Shane DeGannes won his second BVI Half Marathon in a row today, November 30, 2013. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Ruth Ann David missed out on a new course record having made another wrong turn, but still came home well ahead of the female field. Photo: VINO

Conditions were described by some as perfect as rain and cloud swept across the course to keep the runners cool and free of the usual burning sun, but others felt the rain, the slick surface and the wind slowed down the times and made for a tricky early morning run.

However, Shane DeGannes led from start to finish and came home first. Ruth Ann David also made it two from two but for the second year in a row made an error, which probably cost her a new record time.

Guy Williamson was second followed by Thomas Hannah.

Katrina Crumpler followed Ann David across the line followed by Kathleen Brownsdon.

De Gannes was one who appreciated the conditions. “It was very helpful being kept cool by the rain and not having the sun beating you down on the way back. The wind was very calm too, but I really wish I could have run faster.”

DeGannes, who was happy with his win, had made an early mistake as had a few of the front runners, by turning too soon. “I got to the gas station and thought that was the roundabout. I looked on tried asking the Marshalls but got no real guidance. Having made the turn there I saw my time at the first mile I had run like 4.30 and knew that couldn’t be right. A policeman went to check with the Race Officials and I had to make up the missed miles.”

De Gannes, who has now won the last two BVI Half Marathons and really wants to come back and make it a hat trick, also felt sorry for the runners just behind him. “Positions 2 and 3 followed me on, but as a runner the first thing you learn is to run your own race. I was like dude, you should have been running your own race.”

Guy Williamson, who came second and was the first home for the BVI based runners, commented “I couldn’t have hoped for better conditions, but I didn’t know how far DeGannes was ahead of me. I ran a better second half and the course was fine, flat enough, but the blind turns on the coast road don’t help.”

Ruth Ann David had wanted to break the record, but also ran further than she had too with a confusion on where to turn around. “The race conditions were perfect, but the turnaround confusing, the water stops were excellent and the people amazing. I followed a couple of other runners past where I should have turned and it cost me 5 minutes on my time.”

Kay Reddy, Race Director, was very happy with the race. “It’s always a good event,” she said. “We had over a 100 turn out and it was a lot of fun.”

The youngest finisher was Stephano Tasking, who at just 12 was making his Half Marathon debut. “It was hard, but I’m super happy to finish. I just wanted to challenge myself and am happy with my performance.”