Priest and McCarthy make light of heavy ground to win titles
THE tough going of Les Norgiots claimed a few victims in Saturday’s FNB Cross-Country Championships but in-form James Priest was not one of them.
Priest won the men’s club title and, in doing so, the recently-crowned local series champion sealed the second part of a fine domestic cross-country double.
He had Carl Holden and Dan Galpin for company in the early stages of the rolling seven-miler – chosen to simulate the course for the upcoming Hampshire championships – as pouring rain added to the challenge of the tricky St Andrew’s course.
Northampton-based Galpin was a welcome return back to the local scene and the fastest runner on paper, but a recent bout of flu did not play into his race plans.
All this meant that ‘Priesty’ dominated once again despite the augmented competition.
‘This was one of my best races yet,’ he said afterwards.
‘I’m really pleased I’ve won the title – I knew it was going to be tough because there were some good people out racing today who haven’t taken part in the series.’
Few would have tipped Laura McCarthy for the women’s crown as she lined up alongside long-standing endurance stalwart Louise Perrio.
But this time the emerging runner shone through, clearly finding the terrain to her liking and at full flow on the downhill stretches as she came home in 33-17 – over a minute clear of Perrio.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
