GIAAC / Jones and Partners Winter League Race 5
5 Mile Road Race ­ Talbot Valley Loop
10th March 2002

Steve Dawes clinched the 2002 GIAAC / Jones and Partners winter series but had to give way to Francis Kehoe in the series' penultimate event a 5 Mile Road Race held over a hilly Talbot Valley course

After a steady return from a long layoff it was Kehoe¹s first race victory for over two years. Gordon Mercier also crept past the series winner to gain second.

After a superb start to 2002 Dawes is admitting to race tiredness and may well take a break before returning to track competition later in the year. He got the race off to a fast start and led the field from the last Post start line down through Talbot Valley to the Kings Mills two mile mark.

Kehoe and Mercier were never far behind and caught Dawes on the run past Fleur de Jardin to St. Saviours Hill. It was on this gruelling climb that the race was decided and, as the trio neared the three mile mark at the top of the Hill, Kehoe drew clear. Kehoe eventually crossed the Vauxbalets finish line 13 seconds clear of Mercier in 29 minutes 24 seconds.

Gail Merrien was the leading woman, clocking a respectable 35 minutes 6 seconds to finish 17th of the 35 finishers.

With just one race remaining, the Vazon road mile, there are clear leaders in all 5 Jones and Partners Divisions but the short distance nature of the final race can often throw up a few surprises.

Division 1
1 Stephen Dawes 79
2 Gorden Mercier 77
3 Keith Gallienne68

Division 2
1 Eddie Higgins 80
2 John Addy 76
3 Phil Guilbert 73

Division 3
1 Ashley Spencer 79
2 Brian Johnson 74
3 Caroline Wickham 70

Division 4
1 Philip Touzeau 80
2 Kevin Le Noury 75
3 Jenny Elliott 71

Division 5
1 Alison Jefferies 80
2 Bob Carre 74
3 Andrew Ozanne 65