAAC Easterrrruns 2001
Half Marathon - St Peter Port
Monday 16th April 2001

Race Report courtesy of Guernsey Press

ALAN ROWE clinched his Easterrrruns hat-trick by dominating the half marathon that concluded the four-day festival. The Guernseyman stayed with the pack for about a mile before striding away with seemingly effortless ease to claim the overall Easterrrruns title. The time 1hr. 11min. 27sec. was a good one considering it came after three days of competition, but there is no doubt that Rowe could good substantially faster if required. 'It was a good run,' said Rowe. 'It was run to a schedule because I was looking to do five and a half minute miles.' 'I was happy with the time after three races over the weekend end it was a case of pacing myself,' he added. Rowe certainly kept to his pace superbly, despite only having the lead car for company. 'I was monitoring my heart rate to gauge my intensity at every mile and then I was able to let it go at about eight or nine miles.' Rowe reached the nine-mile marker at 49-33 right on the scheduled pace he had set himself and then he moved up a gear to such an extent that he ran the 12th mile in just 5-15. As he took the tape at the finish line, there was no other runner in sight, but that had been the case for the majority of the course. However, a lot of credit should go to Richard Batchelor of the Aldershot and Farnham club for his performance in second place. Batchelor also had to run alone for much of the race and the distance between himself and the leader remained constant until Rowe's final push. The Englishman registered a time of 1-12-55 well over a minute in front of Gavin Felton of White Horse Harriers in third. Zahara Hyde Peters continued her superb form from the weekend to win the women's race and with it the overall women's title. Hyde Peters crossed the line in 1-22-45 which put her in 23rd position while Guernsey's Penny Buckingham was the second woman home in 1-24-00. But the local hero without any doubt was Rowe and his performances were all the more remarkable after his admittance that the Easterrrruns were not one of his priorities. The focal point of his season is the Island Games and this was just part of his preparations. 'I have a schedule of track races now with the Hampshire Championships, the Bath match and the Southern Counties Championships all ahead. 'I am looking forward to some good races and I hope to be in good shape for the Island Games.'

by Gareth Le Prevost