Dawes blocks Rowe's path to ninth title

GUERNSEY'S senior men are eyeing a 13th straight win in tomorrow's Digimap cross-country inter-insular at Les Quennevais. And one man who has been a linchpin of this glorious period for GIAAC distance running is gunning for a ninth individual title as the perfect fillip before he heads off to Australia on 1 March for the Commonwealth Games.

Alan Rowe starts favourite for the 9km race on a course of paths and sand dunes near to the Les Quennevais sports complex.

Rowe himself is not so sure, though, and expects his protege, Steve Dawes, not only to push him hard but perhaps even take his first CI title.

'I think Steve is the man to watch. He's the man in form.

'If he rises to the challenge, there's no reason why he should not beat me,' said the newly-qualified veteran.

Rowe is in good form himself and keen to take advantage of Lee Merrien's absence.

'Everything's pointed in the right direction,' he said with reference to his preparations for the Commonwealth Games triathlon.

'My running seems strong.'

GIAAC distance rep. Geoff King said he was confident that the men would maintain their grip on the trophy not only this year but in seasons to come.

'We've got a pretty strong team and we're confident despite missing the two Lees.'

Merrien is putting the finishing touches to his Games 1,500m preparations while Lee Garland is already down under where he won the Otago steeplechase championships.

King is pleased to see Mark Mercier make his senior bow and predicts him to finish as high as third.

'Mark's arrival at this level is just the starting point and I hope to see a whole stream of juniors coming through after him.'

King said the women's match was closer to call.

'It's been really close the last three or four years although we've won it the last two.

'It's probably a better-quality race than the men.'

Including juniors, GIAAC take a party of nearly 50 runners over for the match, but their grip on the majority of the age-group trophies is threatened by the absence of a few key athletes.

Danny Carre, the CI's outstanding under-15 runner, has broken a bone in his foot and is ruled out for the remainder of the winter season.

Kelly Loveridge is unwell and Samantha Falla's injury-ravaged winter continues.

GIAAC won nine of the 12 team trophies in 2005.