The 26th S.A.R.K. 10 - May 2007
This years Sark races proved a perfect day out for all involved this year with beautiful clear blue skies and lovely sunshine. ” Good weather had been a long time coming after the last few drizzly occasions,” said race organiser, Mike Doyle.The number of entries though lower than many previous years, comprised of a happy mix of local residents, visitors and Guernsey based runners. With fantastic weather and excellent island hall facilities the atmosphere was made both friendly and enjoyable.
Sark 10
The Sark 10 miler, which is virtually a one lap round island tour following various roadways and coastal paths, is perhaps one of the most scenic annual races in the British Isles. Runners head out for the Silver Mines area of Little Sark across the 300 ft high La Coupee which they must cross again to return back to “Big” Sark. They then traverse the cliff paths to Dixcart Valley where they find themselves entering a shaded wood. After further twists and turns they find themselves fighting their way up the path along the Harbor Hill at the top of which they are at the 6-mile point. Despite its beauty, it is a very tough course and those who come unfit usually suffer in the final miles where runners are guided out to the North of the Island before a long flat run for the last mile and finish at the school playing fields. This superb course takes the race organiser 10 hours to mark and involves many marshals. After a seven minute course briefing the race was started at noon by local fire officer Alan Blythe. 43 eager competitors set off, five of whom elected to run a shorter 5k course. The Sark 10 is open only to competitors over the age of 17 and so the 5k is an option for those wishing to take part but who are not yet eligible by age or who may for other reasons wish to run a shorter distance. Within minutes the two leaders, Mike Doyle and Steve Dawes were striding away from the rest of the pack with Pete Wickens, Bromwyn Rogers and Ian Ozanne close behind.Meanwhile, the 5k runners had separated and were starting to create their own battles. David Holmes had taken the lead but close behind and intent on not letting Holmes go was the much younger William Bodkin. Holmes, the Island Games senior triathlete hopeful, had to make what was his third pace injection well after the half way point to finally put some distance between himself and the 15 year old Bodkin who eventually finished 2nd just 17 seconds behind Holmes in a superb time of 17:13. Sarah Mercier and Sally Lamb finished the 5k in third and fifth places respectively whilst Andy Walker took fourth spot. The 5k winning time by Holmes was 16:56.Back in the main race, Doyle and Dawes were running at sub 6 minute mile pace together as they emerged back across La Coupee 23 minutes from the start and by now well clear of their closest contender, the legendary Pete Wickens. Further down the field it was becoming clear that Bromwyn Rogers was having a strong run as she kept the in-form Ian Ozanne well within her sights. Further back Alun Williams and others were really enjoying the course whilst some, though suffering, were battling along bravely. Local resident Alex Magel was on his way to a 1.44.34 finish some 15 minutes quicker than his target of 2 hours whilst the final finisher of the day Val Sexton achieved her goal by simply finishing in spite of her current injury problems.
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.