She won the women’s race in 35 min 31 sec, placing third overall and finishing just four seconds behind the second man.
Her time for the course, which includes La Pulente Hill, was eight seconds faster than her previous best – achieved on the flatter 10 km route from Jersey Pearl – and came as quite a surprise.
‘It’s such a tough course,’ she said on Monday morning.
‘It’s a killer.
I’m aching today.’ She found it hard work right from the start, but gradually started to feel better and, having allowed the two leading men to get away, was gaining ground at the end.
David Ibbotson won the race in 35.07, finishing 20 second ahead of Tim Rogers, with McGarry finishing just behind.
The first veterans were Nick Gorrod in 36.28 and Sarah Bruce in 40.07.
Making a return to racing after a long break, Ken White led the senior veteran men home in 36.51; and also showing that she’s back in business after injury was Barbara Parker, who was the first senior veteran women and third overall in the women’s race, in 41.18.
Fine conditions were enjoyed for the race which saw nearly 60 runners follow a route around the cycle track, then along the main road, down Mont à la Brune to the Five Mile Road, up La Pulente Hill and back along the Railway Walk.
It was the penultimate in a series of six, being organised by the Jersey Spartan Athletic Club, and in which club members have to complete a minimum of four to qualify.
Several places have already been decided, but some will depend on the final race, the 25 km from Corbière to Gorey on 6 March.
