OVER 400 runners gathered on a dry but chilly morning on Sunday for the Falmouth Half Marathon.

This race, which acts as round three of the Cornwall Grand Prix Series, is regarded by many runners as one of the toughest races on the circuit, with more than its fair share of hills, from the early climb past Falmouth Docks to the many undulations on the country lanes through Mawnan Smith and Budock Water.

Newquay Road Runner Mike Birchmore, bidding for a hat-trick of wins, set off with this clear intent but could not shake off the intentions of Ash Chambers.

The Cornwall Athletics Club man had an advantage in the fact he uses parts of this route for his regular training runs during his time at Exeter University's Tremough Campus, where he is studying for his Masters degree in Mining Engineering.

Another Cornwall AC runner Colin Snook was clear in third place after four miles, content to bide his time and was also prepared to let the leading pair pull further ahead, when Chambers initiated an increase in pace between six and nine miles.

Snook, keeping to his pre-race plan, began closing the gap over the last few miles, catching and passing Chambers after the nine mile marker and then catching Birchmore on the steep descent into Penryn.

Despite his best efforts, the Cornwall AC man could not shake off the attentions of Bichmore, whose superior sprint finish brought him a deserved third successive victory, two seconds clear of Snook in the course record time of 1:13:53.

Chambers was an isolated third with Jordan Morant of Hayle Runners holding off Helston's Paul Whear, of Cornwall AC, to clinch fourth spot by just three seconds.

Other notable performance from runners based near Falmouth included Aaron Benney with the Mile High member finishing tenth.

Cornwall AC's Jason Webb, who lives in Helston, came 14th overall while Ian Ferguson was the first man back from host club Falmouth Road Runners, taking 16th place.

Falmouth Packet:

L-R: The top three from the men's race Colin Snook, Michael Bichmore and Ash Chambers. Picture: JONATHAN MILLAR

In the ladies race, Hayle's Emma Schuck, fresh from her victory in the Bideford Half Marathon seven days earlier, churned out another classy performance in the Ladies race, setting a new course record of 1:23:35.

Ultra distance England International Issy Wykes, of Truro Running Club, finished comfortably in second place, enjoying the relatively short thirteen miles.

A strong final few miles secured third place for Newquay Road Runners' Jo Herd, who crossed the line almost two minutes ahead of Charlotte Bennett from Hayle Runners.

There was also success for the host club with top 20 finishes for Nicola Elsworth, 18th, and Belinda Hosen, 19th.

With three runners in the top five and great support from Steve Wherry, Justin Webb and Andrew Eddison, Cornwall AC won their third successive Men's Grand Prix race of the year.

In the Ladies competition, Hayle Runners were equally emphatic winners with the low score of 57 points.

There was the usual sprinkling of age group prizes with Whear winning the Men's 45-49 category and Falmouth's Terry Marshall winning the Ladies 65-69 section.

In the same age group, Kathryn Dormer from Falmouth finished third.

Jackie Cope completed a trio of home prize winners by finishing second in the 55-59 category, just twenty five seconds behind the winner.

RESULTS

KEY FOR CLUBS

AAC Ambleside AC, BRR Bodmin Road Runners, CAC Cornwall AC, CLEV Clevedon AC, CR Carn Runners, EVH Erme Valley Harriers, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MBH Mounts Bay Harriers, MCTR Mud Crew Trail Runners, MH Mile High, NRR Newquay Road Runners, PH Plymouth Harriers, SofC Striders of Croyden, STA St Austell Running Club, TRC Truro Running Club, U Unattached.

Men: 1 Mike Birchmore NRR 1.13.53 (Course Record), 2 Colin Snook CAC 1.13.55, 3 Ash Chambers CAC 1.14.16, 4 Jordan Morant HR 1.18.16, 5 Paul Whear CAC 1.18.19, 6 Alex Daniels NRR 1.21.15, 7 Krzysztof Klidzia SofC 1.21.27, 8 Steve Wherry CAC 1.21.43, 9 Neil Holmes EVH 1.21.54, 10 Aaron Benney MH 1.21.57. Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Mike Birchmore, 2 Ash Chambers, 3 Jordan Morant. 35-39: 1 Colin Snook, 2 Robert Watts HR 1.26.06, 3 Jamie Luxmoore AAC 1.27.04. 40-44: 1 Alex Daniels, 2 Simon Knowles HR 1.23.43, 3 Scott Abraham HR 1.26.47. 45-49: 1 Paul Whear, 2 Krzyzxtof Klidzia, 3 Neil Holmes. 50-54: 1 Steve Wherry, 2 Clive Richards CLEV 1.23.59, 3 Mark Dorrell CR 1.29.00. 55-59: 1 Laurie Lee STA 1.28.25, 2 Peter Allen NRR 1.35.16, 3 Martin Morgan BRR 1.35.36. 60-64: 1 Phil Bayliss U 1.38.26, 2 Dave Rashleigh U 1.47.45, 3 Steve Rawson TRC 1.48.19. 65-69: 1 Brian Wiles LRR 1.45.57, 2 Pat Lockett NRR 1.46.27, 3 John Lillis NRR 1.54.33. 70-74: 1 Stewart Townend HR 1.52.46. 75+: 1 Norris Kington CAC 2.15.25. Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 50 points, 2 Hayle Runners 135 points, 3 Truro Running Club 239 points, 4 Newquay Road Runners 257 points, 5 Falmouth Road Runners 281 points.

Ladies: 1 Emma Schuck HR 1.23.35, 2 Issy Wykes TRC 1.30.59, 3 Joanna Herd NRR 1.32.48, 4 Charlotte Bennett HR 1.34.38, 5 Debbie Webb HR 1.37.08, 6 Anne Waller MBH 1.38.31, 7 Nicky Taylor MCTR 1.39.09, 8 Delphine Watwood PH 1.40.22, 9 Jenny O'Brien CAC 1.41.23, 10 Amy Bouike U 1.44.20. Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Emma Schuck, 2 Delphine Watwood, 3 Amy Bouike. 35-39: 1 Issy Wikes, 2 Joanna Herd, 3 Nicky Taylor. 40-44: 1 Charlotte Bennett, 2 Anne Waller, 3 Samantha Brett U 1.45.43. 45-49: 1 Debbie Webb, 2 Karen Brookes U 1.46.55, 3 Lisa Talling NRR 1.50.09. 50-54: 1 Lisa Player STA 1.47.09, 2 Hana Clitherow TRC 1.50.05, 3 Lynn Counter NRR 1.51.19. 55-59: 1 Jo Kipling CR 2.00.58, 2 Jackie Cope FRR 2.01.23, 3 Ann Senior 2.06.53. 60-64: 1 Diane Warren HR 2.02.00, 2 Sandy Jamieson CR 2.13.33, 3 Margaret Wade CR 2.27.39. 65-69: 1 Terry Marshall FRR 2.20.06, 2 Carole Drew CR 2.32.37, 3 Kathryn Dormer FRR 2.44.32. Teams: 1 Hayle Runners 'A' 57 points, 2 Newquay Road Runners 180 points, 3 Truro Running Club 201 points, 4 Falmouth Road Runners 281 points, 5 Hayle Runners 'B' 320 points.