Returning runners will be among favourites again
THE ‘mainlanders’ are ready for their annual raid on the Boxing Day Cross-Country.
Unlike other domestic winter cross-country fixtures, the traditional 4.75-miler around L’Ancresse has been dominated by Guernsey athletes returning from UK bases in recent years, with Lee Merrien in 2017 being the last local resident to triumph.
But this podium could have another new look to it, with Edinburgh University’s Chris Bain having recently stormed into second on Guernsey’s all-time 10km list after posting 30min. 16sec. in Telford.
Last year’s runner-up therefore takes elevated status, while Bath University graduate Richard Bartram was absent in 2023 but returns with a fast 10km PB of his own from Telford.
‘People returning from their UK base normally perform very well in the Boxing Day Run,’ endurance stalwart Paul Ingrouille said.
‘In the last few years, athletes such as Dan Galpin and particularly Alex Rowe have had a very good record.
‘On current form ... we would expect that Richard Bartram and Chris Bain are going to be challenging for the win, I would’ve thought.’
Among the women, Nix Petit is the most prolific cross-country winner of recent seasons and could make it an individual three-peat in this event.
But she is returning from illness and, in addition to the established local names, the Bristol University-based Eloise Scholes could feature strongly.
‘It’s quite open, really,’ Ingrouille added.
‘It will be interesting to see how Eloise Scholes runs, because she’s training quite hard at university.’
Entries are still open until 5pm on Christmas Day via https://guernseyathletics.org.gg/events/boxing-day-xc-full-course.
Action starts from Rocque Balan at 11am the next morning.
