It proved a very good Friday indeed for Jersey U20 Luke Holmes, who lowered the outright course record for the L’Eree to Vazon route, and for Louise Small, as she pinched the women’s mark from Olympian and Aldershot ally Steph Twell.
But there was also plenty of joy for the locals, especially in Eloise Scholes breaking the Guernsey women’s 5km road record, and Jack Rees claiming second on the men’s all-time list.
Rainy weather did not stop a 240-strong field racing the festival’s opening event, where the accompanying winds proved a blessing in disguise – they boosted runners most of the way.
Elite junior triathlete Holmes put down a searing second kilometre to gap the opposition, before striding to a new course record of 14min. 15sec.
Fellow Jersey U20 Bradley Andrews-Callec secured runner-up in 14-27, matching the previous record of Scottish athlete Callum Tharme, who on the day followed another 15sec. behind.
Coming home fourth was recent Eastleigh 10km winner Jack Rees, whose 14-46 earned him the domestic bragging rights in a time that has also only ever been topped by record-holder Chris Bain among Sarnians on the road.
Among the main bunch of home athletes, emerging duathlete Louis Le Cheminant (15-22), George Mason (15-23) and Harry Nimmo (15-24) all ran significant personal bests.
Triathlete Ethan Woodhead edged down his own PB to 15-30 to lead in eye-catching runs from Guernsey middle-distance specialists Gian-Luca Robilliard (15-36) and Jack Le Tissier (15-39).
Notable age-group results included U13 Paul Friedrich running a stunning 16-09 and Toby Mann taking veterans' honours another 5sec. back.
Among the women, Small had proved unassailable in flying to a course record of 15-44 and becoming the first female to break the 16min. barrier.
Less than two months after her outstanding Barcelona Half of 70-19 and preparing for her next assault on the full marathon distance, she had no significant rivalry but the clock, and her time also represented a 15sec. road PB.
‘I’m over the moon, especially as it’s Steph’s course record, like a three-time Olympian – to beat that is amazing,’ Small said.
‘I was in the car with her on the way out and she was like “You’re going to get my course record”, so she was totally supporting me.
‘But I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. I’m in the middle of marathon training so, you know, you’ve got tired legs and you’re doing a lot of miles, but I’m really happy to have got a PB.’
Small, who has now left her teaching job to focus on running and coaching, is well up for a Parkrun and Full Course double this morning.
‘I do really like the cross-country – it takes me back to when I was younger and doing cross-country – but I’m really looking forward to all of it.
‘We’re going to throw in the Parkrun as well. Five events, why not?’
U23 Scholes ran a well-measured race to post a huge PB of 16-32, which also slashed 6sec. from Sarah Roe’s Guernsey road record from 2019.
She is now within 3sec. of Roe’s outright best from the track.
Nat Whitty also impressed in posting exactly 17min. and moving up to third on the island’s road list.
A new face to the festival, Scottish athlete Zoe Pflug was next woman home in 17-18.
Nix Dobson finished not far outside her PB in 18-03, while Ulrike Maisch followed another 8sec. later for veteran honours.
