Although Eloise Scholes emerged an extremely predictable victor in the CA Duquemin Cross-Country Series opener at a blustery Delancey Park, her middle-distance training ally – who ran the steeplechase at Guernsey 2023 – was just one of potentially seven quality athletes vying for outright victory. It was also three years since his last cross-country outing.
This competitive depth was particularly apparent on the first of the three roughly mile-long laps, which featured constant changes in overall leadership and positions among these contenders.
Mikey Ingrouille led through the lap point, only to be passed promptly by James Priest, with the eventual winner poised among them in a breakaway trio.
Winchester University alumnus Le Tissier then gapped his rivals using the steep hill a third of the way through the circuit, ending lap two with a roughly 7sec. lead.
He strode to victory in 17min. 41sec. for the 5km (3.1-mile) course, but was chased to the end by 13-year-old Paul Friedrich, who stormed in just 5sec. behind.
Friedrich had taken the figurative bell tucked behind Island Games distance runner Priest, who ultimately settled for third in 17-57.
‘I’m very happy with that,’ Le Tissier said.
‘I expected to be in and about the winners, but my plan was just to stick with the front group for maybe two laps and take it on the last lap if I can.’
Having surged ahead earlier than anticipated and taken a great win, he now hopes to chase a series title – even if his staying power could be tested.
‘I feel like I’ve got to now – I’ve won the first race – but when it gets to the six-mile cross-country, that’s when maybe “Priesty” will start edging me,’ he added.
‘I think I’ve got to do it as a training stimulus. On a Saturday I’d only be doing another cross-country session, so I think I’ll stick with the series.’
He will also be racing with one eye on next year’s Island Games.
After the disappointment of not medalling in 2023, and the pain of missing Orkney 2025, he is hungrily eyeing the 800m and 1,500m at the Faroe Islands 2027.
‘After missing it last year, and seeing all my friends and all my teammates doing so well, I think I’ve really got an impetus to go and not just take part but to be competitive and fight for medals.’
Butterfield Half Marathon winner Richard Williams took fourth and veteran honours in 18-04, while Gian-Luca Robilliard (18-13) just stayed clear of a charging Ingrouille (18-14) in the final push for the line.
U18 James Stafford-Bell (18-15) and V45 Matt Jamieson (18-18) followed fast, with Tom Nichols and Freddie Furley – a promising junior triathlete who had led for a good chunk of the first lap – completing the top 10.
Reigning champion Scholes was never pressured among the women, with the few capable of tracking her either absent or mere spectators after their recent successes in longer road races. She finished 27th overall in 20-22 for a promising start to her title defence.
In a repeat of the men’s race, a 13-year-old took second spot, in this case Erin Greenfield with her 21-43 finish.
The previous age-group Hampshire champion made a gap on the last lap over fellow junior Grace King, who placed third 7sec. behind.
Susie Armstrong came in fourth in 21-59 as Eve Bott rounded out the top five in 22-37, less than a week after her winning efforts in the Coastal Chaos obstacle course race.
