RACE PREVIEWS
by Pete Sargent (Newquay Road Runners)

 

TREGGY 7 RACE PREVIEW.

This weekend, Sunday September 6th sees the 12th round of the Cornwall Glass & Glazing Company sponsored Grand Prix Series, when Launceston Road Runners stage their Treggy 7 mile road race.

As of today almost 400 runners have entered, including a large contingent from the Devon based Teignbridge Trotters.

Competitors can look forward to a fairly fast undulating course, but be aware of the one particularly nasty climb around the 4 mile mark. You should also bear in mind that the first mile or so will also be your last mile, but obviously in the opposite direction.

The race starts at 11am.

 

INDIAN QUEENS HALF MARATHON - Sunday 2nd August 2009. 10am Start.

 This weekend, 27 years ago, around 70 runners set off from the recreation field in St Columb Road taking part in the first ever Indian Queens Half Marathon. The race was organised then by the Indian Queens Youth & Leisure Committee. Several of those members are still involved today, but the "local squire" of St Columb, Kevin Burnett, with assistance from the Newquay Road Runners is now at the helm.

Back in the eighties, it didn't matter too much where you ran on a Sunday morning, as there was very little traffic to worry about then, but over the years, the subsequent increase resulted in a few variations to the route.However, last year saw a completely new course used for the first time. The opening of the long awaited Indian Queens bypass resulted in new paths and trails in the area becoming available for the race organisers to use, and didn’t this prove to be popular. With hardly a hill in site, over 460 runners flocked to Queens to sample the new course, and the general feedback was that it was a huge success, This appears to be well founded, as so far, with a couple of days to go to race day, over 500 entries have been received already for Sundays race

Unlike the old days, runners now have to run at least 13.1 miles - the original course was measured in a car - as was the norm then - and subsequently found by yours truly when officially measured to be well short of the required distance, which helps explain some of the rather quick times recorded in those days. Although the race is now officially classified as a multi terrain race, and therefore does not require an "official" measurement, Sundays race distance will be the full 13.1 miles.

A quick glance through the pre entries shows that the recent battles between Cornwall AC, s Dave Buzza and Tavistock AC star Jim Cole will be resumed, but one to watch out for may well be Kevin Toher, who will be making his debut for the Newquay Road Runners. Sadly, local star Shaun Milford has indicated that he wont be taking part, but a couple of ancient stalwarts from that first Queens Half back in 1983, namely Mike Kestle and Ron Shapland both plan on taking part.

Despite the recent spell of wet weather, "Elsie", NRR, s new resident meteorological expert has promised us some normal Queens weather, ie plenty of nice warm sunshine.

For full race details and information re car parking etc, please see elsewhere on this website.

 

 

LAUNCESTON HALF MARATHON RACE PREVIEW.

 

Races continue to come thick and fast now in the Cornwall Glass & Glazing Company sponsored Cornish Grand Prix series. 


This weekend,Sunday July 5th, Dave Gordon and his dedicated group at the Kernow Runners hold their annual half marathon, generally regarded as one of the toughest halfs to be encountered anywhere. While there are one or two typical Cornish hills around the course, the real sting in the tail is in the final couple of miles, where competitors face the long steep climb back into the town.

 

If you care to admire the scenery when running around the 11 mile mark, you can catch an excellent view of the towns castle perched high on top of the hill amongst the clouds....and towards where you are heading !! But don't let this put you off, this is another one of the excellently organised Cornish races.


Well, it may still be probably the toughest half marathon in the South West and known as "The Beast", but it is certainly not putting people off a Sunday morning confrontation with him.


Just a few days before the race, over 300 runners have signed up to tackle him, {see latest update of entries }, including recent Cubert 5 winner Jim Cole from Tavistock A.C. Fortunately, this past weeks very hot and humid weather looks as if it will be gone by Sunday, with much fresher and cooler conditions forecast.


The race starts from Coronation Park, Launceston at 10-30am.

 

STICKER 5 MILE PREVIEW SATURDAY JUNE 20TH

 All roads lead to the home of Sticker F.C. on Saturday afternoon for the clubs annual 5-mile road race and 1 mile fun run. The race incorporates Round 7 of The Cornwall Glass & Glazing Company Grand Prix Series.

 With St Austell R.C, who help organise the event, aiming to enter more than 100 members in the race, there should almost certainly be a record field again this year, easily surpassing last year’s figure of 402 finishers.  To date just a few short of “quite a lot” of entries are already in. {OK, I shall have an up to date figure by Sunday evening}

 Amongst the entries already received is that of Newquay Road Runner Ollie Gibson, who romped home a clear winner here twelve months ago. Whether he has recovered from his exploits in the recent Edinburgh Marathon remain to be seen, but you would still expect a strong challenge from “longsocks.”  Cornwall A.Cs Dave Buzza also enjoys this course, and he will be looking to gain revenge for his defeat here last year.  Could be close.

 After several years of inclement weather here on race night, hopefully we shall see a bit of “Cubert” weather for a change.

  The race starts at 6-30pm, (Fun run 5-15pm) and dont forget all the post race entertainment that has been laid on to round the evening off.

