At the front of field, Doyle and Dawes remained together, but though they entered the Harbor Hill together from the steep climb down Les Laches steps, Dawes emerged at the top clear of Doyle. “I knew he was going to break at any moment…and he did, it was just nice to have some company for part of the race” said Doyle. Dawes then increased his speed with a vengeance and finally finished comfortably to win in a time of 58:12 whilst Doyle was second in 61.05. This was Dawes’s fourth victory on this course and if he wins again next year he would match the record for the highest number victories achieved in the 26 years of Sark racing. The current record is 5 wins held by Guernsey’s Marcel Le Clerc. Both Dawes and Doyle will meet again in the Island games half marathon on June 1st in Rhodes, Greece. Doyle will represent Sark whilst Dawes will represent Guernsey. Pete Wickens finished third over in 63:25 additionally winning 1st Super Vet prize. First lady across the line was Bromwyn Rogers who finished fourth overall in a respectable time of 66:26; Rogers also took first Vet Lady. Another strong and encouraging run was produced by Ian Ozanne to finish fifth overall in 66:34 and Ozanne also took the first vet male category prize.

First Sark resident outside the top three was Kieran Rose who finished with a respectable time of 1:20:07. Just quicker was locally connected, Neal Teers in 1:19:19. Both Rose and Teers proved that they were capable of leaving plenty of competitors in their midst. Stocks Hotel employee Ryan Irvine finished his early shift to successfully complete the course in 1:44:27. Welcome visitors from Ireland and the UK included Hazel Huroter and Michael Pennington respectively. There were no representatives from Jersey, Alderney or Herm this year.

Children’s Races
The children’s race, a 2.5-mile course open to all age categories of 14 and under is fast and generally flat. The course is set out such that entrants all pass the start line half way round again allowing them (or their parents) the opportunity to withdraw if they feel the distance is too much. They rarely do! This year 37 children took part in what was an exceptionally well-paced race by all the junior athletes. This year’s race winner was 13-year-old Alex Falla in a very fast time of 14:06 (sub six minute mile pace). Alex led from the start and showed great pacing and running style as he steadily cruised to victory. Second place went to Megan Stewart aged 14. Stewart finished only 15 seconds behind Falla thus demonstrating her real natural ability as a runner. Last year’s winner, local boy Joel Armogie (12), managed third this year despite the age difference between himself, Stewart and Falla, and it is indeed commendable that these top three all managed the 2.5 miles in under 15 minutes. The junior field mirrored the adult races in terms of representation and included plenty of Sark resident children. First under 11 girl went to the local Hollie Couldridge with Alex Stewart taking the boys prize. Sam Elmont and Serena Brown placed first in the under 9 category whilst the under 7 category went to Brianna Southern and Guernsey’s Tom Stapley. Stapely’s run was superb at age just five but perhaps even more notable was the message sent out to the Bailiwick’s running community by Sark’s Jude Rose who completed the 2.5 mile course for the under 7 category at the tender age of 4.

Race organisers send special thanks to the staff of the Island Hall who served tea and food all day, to all the Marshals especially Charles Carre for co-coordinating the Little Sark clean up operation.