RACE REVIEWS
by Pete Sargent (Newquay Road Runners)
NEWQUAY 10k - 7th October
2007
The Newquay 10k turned out to be a marvellous
and profitable day for runners representing Cornwall Athletic
Club. Top individual honours went to Dave Buzza and Jo Friday, who
both picked up £125 worth of prizes by winning their respective
races, and both breaking the course record times in doing so. And
not so far behind them their team mates were providing excellent
support, as C.A.C. also scooped both the men's and ladies team
titles.
The early stages of the men's race saw Buzza,
alongside team mates Noel Kindon, Matt Pullen and John Keast
together with University of Plymouth runner Chris Jones gradually
moving clear of the rest. Approaching the 2 mile mark it was Kindon
who then started to edge clear, with both Buzza and Pullen some ten
to fifteen metres adrift. On the long straight approaching the
half way mark, Pullen then slowly but surely started to reign in
Kindon, and at the same time taking Buzza with him. Having made the
effort though to get back to the leader, it was then Pullen who was
first to feel the pace, leaving Kindon and Buzza to battle it out to
the end. Finally, with less than half a mile to go, Buzza eventually
broke Kindon to record a very hard earned win in a new course record
time of 32 mins 57 secs, 21 seconds inside the record time set by
team mate Ollie Shilson last year.
Second place went to Kindon, who just managed to
withstand a further late challenge from Pullen.
These three, together with Jon Keast in 5th, Matt
Lewis 9th and Shaun Tozer 12th saw C.A.C. comfortable winners of the
team prize ahead of Hayle and Newquay.
In the ladies race, Jo Friday continued her
excellent run of form to romp home to an all the way victory,
finishing 21st overall in a new course record time of 37mins 8 secs,
just 4 seconds inside the old record. Less than half a minute then
seperated the next three home, with Carns Paula Telford just getting
the better of her team mate Juliet Knowles in the closing stages,
and Newquays Steph Martin in fourth.
The C.A.C. ladies team of Jo Friday, Suzy
Bosustow, Emma Stallard and Jenny Almey proved a shade too strong
for the Carn and Newquay teams.
There were 429 finishers.
TRURO HALF MARATHON REVIEW. - 16th
September 2007
Under grey overcast skies, 592 runners, some 30
odd less than last year set off in this years half marathon. Facing
them was what turned out to be possibly the toughest half marathon
in the County, and that includes the "beast" at Launceston.
First man home was Tavistocks Jim Cole, who came
,saw and conquered everything thrown at him by a strong Cornwall
Athletic Club squad. Jim crossed the line, and immediately
slumped to the ground such was the effort he had put in, less than
30 seconds clear of Dave Buzza, with Noel Kindon C.A.C. a further
minute adrift.
Although Cole was in the lead from halfway, a
real battle was taking place between Buzza and Kindon, with the
latter, racing for the first time for several months, breaking clear
of Buzza, but due to lack of fitness forced into a recovering walk
on at least two occasions Eventually though, Buzza got the
upper hand to claim the second spot, and stated shortly afterwards
that he found it " very hard", ( or something
similar, that meant that !! ).
With six counting runners in the first fifteen
home, Cornwall A.C. ran out easy winners of the mens team
competition.
The ladies race also turned out to be very
competitive, with the top honours going to Katherine Matthews now
representing the Mounts Bay Harriers. The former Tipton Harriers
runner led from start to finish, but was chased every inch of the
way by Carns Juliet Knowles, who in turn only just managed to
withstand a fast finishing Steph Martin of the Newquay Road Runners.
The ladies team title went to the Newquay Road
Runners.
612 FINISHED LAST YEAR.(699 ENTERED.)
70 failed to show today, at least 8 dropped out.
Regards,
Pete S.
TREGGY 7 MILE REVIEW - 2nd
September 2007
After a three month absence due to
injury, Danny Simons of Cornwall Athletic Club made a stunning
return to action on Sunday, when romping home a comfortable winner
of this tough 7 miler. His winning time of 38mins 10 seconds
was almost a full minute off the course record set last year by team
mate Ollie Shilston. Second man home was Tavistocks Jim Cole,
with Exeters Andrew Chambers in third.
