Helston’s annual road run saw almost 400 people pounding the pavements on Sunday, for An Res Hellys.
The fourth event of the Cornwall Road Running Grand Prix Series, competitors started the ten-mile course from Coronation Park and followed a route through the Penrose Estate, across Loe Bar beach and past Chyvarloe Farm near Gunwalloe before making their way back to Helston via RNAS Culdrose, finished in the Penrose Amenity Area.
With the last mile and a half downhill it was a fast finish for the runners, with many putting in a final push to try and get their best time. In total 386 people finished overall.
Organiser Ceri Harvey said: “It went really well. We didn’t get quite the heatwave that some of the rest of the country had. It was probably nicer for the runners – although not so nice for the marshals.”
Awards were presented to the first three placing men and women overall, plus in ten different age categories, together with awards for the top male and female teams from running clubs.
First man back was Justin Thomas of Cornwall Athletics Club, winning for the second year on the trot, in a time of 57.15 – quicker than last year.
He was followed two minutes later by Tony Dunn of the same club in 59.08, with Thomas Humphrey of Hayle Runners hot on in heels with 59.25.
In the team category Cornwall AC took top spot with 54 points, with Hayle Runners in second with 104 points and Mile High in third with 109 points.
Eleanor Davis of Newquay Road Runners was first woman back in 1.06.17, with Carol Randall of Mounts Bay Harriers following with a time of 1.07.56 and Emma Schuck of Hayle Runners in third place with 1.08.35.
Hayle Runners took the women’s team trophy with 89 points, followed by Mounts Bay Harriers with 160 points and East Cornwall Harriers in third with 164 points.
Ceri added: “I’d like to thank the National Trust for their permission for going through Penrose and helping with the gates being open. We had a lot of volunteer marshals as well, who were standing out there for a good few hours, so I’m really grateful to them also.
“We’ve had lots of positive comments from runners and there were quite a few people watching on the route as well.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here