On the eve of being named in the Faroe Islands 2027 triathlon team announcement, and four weeks after mounting the best challenge in years to the Val des Terres cycling record, the resurgent multi-sporter was striding to solo victory in the 15-mile Dogbreaker cliff run.
His 1hr 50min. 23sec. winning time led a significant shake-up of the all-time lists that also included a triumphant Katie Birch climbing to fourth on the women’s ranking.
The race runs from South Esplanade to the Fairy Ring, covering the length of Guernsey’s rugged cliffs, with a chilly but favourably directed breeze along the way.
Le Cheminant had gone in with limited run training and favouring a more conservative approach than previously.
‘I wasn’t really going to run this event at all,’ the winner admitted.
‘And then I signed up a couple of weeks before and was like, “Oh, let’s see how it goes”.’
Aiming simply at the coveted 2hr barrier, he began pulling away from the other front-runners just as they hit the cliffs.
‘I’ve always run off really hard and blown myself up halfway through an event, so this year I wanted to start steady and build into it,’ he added.
‘I started off with everyone else and ran a few people back, and as soon as we got to the top of Cow’s Horn, I just went in front and started pushing the pace a little bit.
‘That’s when I got in front and I was just like, I feel comfortable, so I’m just going to run at my own pace and just see how long I can keep that up for.’
Le Cheminant claims to have been unaware what kind of time he was on for. He continued to feel comfortable until Les Tielles, but he soon heard from his dad, Glen, about his projected time, and he managed a strong late push. The result puts him 11th on the Guernsey all-time list.
Behind him was unfolding a close duel for second between veteran Matt Jamieson and Priaulx League footballer George Mason.
The elastic did not snap until the closing mile, where Jamieson finally shook off his opponent and came home a notable runner-up.
Months from his 50th birthday, he became the oldest competitor ever to break 2hrs, and by no small margin.
He reached the finish clock with his own huge PB of 1-55-22, leading in Mason by 17sec.
Their results put them 18th and 19th on the Guernsey all-time list.
Hybrid athlete Petr Cisarik ran a lonelier race to post 1-59-46 and also break the coveted barrier.
However, 2024 winner Ben Langlois proved less fortunate, striding home with a new PB but critically outside his target with a 2-00-46.
Cyclists Mike Serafin (2-04-36) and Jack Reed (2-05-58) filled the next two positions after overtaking veteran Andrew Zabiela (2-06-58) in the second half.
Having broken onto the Guernsey distance running scene with her victory in the equivalent race last October, Birch came back significantly stronger this time.
The triathlete and fitness racer ultimately finished 12th overall in 2-11-48, which was an improvement of 14-25 on her previous marker.
She concluded her long and generally unaccompanied, albeit well-supported, race with a fierce sprint and a sense of elation.
‘I’m absolutely thrilled with everything about this run,’ she said.
‘I can’t believe I managed to take nearly 15min. off last year’s time, and moving into fourth on the all-time leaderboard is just amazing.
‘We were so lucky with the weather, with perfect conditions out there, and I’m so happy I felt strong the whole way round.
‘The cliffs really are my happy place, so I just loved every minute of it.’
Janette Shepherd still holds the women’s record with her 2-04-01 run from 1994 and, aside from Louise Perrio, no other athlete has got within 5min. of it.
Also a regular face in triathlon events, veteran Amy Woollaston took second woman and her time of 2-33-35 was good enough for 15th on the all-time list.
She had gone out conservatively and ran a strong second half to pick off several runners, including Susie Armstrong, who finished third woman in 2-34-58.
Armstrong’s time lands her 18th on the women’s all-time list.