The fast early pace was set by another
former star on the comeback trail, the veteran Newquay Road Runner,
Shaun Milford, but he was soon to pay for his earlier rush of
adrenaline, as he was reeled in one by one by the first three
finishers, before going on to finish an excellent fourth.
The mens team prize went to Cornwall A.C.
There was further success for C.A.C. in
the ladies race, where their current "superstar" Jo Friday
was also in record breaking mode, as she finished in 14th place
overall, and knocking over two minutes off the ladies course record
time. Second place went to Newquay's Steph Martin, with the steadily
improving Paula Telford just edging out her Carn team mate Donna
Jenkin in third spot.
The ladies team prize went to the Carn
Runners.
INDIAN QUEENS HALF MARATHON -
5th August 2007.
Kevin Heywood of Bideford A.A.C. proved
to be in a class of his own to romp home a very easy winner in this
the 25th running of this event, which as, has generally
been the case in the past, was held on a very warm and sunny
day. His winning time of 70mins 30 secs was by far the fastest
recorded on this latest course.
After the opening 1.5 mile circuit
around the village, Heywood had already opened up a near 100 metre
lead over Cornwall A.C.,s Dave Buzza, with Matt Pullen, also C.A.C.
a further 100 metres adrift.
One month earlier in the
Launceston Half marathon, Heywood had used the same tactics when
setting off at a blistering pace. On that occasion though ,he
eventually paid the price and was forced to a slow walk approaching
half way Here however, there was to be no repeat of that, as he
gradually moved further and further away from Buzza and the rest of
the 348 record number of starters. At the 9 mile drinks station, his
lead was exactly 3 minutes, and by the time he crossed the finishing
line, his winning margin had gone out to almost 5 minutes. Buzza,
running his first ever Queens Half maintained his second place, with
Pullen in third a further 4 minutes adrift.
The men's team prize went to Cornwall
A.C.
In the ladies race, there was an equally
convincing performance from C.A.C.,s Jo Friday, who finished in an
excellent 14th place overall, over 3 minutes clear of Juliet Knowles
- Carn Runners, with Newquays Steph Martin in third.
The ladies team prize went to the Carn
Runners.
On a day of celebrations,
congratulations are due to Mike Kestle and Ron Shapland - both
Newquay Road Runners, the only ones running today that took part in
the first ever Queens back in 1983, and to the Hayle Runners duo of
Craig Tonkin and Glen Fraser who both achieved the remarkable feat
of completing 50 consecutive Cornish Grand Prix races - a run that
started off in January 2004.
TYWARDREATH TROTTER
- 28th July 2007
16 years old Ryan Cleave of the
Falmouth Road Runners, taking full advantage of older brother
Matt,s absence due to work commitments, made light work of
the treacherous underfoot conditions to record a hard earned
victory in this rain swept multi-terrain event.
After a short opening circuit around
the village, the early pace was set by Peter Devenport from
Shortlanesend, who had opened up a 5 metres gap over last
years winner Robert Prady of the Reading Road Runners, who in turn
was a further 10 metres clear of Ryan.
Prady though was soon to be one of
several victims of the slippery underfoot conditions, falling
awkwardly but managed to recover and continue running, albeit in
some pain. Just after halfway, Cleave eventually caught and passed
Devenport to come home with half a minute to spare. Prady
meanwhile battled on to finish third before going off to hospital
with a suspected dislocation of his thumb. The mens team prize
went to the Newquay Road Runners.
In the ladies race, the major honours
went to Carn Runners, Donna Jenkin, who finished in 20 th position
overall. Second place went to East Cornwall Harriers, Sharon Daw,
using this race as her final preparation for a Norwegian Triathlon
next weekend, with the rapidly improving Paula Telford, also Carn
Runners in third. The ladies team prize went to Carn.
