10km ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS - FOOTES LANE
SUNDAY 21st JANUARY 2001
Lee Merrien led from the start to become the GIAAC's 2001 10Km road race
Champion. It was the first senior distance title for the talented 21-year-old who ran
a lone race to finish 42 seconds clear of Nick Despres in a time of 33 minutes 49 seconds.
Marcel Le Clerc was third a further 5 seconds in arrears.
Penny Buckingham ran a good race to finish 17th of the 52 starters. Her time of 40 minutes 25 seconds bringing her home over three minutes clear of
second placed woman, Shanine Wray.
There was a close battle between some of the Islandıs more experienced distance runners as Barry Marley pipped Tom Oliver to claim the
super-veteran prize. Fellow 50 some-thingsı Pete De Bertrand and Brian Holden closely followed Marley and Oliver across the line.
Merrien eased to the front of the field in the early stages with a group forming behind him featuring Le Clerc, Despres and Paul Ingrouille. Perhaps
unsure of their ability to match the in-form leader, the trio appeared to be making little effort to latch onto Merrienıs pace.
The first half of the race took the field west from Footes lane, up St.Georges Hill, past La Fleur Du Jardin and out onto the Vazon Coast via Gele
Road. By the time the leaders hit the coast Merrien had established a 40second lead with the trailing trio holding a similar margin over the
leading veteran Pete Wickins. With the wind at their tail along the coast Le Clerc and Despres upped the
tempo and dropped Ingrouille before the 7km mark at Cobo. The tough climb up
la Route du Cobo toward Sauzmares Park saw the relentless pace also take itıs toll on Le Clerc as Despres moved clear into second place.
Despite struggling with stitch over the closing stages Merrien held onto his lead and crossed the Footes lane finish line over 200 metres clear of
Despres, who had managed to maintain his slender advantage over Le Clerc. Marley had started conservatively and, after a nip and tuck battle between
Cobo and Sauzmares Park, pulled clear to win the category by 15 seconds.
| Pos | Athlete | Cat | Time |
| 1 | Lee Merrien | 33.49 | |
| 2 | Nick Despres | 34.31 | |
| 3 | Marcel Le Clerc | 34.36 | |
| 4 | Paul Ingrouille | 35.05 | |
| 5 | Peter Wickins | VM | 36.15 |
| 6 | Steve Dawes | 37.24 | |
| 7 | Colin Ozanne | 37.53 | |
| 8 | Alan Smith | VM | 38.18 |
| 9 | Tim Johns | 38.49 | |
| 10 | Barry Marley | SVM | 39.09 |
| 11 | Thomas Oliver | SVM | 39.24 |
| 12 | Mark Naftel | 39.30 | |
| 13 | Peter De Bertrand | SVM | 39.49 |
| 14 | Brian Holden | SVM | 40.11 |
| 15 | Paul Cherry | 40.18 | |
| 16 | Patrick Down | V | 40.24 |
| 17 | Penny Buckingham | 40.25 | |
| 18 | Brian Aplin | V | 40.31 |
| 19 | Martin Spratt | VM | 40.36 |
| 20 | Derek Vaughan | SVM | 41.29 |
| 21 | Rene Fischer | 42.18 | |
| 22 | Peter Le Feuvre | VM | 42.27 |
| 23 | Paul Davies | 42.31 | |
| 24 | Colin Guilmoto | SVM | 42.36 |
| 25 | Colin Falla | VM | 42.52 |
| 26 | Ian Garner | 43.28 | |
| 27 | John Dedman | 43.32 | |
| 28 | Jeremy Mew | 43.36 | |
| 29 | Phil Guilbert | VM | 43.41 |
| 30 | Shanine Wray | W | 43.48 |
| 31 | David Mahy | VM | 43.59 |
| 32 | Christopher Tostevin-Hall | 45.00 | |
| 33 | Helen Tucker | VW | 45.01 |
| 34 | Chris De La Mare | SVW | 45.39 |
| 35 | Gary Allen | 46.03 | |
| 36 | Seamus Russell | 46.07 | |
| 37 | Richard Stapely | 46.43 | |
| 38 | Sally Dowinton | VW | 46.52 |
| 39 | Brian Johnson | 46.54 | |
| 40 | Eric Le Breton | SVM | 46.57 |
| 41 | Rob Ferguson | VM | 47.24 |
| 42 | Ian Bloese | SVM | 47.33 |
| 43 | Nicole Inder | VW | 48.56 |
| 44 | Emma Mourant | W | 49.05 |
| 45 | Rick LeLievre | 49.51 | |
| 46 | Sue Black | VW | 50.16 |
| 47 | Alison Jefferies | W | 50.27 |
| 48 | Millie White | VW | 50.43 |
| 49 | Kevin Le Noury | VM | 50.47 |
| 50 | Graham Le Poidevin | SVM | 51.26 |
| 51 | Simon Fairclough | 52.11 | |
| 52 | Alison Moulin | No time |