Nick Despres and Tracey Queripel were the stars of the opening race in the 2002 Jones and Partners Winter League held over the Cobo three mile road loop.
After a period away from the sport Queripel completed her return to top form with a superb run to finish 50 seconds clear of Caroline Wickham in a time of 19 minutes 14 seconds. The evergreen Chris De La Mare was close third two seconds further back.
Despres stormed clear of the field to post an impressive 15 minutes and 40 seconds while Steve Dawes overcame his disappointing run in last week's county Championships to post a personal best and claim second place 38 seconds behind. Veteran Gordon Mercier was third.
Though Dawes attempted to track Despres over the opening stages of the race, which took an uphill route from Cobo to Sausmarez Park, he was not able to hold match Despres' strength on the climb and the race became a procession with Mercier a clear third.
The field was bolstered to over 70 runners by a large entry of junior athletes. 13 Yr old Mark Mercier was 7th overall in 17:44 and 15 Yr old Sarah Hume was 4th woman in 20:21.
The winter League race takes place this Sunday over a 4.75 Mile cross country starting at Pembroke at 10 am. With the reigning champion taking a break for a scheduled operation Dawes will be looking to move clear at the head of the top division.
The GIAAC's 10 Mile road championship has been re-scheduled from it's original December date to 10am Sunday January 27th starting at Vazon.
| Pos | Athlete | Category | Time |
| 1 | Nick Despres | 15.40 | |
| 2 | Steve Dawes | 16.18 | |
| 3 | Gordon Mercier | V | 17.04 |
| 4 | Marcus Prevel | 17.29 | |
| 5 | Keith Gallienne | V | 17.36 |
| 6 | Eddie Higgins | 17.41 | |
| 7 | Mark Mercier | U15 | 17.44 |
| 8 | Colin Ozanne | V | 17.50 |
| 9 | Toby Grice | 18.10 | |
| 10 | John Dedman | 18.13 | |
| 11 | John Addy | V | 18.14 |
| 12 | Brian Aplin | V | 18.15 |
| 13 | Dave Peel | 18.29 | |
| 14 | David Mahy | V | 18.31 |
| 15 | Phil Guilbert | V | 18.38 |
| 16 | Tony Mourant | V | 18.57 |
| 17 | Dave Hampsten | 19.06 | |
| 18 | Gary Wallbridge | VM | 19.09 |
| 19 | Phil Touzeau | U17 | 19.12 |
| 20 | Tracey Queripel | W | 19.14 |
| 21 | Martin Moulin | U13 | 19.14 |
| 22 | Alan Donaldson | V | 19.39 |
| 23 | Ashley Spencer | 19.48 | |
| 24 | Jeremy Mew | 19.56 | |
| 25 | Brian Johnson | V | 20.01 |
| 26 | Chris Tostevin-Hall | 20.02 | |
| 27 | Simon Touzeau | U13 | 20.04 |
| 28 | Caroline Wickham | VW | 20.04 |
| 29 | Ian Garner | 20.06 | |
| 30 | Chris De La Mare | SVW | 20.06 |
| 31 | Chris Williams | 20.13 | |
| 32 | Peter Touzeau | V | 20.16 |
| 33 | Sam Banks | U15B | 20.17 |
| 34 | Sarah Hume | U17G | 20.21 |
| 35 | Michael Batiste | U13 | 20.34 |
| 36 | Robert Burns | SV | 20.44 |
| 37 | Alison Jefferies | W | 20.55 |
| 38 | Eric Le Breton | SV | 21.00 |
| 39 | Jenny Lowe | 21.08 | |
| 40 | Kevin Le Noury | V | 21.11 |
| 41 | Ian Bloese | SV | 21.16 |
| 42 | Laura Arblaster | 21.17 | |
| 43 | Stephanie Ozanne | U15G | 21.18 |
| 44 | Andy Carre | U15 | 21.19 |
| 45 | Rob Ferguson | V | 21.21 |
| 46 | Jenny Elliott | W | 21.21 |
| 47 | David Northrop | U13 | 21.29 |
| 48 | Craig Addlesee | U13 | 21.29 |
| 49 | Justine Prevel | W | 21.44 |
| 50 | Sadie Addlesee | U15G | 21.48 |
| 51 | Fiona Argent | VW | 21.54 |
| 52 | Nick Le Messurier | V | 22.01 |
| 53 | Terry Greening | SV | 22.16 |
| 54 | Gemma Mauger | U13G | 22.20 |
| 55 | Rhiannon Martel | W | 22.23 |
| 56 | Graham Le Poidevin | SVM | 22.34 |
| 57 | Christine Hume | U15G | 22.44 |
| 58 | James Bodkin | U13 | 22.53 |
| 59 | Remi Loveridge | U13G | 22.59 |
| 60 | Amanda Mourant | W | 23.47 |
| 61 | Alan Roger | V | 23.51 |
| 62 | Andrew Ozanne | V | 24.41 |
| 63 | Martin Chapman | 24.50 | |
| 64 | Richard Setters | 24.50 | |
| 65 | Paul Setters | V | 24.50 |
| 66 | Colleen Le Noury | W | 25.09 |
| 67 | Danielle Merrien | U13G | 25.09 |
| 68 | Belinda Lanyon | VW | 27.03 |
| 69 | Holly Priaulx | U13G | 27.07 |
| 70 | Rob Carre | V | 27.07 |
| 71 | Samantha Falla | W | 28.00 |
| 72 | James Falla | 28.00 | |
| 73 | Jill Loveridge | W | 31.40 |