MAGNIFICENT 7 -
15th July 2007
Dave Buzza of Cornwall A.C. returned to
winning ways on Sunday to record an excellent win in the somewhat
wet and miserable conditions of the Mag 7. After the opening, very
fast steep downhill stretch, followed by the rather tortuous steep
half mile climb, the early leader was Tavistock's Jim Cole, with
Buzza hanging on grimly some 10 metres behind and previous winner
Pete Waumsley-Tamar Trotters - a further 20 metres adrift.
However, once over the top of the climb, the long striding Buzza
soon closed in on Cole on the next downhill section to take the
lead, and from there on in was never seriously challenged. Crossing
the line with just over a minute in hand, Buzza was just 8 seconds
short of the course record time set by Newquay's Shaun Milford. In
the meantime Cole maintained his second place, finishing over a
minute clear of Waumsley in third. In a hard fought men's team
battle, Hayle Runners came out on top, with their six counting
runners finishing in the top 40.
First home in the ladies race was Carn's
Juliet Knowles who led from start to finish. There was a good race
for second place between E.C.Harriers Revis Crowle and Newquay's,
Steph Martin. Their positions yo-yoed in the opening miles, before
Revis gained control just after half way. Even so, she still
couldn't afford to relax as Steph chased her all the way to the
finish, with just ten seconds separating them at the tape. The team
honours went to the Newquay ladies, who picked up their first Grand
Prix win of the year.
BROOKS SUMMER TURKEY TROT
- 11th July 2007
Last minute entrant Ollie Shilston of
Cornwall A.C. led home a record 390 finishers to record a
comfortable victory in this 4 mile race. Approaching the brow of the
hill around the one and a half mile mark, Ollie was 15
metres clear of his veteran club colleague Dave Buzza, with
Falmouths very promising youngster Matt Cleave a further 20 metres
behind. This order remained the same to the end, where Shilston had
extended his lead to almost 30 seconds, with Dave finishing almost a
minute clear of Matt. Team honours went to Cornwall A.C.
In the ladies race, it was a similar
scenario. At the top of the first climb, Jo Friday - Cornwall A.C. was
clear of Carn,s Juliet Knowles, who in turn was just ahead of her
team mate Donna Jenkin, and as with the men, these positions
remained the same to the end. Team honours went to the Carn Runners.
LAUNCESTON HALF MARATHON
- 1st July 2007
Richard Gardner from Cardiff, but back
down in Cornwall again visiting relatives, produced a top draw performance
to claim victory here for the second consecutive year.
As the record 310 strong field headed
out of the town, the exceedingly fast early pace was set by Kevin
Heywood of Bideford A.A.C., with only Simon Powell - Woodford
Green - even attempting to go with him. By the 5 mile mark, Heywood
had built up a huge lead, with Gardner gradually closing in on
Powell.
It was just after this stage of the race
however, that Heywood paid the price for that fast early pace he had
set, as severe stitch set in and he was reduced to a long walk. With
both Gardner and Powell passing him, he did manage at least to get
going again and eventually catch Powell, but Gardner, in magnificent
form, was long gone. Although never challenged Gardner gave it
everything in a long sprint to the line and was further rewarded
with a new course record time of 69 mins 56 secs, just two seconds
inside the old record set by Plymouth,s Stuart Hall.
Afterwards a delighted Gardner told me,
" I knew in the early stages that I was going pretty quick, but
Kevins first couple of miles were in the low 4-40,s, boy, he was
running like a Kenyan, but I thought and hoped that there was no way
he could keep that up on this course, so I let him go. In the
closing stages, I could see the clock and I knew Stuart had the
course record in 69 something but didn't realise it was a big 69, so
my first thoughts after was I'd missed it. So all things considered,
I'm delighted with that."
The men's team honours went to Craig,s
boys from Hayle, who finished just ahead of the Devon challenge from
Bideford A.A.C.
