Lee Merrien’s brainchild has grown bigger than ever and further solidified its claim to being Guernsey’s most popular individual athletics event, attracting huge numbers, and this year amping up the atmosphere with live music from leading local school band Shockwave.

But the event remained the same at its core, testing kids ranging from primary students to Year 10 with cross-county racing around Footes Lane topped off by a variety of obstacles.

‘We were thrilled with the success of the 2026 Zedra X Challenge,’ Merrien said.

The lead organiser credited the live music for ‘bringing fantastic energy to the occasion’ and garnering a ‘really positive response’, while also highlighting the record turnout.

The London 2012 Olympian highlighted how important cross-country was in his own athletic development.

‘Cross-country has always had a special place for me as it’s essentially the area of the sport that gave my first break and indeed a positive experience – albeit some years ago now.

‘I hear many comments from adults about unpleasant memories of their school cross-country days and we are trying to change that for the current crop.

‘The sport is no doubt a challenge. We don’t try to shy away from that, but I do think it can be both challenging and rewarding and, dare I say, even a little bit fun at times.’

The record turnout included 162 in the two primary schools’ scoring races, together with around 300 in the fun run and 260 in the four secondary events.

In the primary boys, St Martin’s displayed great strength in depth with their four counting members covering seventh to 11th.

With 36 points, they topped the table from Blanchelande’s 45 and Elizabeth College Juniors’ 61.

La Mare de Carteret’s Harry Taylor had taken the individual crown.

A similarly deep La Houguette took the primary girls’ recognition on 40 points, just five ahead of a Blanchelande side headed by individual winner Annabella Pikett.

Melrose Mud Dashers placed third on 63 points.

Elizabeth College turned it up a notch in the Year 7 to 8 boys’ race as their Joshua Garland, Edwin Littlewood and Jesse Willis completely shut their opponents out of the podium positions.

They triumphed with 15 points, followed by Blanchelande on 41 and Les Beaucamps High on 44.

Winner Rosie Le Page headed some very tight packing from The Ladies’ College in the Year 7 to 8 girls, getting their whole counting four in the top six for a total score of just 14.

Les Varendes High followed distantly on 51 and Blanchelande edged third on 57, a mere point clear of Elizabeth College.

St Sampson’s High got four in the top seven of the Year 9 and 10 boys’ race and that was enough to win on 22 points.

At the bottom of the age group, Les Beaucamps’ Paul Friedrich proved an impressive individual winner and helped his team edge runner-up on 32, one clear of an Elizabeth College team headed by second finisher Toby Blake.

An Amity Horton and Jeannie Little one-two spearheaded a superb showing from The Ladies’ College, who had no fewer than six top-10 finishers.

Their counting four carded an impressive 14 to dominate from the 47 of St Sampson’s High and 50 of Blanchelande.