 

 

TREVORNICK 10 PREVIEW

RECENT UPDATE - 

Entries were received today from two of the countries leading veteran long distance runners, namely Dave Buzza and Shaun Milford. Neither will have things all their own way come Sunday though, as youngster Pete Devenport, surprise runner-up in yesterdays An Resek Hellys will also be on the start line.

The first three in both the mens and ladies race all receive a pair of "top of the range" Salomon Trail shoes, courtesy of Rob Burnham at the Extreme Store, Watergate Bay.

All finishers of the race will also require a strong pair of arms to carry their goody bags home. St Austell Brewery have advised us today, that not only will all finishers receive a free pint of their "Tribute" at the bar, but there will also be a can of "Tribute" in all Goody Bags, alongside loads of other "goodies"

 
"Plans are now well advanced for the Trevornick 10 mile multi terrain race which will take place on Sunday April 5th. This new event, organised by the Newquay Road Runners, will be part of the Cornwall Glass and Glazing Grand Prix series. The race will take place on Cubert Common and National Trust land overlooking Holywell Bay near Newquay, where competitors can look forward to one of the most picturesque courses in the United Kingdom and certainly one of the toughest on the Cornish G.P. circuit.
 
The Race Headquarters will be based at the nearby Trevornick Holiday Park, where competitors will find ample car parking near by, changing facilities, together with a licenced bar and refreshments.
 
Race Director Pete Sargent says "A huge amount of work and planning has gone into this event during the past six months.Thanks to Trevornick Holiday Park and several other local bussiness.s, we are able to offer an extensive prize list, and all finishers will receive a quality goody bag, which will include an engraved wine glass. The St Austell Brewery, in conjunction with the St Austell Charitable Trust will also be rewarding all finishers with a pint of "Tribute"  With a field in excess of 400 runners expected, in addition to club members, we have enlisted the assistance of the Cornwall Search and Rescue Team and the local Air Training Cadets to ensure that everyone will be well looked after."
 
For full details and information, together with entry forms,  course description etcvisit the dedicated Trevornick section on www.newquayroadrunners.co.uk, or by phone 01637 830382."

 

DUCHY MARATHON & 20 MILE - Sunday 8th March 2009
The 33rd running of the Duchy Marathon, organised by Cornwall Athleteic Club, takes place on Sunday March 8th, and is the 3rd race of the Cornwall Road Running Grand Prix series, sponsored this year by the Cornwall Glass & Glazing Company. The race starts at 10-30am, and any late entries will be accepted on the day from 8am onwards.
The race these days takes place over a "runner friendly" two lap course, starting and finishing at the Penventon Park Hotel at Redruth. Long gone are the infamous hills associated with the Duchy of years gone by.
This latest course, first used in 2000, is best described as "gently undulating", with the first climb of any note around the 7 mile mark, (and 19 mile on the second lap). There is then another longish uphill section around the 9 mile mark, which doesn't seem too bad the first time round, but around the 21mile mark second time round, seems to have suddenly become much longer and steeper.
Also starting at the same time, will be the Duchy 20 mile run, which offers an ideal opportunity of a long training run for anyone preparing for a spring marathon. The course comprises of the same opening 13 miles or so of the marathon course, but the runners then do a separate half mile "out and back" stretch, and again join in with the marathon runners. Around the 15.5 mile mark, they then take a "short cut" and rejoin the marathon course at the 22 mile mark, and then proceed to the finish at the Penventon.
Last year saw the first Penventon Pasta Party, open to all runners and friends on the evening prior to the race. Here, runners can pick up their race numbers, and late entries for both events will also be accepted.
Full details of the marathon, the 20 miler, the Pasta Party, and the near 400  race entries received to date, can be found elsewhere on this site. Included amongst the marathon entries is last years winner Newquay star, Ollie longsocks Gibson, who is currently training hard for the forthcoming Edinburgh Marathon.
 

 

RACE PREVIEWS 2009

Before my first preview of 2009, myself and Jan would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the coming year, stay fit and healthy, and enjoy your running. 

Hopefully, you all know what you would like to achieve during the coming twelve months. If not, set yourself some targets now. If you fail to reach your target, then remember my own personal motto, " It is far, far better to have tried and failed, than not to have tried at all" 

From a personal point of view, I hope to jog round slowly on a few of the shorter distance races, just take one day at a time and see what happens.
BLAYTHORNE 10 MILE PREVIEW.
First race up in the  2009  Grand Prix series - now sponsored by the Cornwall Glass and Glazing Company, will be the Blaythorne 10 miler, organised by the Carn Runners at Camborne. This now traditional curtain raiser takes place on Sunday Jan 18th .
 For those who have never done this race, the opening mile is usually very quick, with all of it downhill. And yes, as you would expect, most of the next half a mile or so is all uphill. After that, its pretty gentle for a few miles , until a longish steady climb to the half way point, prior to Leedstown. You then have at least four miles good running ground, including that hill you ran up after the first mile. All thats left then is the final three quarters of a mile, which is a bit of a drag.
For all your race day information, and directions to the Race Venue, go to  http://www.carnrunners.co.uk/1144_1207.php
 
Good luck.
 
PRS.