In the ladies race, Ultra star Heather
Foundling-Hawker of Honiton R.C. recorded her third consecutive
victory in this event, finishing over two minutes clear of Carns
Juliet Knowles. Third place went to another visitor to the County,
21 year old Kate Goodhead from Bath, who is much more used
to either cross country or a 5k track race. Team honours went to the
Carn Runners.
STICKER 5 REVIEW - 23rd
June 2007.
Nigel Stirk representing the Tipton Harriers
proved too quick for the local runners as he claimed victory
in the annual Sticker 5 mile road race. Over a hilly and demanding
course Stirk, twice a gold medalist for Tipton in the
National 12 stage Road Relay Championships, finished 10
seconds clear of Cornwall A.C.s Ollie Shilston, with the evergreen
Dave Buzza back in third. Team honours went to Cornwall A.C.
In the ladies race, Jo Friday of Cornwall A.C.
finished almost half a minute clear of the rapidly improving Carn
Runner Juliet Knowles, with Newquays Steph Martin. also slowly but
surely getting back to her best after becomning a mum for the
first time, a close third. Team honours went to Cornwall A.C.
Needless to add, there was yet another record
field for a Cornish Grand Prix event, as this years race saw 370
finishers, more than 50 up on last years record field.
MEET YOUR MAX REVIEW
- 15th June 2007
Ollie Shilston of Cornwall Athletic Club led from gun to tape to
record a comfortable win in this 10k multi-terrain race.
Ollies winning time of 38mins saw him finish over two minutes
clear of Falmouths up and coming youngster Matt Cleave, with Jason
Pascoe, also Cornwall A.C. a further two minutes adrift.
The mens team prize went to Falmouth Road Runners.
In the ladies race, first home was Paula Telford of Carn Runners,
who just got the better of Falmouths Rachel Medd, with Kathryn
Burgess from Lostwithiel in third.
The ladies team prize went to Carn Runners.
Despite the threat of heavy rain, there was still a commendable
171 finishers to the race, which was made somewhat kinder to them
this year by the organisers, who omitted the infamous
"bog" for safety reasons.
CUBERT 5
- 5th June 2007
There was a bumper turnout at Cubert on Tuesday evening for the
annual 5 mile road race organised by the Newquay Road Runners. This
years race saw a record 504 finishers, with no fewer than 105 of
those representing Hayle Runners. Well done Craig for whipping up
such fantastic support amongst your members. Im sure there must me a
position in the government for someone of your ability
The race was won comfortably by the Cornwall A.C. veteran Dave
Buzza in a time of 25 mins 31 secs. Second place went to his team
mate Ronnie James a shade over a minute behind in 26-33, with Chris
Harry, also Cornwall A.C. in third 27-00, after a race long battle
with Hayles "quicker - vicar" - Chris McQuillen-Wright a
further 2 seconds adrift.
With six finishers in the first twelve, Cornwall A.C. were very
convincing winners of the mens team award.
First home in the ladies race was the former England
international Cathy Newman of Exmouth Harriers. Just two days after
winning the Exmouth 10k. Cathy - now a female vet45 - finished in
21st place overall in an excellent time of 29 mins 15secs. Second
home was Cornwall A.C., s Jo Friday in a PB 29 50 secs and Juliet
Knowles - Carn Runners third in 30-37.
In an extremely close battle for the ladies team honours, which
resulted in just one point separating each of the top four teams,
Carn Runners just edged out Newquay R.R., East Cornwall Harriers and
Cornwall A.C.
The Vic McKee Memorial Trophy - awarded to the first runner
through the "Mile 1 " mark, who also completes the race,
went to Adam Holland of Tavistock A.C. for the second year running,
in a time of 4mins 53 secs.
RACE
PHOTOGRAPHS
AN RESEK HELLYS - 1st April
2007
Matt Pullen representing Cornwall
Athletic led from start to finish to record a very comfortable
victory in this Multi - Terrain race. Second place, almost two
minutes adrift, went to his veteran team mate Chris Harry
making a welcome return to competition after a long absence, with
Newquay Road Runner,s Ken Walker a further eleven seconds back. The
team honours went to Cornwall A.C., ahead of Hayle and Newquay.
