Lewis prepares for one ‘half’ by winning another

It was not until earlier in the week that the UK-based triathlon ace caved in to temptation and booked his trip across the water, but the unfamiliarity of a standalone 13.1-mile race did not stop him from taking top honours in a roughly 600-strong field.

Among the women, multiple winner Ulrike Maisch extended her list of triumphs with no real pressure.

But en route to taking overall victory in an impressive 71min. 31sec. chip time, Lewis had to defy a lack of specific race experience to deny Guernsey’s two leading specialist runners.

With James Priest and Will Bodkin being that home duo, guessing who would land on the podium was no huge challenge – but in what order?

Reigning champion Bodkin had spent his last three weeks struggling with injury and hence was an unknown quantity, but it soon became apparent that the real battle would be between the other two.

As runners streamed off the L’Eree start line, a moderate tailwind made for fast going for the opening nine miles along the west coast.

Certainty, Lewis and Priest’s 5-06 opening mile split made an impressive opening statement, but gapping each other proved somewhat more difficult.

Lewis made a small break near Vazon, before Priest closed him down and pushed on near Vale Church at half-way, establishing an advantage of his own.

But Priest’s lead stagnated and then reversed when an untimely stitch struck in the last three miles.

As Lewis strode clear to the Crown Pier finish, Priest held on to shatter his dated personal best, clocking 72-00. Bodkin took third another 2-19 back.

‘It’s good to be racing on Guernsey,’ a pleased Lewis said.

‘I don’t really ever get the chance to, just because of living in the UK, living in Wales, so yeah, really nice to have the support out there and just be among the locals, to be honest.’

Indeed, Lewis approached the race as a run-out before another ‘half’ – the professional Challenge Salou Half-Ironman in Spain, taking place this Sunday.

But Lewis described his run as ‘solid’ nonetheless.

‘I thought I was in roughly that shape, but it’s really hard to tell, just because the conditions are different, the courses are different,’ he added.

‘James Priest had a fantastic race today – it was a bit unfortunate in the back end he got a bit of a stitch, but he was really good to keep me honest.’

The fourth position eventually went to Luke Richards, who posted a big PB of 75-18, but not without a courageous challenge from Peter Amy.

Barely a year ago, a cancer-ridden Amy was having a major spinal operation, done to save his life but with a realistic risk that he may not walk again.

But here he was back on the start line, leading Richards for a good portion of the way before finishing in 75-29.

Remarkably, that was only 1-31 outside his PB – and also earned Amy, now 41, the honour of top veteran.

The triathlon theme persisted as Mat Dorrian, a multiple Granite Man champion, edged sixth from current holder Chris Norman. Norman posted 79-00 – not bad when said Granite Man victory happened a week prior.

In 19th overall, Maisch ran 84-36 for her fourth domestic half marathon title.

The 2006 European marathon champion, now in her veteran years, used the honed pacing skills of Tom Shaw and Danny Blake to draw away steadily from her nearest rivals.

Runner-up Mel Nicolle ran solidly to fall just on the wrong side of the 90min. barrier – 13sec. over on this occasion – while Vanessa King completed the women’s podium in 92-54.

Meanwhile, the improving Sarah Eagles finished fourth in 94-30, capitalising on a friendly pace-making stint from women’s champion Jenny James.

But Maisch’s lasting quality proved too much for the rest, even if she admitted to a few struggles in the late miles.

‘I had a little group ... they pushed it a bit hard, and I was like, “slow down, slow down”,’ she said.

‘So the last 5k, against the wind, I ran on my own, which was really hard and I lost a bit of time.

‘But in the end, I’m really happy about the time, and place of course.’