Wilesmith takes the win and the crow

MIKE WILESMITH is this season's FNB Winter crossLeague champion and there never seemed any chance of him slipping up in the final event on Saturday at the new Home Farm centred course.

Wilesmith eased to victory by almost a minute from young George Mason who enjoyed a 40sec. advantage on third-placed Louise Perrio by the end of the six-lap event.

With Steve Dawes away racing in the UK, the path was clear for Wilesmith, the 2011 Island Games half-marathon bronze medallist, to break the former's long run of winter league crown titles.

Wilesmith, pictured, has spent much of 2012 injured but there is little doubt he is now back in business and in the sort of shape which will make him a contender again over 13 miles in Bermuda next summer.