First home in the ladies race, and in
18th place overall, was Jo Friday, who maintained her excellent
form so far this year. She finished just over a minute clear of
Kensa Rescorla - Carn Runners, with Donna Jenkin, also Carn Runners,
in third. The team honours went to Carn Runners, with Hayle filling
both the second and third spots. As is the norm these days for a
Grand Prix race in Cornwall, there was a record field, with 406
finishers this year, almost 100 up on last years record.
As advised earlier, data of the distance
run was taken after the race from several runners wearing
a G.P.S./Garmin, and has indicated that the race distance is
now 10.1 miles.
CORNWALL v DEVON PENINSULAR
CHALLENGE. PLYMOUTH HOE 10 - 18th February 2007
The second Inter County challenge
incorporated within the Plymouth Hoe 10 mile race resulted in
comfortable victories for the home County in both the mens and
ladies teams.
The Cornwall mens team were
magnificently led by their Newquay and Par star cross country runner
Kevin Toher. For the entire race, he had set the pace with the Devon
No. 1 Kairn Stone, happy to sit on his shoulder. However,
coming off the final bend of the track, Kairn slowly but surely
eased into the lead, and after a long sprint down the finishing
straight, finished just a couple of strides clear of a gallant
Kevin.
Amazingly, this was Kevins first ever
serious road race, his only previous experience being the Wadebridge
7 mile road race as a very young teenager around 20 years ago.
Next home were the Cornwall A.C. duo
Noel Kindon and Matt Pullen in 4th and 5th, followed by Peter
Hillman, Tim Drew, Nick Martin, Jason Pascoe and Michael Semme
Facing an extremely strong and talented
Devon squad, an already weakened Cornwall ladies team suffered
further setbacks on the eve of the race, with Helen Pearson
sustaining an injury and Ann Luke failing to recover from illness.
However all members put up an extremely spirited performance and
gave their all, with Jo Friday, Kensa Rescorla, and late
replacements Janet Ritchie and Suzy Bosusto all recording Personal
bests, and Sharon Daw battling every yard of the circuit around
the track to pip Stephanie Martin on the line.
Finally, sincere vote of thanks to
all those who represented the County with pride and passion, many
congratulations to the victorious Devon teams, and also thanks to
Paul Ross and co for putting on an excellent event.
PHOTOS
MOUNTS BAY 10K - 4th February
2007
Kevin Sharp of the Newquay Road Runners
was in top form on Sunday when recording a hard earned victory in
this race for the second year running.
For the first half of the race, there
was little to choose between Sharp, his mid week training
partner Chris McQuillen-Wright representing the Hayle Runners,
and the Cornwall A.C. duo of Noel Kindon and Matt Pullen. Just after
half way, Sharp increased the pace a little, and gradually opened up
a slight lead. On the final left hand turn at the bottom of the long
climb to the finish, and begining to pay for his earlier efforts, he
glanced behind for the first time and saw those same three less than
20 metres behind. "From this point on, it was just
a question of getting my head down and working like hell to the
finish " he said afterwards. "When I turned round and saw
just how close they still were, I thought that I had pushed on too
hard too soon." Second place went to the "Quicker
Vicar " Chris McQuillen-Wright, with Kindon hanging on for
third.
In the ladies race, Cornwall A.C.,s Jo
Friday was again in scintillating form, finishing in 20th place
overall in a time of 37mins 49 secs, a personal best by
nearly two minutes, and that on a far from easy course.
Second home was the Tamar Trotters star
veteran Anne Luke, who just got the better of Kensa Rescorla - Carn
Runners on that long climb to the finish.
Once again, many congratulations to all
concerned at the Hayle Runners club for putting on such an excellent
event.
BLAYTHORNE 10 - 21st January 2007
Cornwall's first road race of the year
got off to a record breaking start, with a record 359
runners starting the Blaythorne 10 mile road race, and both the
winning male and female breaking the course record.