MORE than 500 runners took to the start line for the Truro Half Marathon on Sunday with an exciting race being conjured up, writes Alan Rowling.

Since being established, the event has been one of the most popular legs on the Cornwall Glass and Glazing Grand Prix circuit and this year's field were given perfect autumnal conditions to run in over the challenging hilly course.

A small group led the way at Kea Bridge, at the four mile mark, headed by 2012 champion Colin Snook, the 2013 winner Tom Joyce, one of the county’s top triathletes Dave Bartlett, Jordan Morant, Paul Whear and Ross Farrer.

By the time they reached the ten mile point, at Playing Place, a relaxed Snook had broken well clear of all his challengers and was able to cruise back to the finish on the Piazza in Truro City Centre, with Joyce now established in second place, ahead of an improved performance from Morant in third.

Whear, from Helston, was fourth which helped the Cornwall Athletics Club athlete cement his unbeatable position at the top of the Veterans 45-49 Grand Prix standings and also bagged the age category title from the race by more than 90 seconds.

His team-mate Paul Smith, from Falmouth, who is on the comeback trail from a long injury lay-off finished in ninth place to secure the 40-44 age group top spot, five seconds ahead of Newquay Road Runners' Alex Daniels.

In the women's race, Zelah Morrell, of Cornwall AC, produced a fine effort to claim first place as she won by six minutes and 23 seconds.

The 46-year-old was using the event to test out her fitness ahead of the upcoming Cardiff Half Marathon on October 4 and also won the 45-49 age category section.

There was also success in the veterans' races for Falmouth's Kathryn Dormer who put in an unstoppable run of 2.29.27 in the women's 65-69 group with her club colleague Jackie Cope coming third.

Helston's Karen Harrison, a member of Cornwall AC, came third in the 45-49 category and a bronze was picked up by Falmouth's Robin Watson in the men's 50-54 section.

A fine run by Tom Carthy saw him finish 12th in the main race and led Falmouth Road Runners to fifth in the team competition.

Carthy's team-mate Sarah McDermott ran very well too over the tough course to record an 11th place finish in the women's race.

RESULTS

KEY FOR CLUBS

BRR Bodmin Road Runners, BR Bude Rats, CAC Cornwall AC, CR Carn Runners, ECH East Cornwall Harriers, EVH Erme Valley Harriers, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MBH Mounts Bay Harriers, MCTR Mud Crew Trail Runners, NRR Newquay Road Runners, PH Plymouth Harriers, STA St Austell Running Club, TRC Truro Running Club, TT Tamer Trotters, U Unattached.

MEN: 1 Colin Snook CAC 1.15.36, 2 Tom Joyce U 1.18.18, 3 Jordan Morant HR 1.18.43, 4 Paul Whear CAC 1.18.56, 5 Ross Farrer PH 1.19.22, 6 Daniel Costello HR 1.19.56, 7 Tony Wright NRR 1.20.37, 8 Dave Bartlett NRR 1.20.49, 9 Paul Smith CAC 1.20.54, 10 Alex Daniels NRR 1.20.59.

AGE CATEGORIES: Under 35: 1 Tom Joyce, 2 Jordan Morant, 3 Ross Farrer. 35-39: 1 Colin Snook, 2 Paul Maskell STA 1.22.35, 3 James Davidson U 1.28.03. 40-44: 1 Paul Smith, 2 Alex Daniels, 3 Scott Abraham HR 1.26.11. 45-49: 1 Paul Whear, 2 Tony Wright, 3 Noel Lyons U 1.23.57. 50-54: 1 Andrew Hickson MBH 1.30.05, 2 Mark Dorrell CR 1.31.42, 3 Robin Watson FRR 1.33.44. 55-59: 1 Laurie Lee STA 1.34.06, 2 Michael Wilson TRC 1.37.34, 3 Peter Allen NRR 1.37.44. 60-64: 1 Stephen Hutchinson BR 1.45.27, 2 Chris Ramsey TRC 1.47.02, 3 Colin Martin NRR 1.47.07. 65-69: 1 Brian Wiles LRR 1.40.49, 2 Ian Ringer BRR 1.44.39, 3 Peter Uren MBH 1.47.00. 70-75: 1 Stewart Townend HR 1.54.02. 75+: 1 Norris Kington CAC 2.14.12.

TEAMS: 1 Newquay Road Runners 93 points, 2 Cornwall AC 148 points, 3 Hayle Runners 184 points, 4 Truro Running Club 235 points, 5 Falmouth Road Runners 245 points.

LADIES: 1 Zelah Morrall CAC 1.26.23, 2 Jo Herd NRR 1.32.46, 3 Sarah Hirons EVH 1.32.54, 4 Wendy Chapman TRC 1.33.48, 5 Janna Eyre CR 1.37.11, 6 Diane Roy ECH 1.38.23, 7 Helen Mitchell U 1.39.26, 8 Lucy Williams TRC 1.39.58, 9 Amy Jose HR 1.41.39, 10 Nicky Taylor MCTR 1.41.53.

AGE CATEGORIES: Under 35: 1 Sarah Hirons, 2 Janna Eyre, 3 Lucy Williams. 35-39: 1 Jo Herd, 2 Wendy Chapman, Nicky Taylor. 40-44: 1 Louise Gregg TT 1.45.24, 2 Rachael Thomas CAC 1.47.23, 3 Anne Waller MBH 1.48.59. 45-49: 1 Zelah Morrall, 2 Helen Mitchell, 3 Karen Harrison CAC 1.46.00. 50-54: 1 Diane Roy, 2 Hana Clitherow TRC 1.50.07, 3 Janet Ritchie CR 2.03.05. 55-59: 1 Jane Bremner TT 1.42.50, 2 Jeanette Duncan NRR 1.56.22, 3 Jackie Cope FRR 2.04.34. 60-64: 1 Andrea Simmons U 2.02.17, 2 Diane Warren HR 2.03.33, 3 Sue Taylor MBH 2.03.42. 65-69: 1 Kathryn Dormer FRR 2.29.27, 2 Carole Drew CR 2.36.36.

TEAMS: 1 Truro Running Cub 166 points, 2 Cornwall AC 177 points, 3 Carn Runners 199 points, 4 Newquay Road Runners 218 points, 5 Hayle Runners 265 points.