EMMA Stepto made a triumphant return to competitive road running after a four month break.

The Cornwall AC athlete crossed the line in first place at the Cubert Five Mile road race which made up the sixth leg of the Cornish Grand Prix series.

It was the first race Stepto who runs for the Pool-based club had participated in since the Marazion 10km in February due to injury.

But despite the gap in competing, the runner did not look out of shape as she completed the course around the village in a time of 27:34, beating her own personal best by nine seconds.

The time also put her in tenth place overall from the field of more than 600 racers.

Stepto’s victory helped set up the women team’s win for her club with Rhiannon Strickland, Donna Raggett and Kathryn Burgess all finishing inside the top ten of the female race while team-mates Julia Pearce and Jenny Almey assisted with their 20th and 24th places respectively.

This put Cornwall AC’s ladies 25 points ahead of host club Newquay Road Runners with East Cornwall Harriers finishing in third place.

Double celebrations were had by the Pool club as their men also took home first prize for the male team competition.

Justin Thomas, 26:31, and Philip Wilson, 26:32, came in sixth and seventh places in the race with Ceri Whitmore, Paul Smith, Craig Salamone and Steve Wherry also coming in the top 20 overall.

Runners from Penryn’s Mile High Running Club also had a good showing in Cubert.

Andrew Martin and Mitch Weegman finished inside the top 20 overall.

With three other members ending up coming in the top 30 places, the club came third in the men’s team competition.

Dan Nash from East Cornwall Harriers came first in the race completing the course which had a mix of flat straights and hilly climbs in 24:57 with Dan Rodgers of Launceston Road Runners finishing second in 25:25.

Peter Le Grice of Mounts Bay Harriers finished in third.