THE Cornwall Grand Prix Road Race Series enjoyed yet another successful year in 2014 and the Falmouth Hotel welcomed road runners from across the county to the recent annual presentation of awards, writes Alan Rowling.

England marathon international Emma Stepto, of Cornwall Athletics Club, won the overall ladies title for the sixth consecutive year, with club mate Justin Thomas retaining the top men’s award for the third consecutive year.

Emma Schuck, from Hayle Runners, and Eleanor Davis, of Newquay Road Runners, finished equal second in the ladies competition and will no doubt renew their battle at the traditional 2015 opening race, the Storm Force 10 miles, in January.

The tussle for second and third places in the men’s overall standing went down to the wire and were finally decided in the final race, the Cornish Marathon, with both contenders, Paul Whear, Carn Runners, and Jordan Morant, Hayle Runners, lining up at the start and eyeing the runners-up spot.

On the day it was the Carn member who decided the issue in emphatic style, winning the race on his marathon debut and finishing five points ahead of Morant in the overall results.

In the Under 20 Mini Grand Prix, comprising five races, once again proved a popular addition to the age categories, giving the younger runners a taste of Grand Prix competition.

Cornwall AC’s 16-year-old runner Martha Carlisle, who finished third in 2013, moved up two places and won the ladies title with a maximum score of 300 points, ahead of teammate Dulcie Atkinson, who finished one point clear of East Cornwall Harriers’ Jess Behennah.

After having to share the title last year, Hayle Runners’ Dan Costello was the outright winner of the male U20s crown with Cornwall AC’s Dale Triggs finishing second while Bailey Gill from Falmouth Road Runners coming third.

Competition for the honour of being crowned the Most Improved Runner of the Year is always a much sought after and coveted award and this year proved to be no exception.

There were seven nominees in the ladies section and after much agonising by the judging panel, the Cliff Temple Shield was awarded to Janna Eyre from Carn Runners, with Nicky Carter, Hayle Runners, in second place and Sarah Hill, Newquay Road Runners, occupying third spot.

For the men, the St Austell Trophies Shield also saw seven nominees.

After much deliberation the panel awarded the trophy to another Carn Runner, Mark Dorrell, with Darren Evans, Launceston Road Runners, close behind in second place, just one point ahead of third placed Simon Webber, from East Cornwall Harriers.

The team awards saw Cornwall AC clinch both the male and female prizes, scoring maximum points in both sections.

Their men won nine races 2014, clinching the title in September, whereas the ladies’ went two better winning 11 races and clinching the crown by August.

It was the 13th successive year Cornwall AC’s men had claimed the Tweedie Shield, with Hayle Runners coming second again two points ahead of the Penryn-based Mile High Running Club.

Cornwall AC’s ladies team won the Julia Fox Shield for the 7th year in a row.

Hayle Runners finished second and Newquay Road Runners third.

RESULTS KEY FOR CLUBS BRR Bodmin Road Runners, BWRC Bodmin Womens Running Club, CAC Cornwall AC, CR Carn Runners, ECH East Cornwall Harriers, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MBH Mounts Bay Harriers, MH Mile High, NRR Newquay Road Runners, STA St Austell Running Club, TRC Truro Running Club, TT Tamar Trotters.

MEN OVERALL: 1 Justin Thomas CAC 2394 points, 2 Paul Whear CR 2378, 3 Jordan Morant HR 2374, 4 Paul Smith CAC 2369, 5 Andrew Martin MH 2357, 6 Alex Daniels NRR 2355, 7 Ceri Whitmore CAC 2337, 8 Richard Pascoe MH 2323, 9 Aaran Benney MH 2314, 10 Steve Wherry CAC 2312.

Age Categories: U20: 1 Daniel Costello HR 298, 2 Dale Triggs CAC 295, 3 Bailey Gill FRR 290.

U35: 1 Jordan Morant 793, 2 Andrew Martin 781, 3 Richard Pascoe 765.

35-39: 1 Paul Smith 798, 2 Ceri Whitmore 796, 3 Craig Hall CR 784.

40-44: 1 Justin Thomas 800, 2 Alex Daniels 793, 3 Scott Abraham HR 781.

45-49: 1 Paul Whear 800, 2= Steve Wherry 789, 2= Adrian Ball CAC 789.

50-54: 1 Nick Martin MH 800, 2 Mark Dorrell CR 791, 3 Robin Watson FRR 785.

55-59: 1 Martin David NRR 800, 2 Laurie Lee STA 796, 3 Barrie Cardew CR 790.

60-64: 1 Malcolm Roberts STA 800, 2 Tom Polglase CR 796, 3 Colin Martin NRR 782.

65-69: 1 Doug Alsop STA 797, 2 Peter Uren MBH 793, 3= Ian Ringer BRR 786, 3= Pat Lockett NRR 786.

70-74: 1 Stewart Townend HR 800, 2 Norris Kington CAC 794.

75+: 1 Peter Mander LRR 799.

Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 800, 2 Hayle Runners 792, 3 Mile High 790, 4 Newquay Road Runners 788, 5 St Austell Running Club 781, 6 Carn Runners 769.

LADIES OVERALL: 1 Emma Stepto CAC 2400 points, 2= Emma Schuck HR 2391, 2= Eleanor Davis NRR 2391, 4 Kathryn Burgess CAC 2365, 5 Joanna Herd NRR 2362, 6 Jessica Buscombe STA 2355, 7 Anne Waller MBH 2351, 8 Wendy Chapman TRC 2339, 9 Janna Eyre CR 2335, 10 Emma Murray STA 2334.

Age Categories: U20: 1 Martha Carlisle CAC 300, 2 Dulcie Atkinson CAC 295, 3 Jessica Behennah ECH 294.

U35: 1 Emma Schuck 799, 2 Eleanor Davis 797, 3 Jessica Buscombe 787.

35-39: 1 Kathryn Burgess 796, 2 Joanna Herd 794, 3 Julia Pearce CAC 788.

40-44: 1 Emma Stepto 800, 2 Anne Waller 790, 3 Charlotte Bennett HR 785.

45-49: 1 Emma Murray 799, 2 Karen McClay MBH 793, 3 Sharon Daw ECH 789.

50-54: 1 Lynn Counter NRR 794, 2 Janet Ritchie CR 775, 3 Yvonne Watkins MBH 754.

55-59: 1 Pat Coates NRR 796, 2= Diane Warren HR 791, 2= Wendy Lowe BWRC 791.

60-64: 1 Susan Mellis STA 799, 2 Penny Uren MBH 786, 3 Sue Burges LRR 779.

65-69: 1 Mary Mullarkey ECH 800, 2 Cheryll Leach LRR 789, 3 Carole Drew CR 787.

70-74: 1 Timothea Cardell HR 800, 2 Val Hawken NRR 794.

Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 800, 2 Hayle Runners 790, 3 Newquay Road Runners 789, 4 St Austell Running Club 779, 5 Mounts Bay Harriers 778, 6 East Cornwall Harriers 777.