But it might be harder to predict exactly what the finishing order will consist of up front in the traditional 4.75-mile ‘Full Course’ at L’Ancresse.
Even with champion Chris Bain sidelined, the usual cohort of Guernsey ‘mainlanders’ returning for the Christmas holidays remain poised to upstage the locally-based athletes that have led the way in the mainline CA Duquemin Cross-Country Series.
After all, the last island-based winner was Lee Merrien eight years ago.
‘It should be interesting,’ endurance stalwart Paul Ingrouille said.
‘We’ve got the normal mix of locally-based runners in good form and returning university or former Guernsey athletes that have come back for Christmas.’
Cardiff University student Jack Rees is in fantastic form, which he showed with his triumphant run at the Guernsey Athletics Club Championships earlier this month, but Richard Bartram and Sammy Galpin are also joining the fold after both narrowly missing out on individual medals at the Orkney 2025 Island Games.
The women’s race also appears harder to call than last year.
Nix Dobson stands as the reigning champion but the scene around her has seen plenty of movement, not least from the in-form Eloise Scholes and club champion Eleanor Jamieson.
‘On the women’s side, we are expecting it to be more of a locally-based competition,’ Ingrouille added.
‘Most of the people you would expect to contend have gone through a bit of a period of illness, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.’
The mixed-terrain race doubles as a significant tester in the build-up to the Hampshire Cross-Country Championships, which will take place on the early date of Saturday 3 January 2026.
Friday’s action starts from Rocque Balan at 11am.
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