Cornish athletes produced some outstanding results in the Great West Run Half Marathon at Exeter, which included the South West Counties Half Marathon Championships and the Cardiff Cross Challenge Cross Country races.

Twelve athletes from seven Cornish running clubs represented the county in the Men’s and Ladies races at Exeter, generously supported by the Duchy Athletics Network and Dingle & Way Builders, based in North Cornwall.

Cornwall team manager Emma Stepto was delighted with the performances, saying: “It was really gratifying to see how much it meant to all of our runners to be wearing the county vest. The team spirit was so supportive and enthusiastic, with athletes from six Cornish running clubs represented and giving their all for Cornwall.”

The Cornish teams more than held their own against the other South West Counties, with the ladies finishing second, just three points behind Devon and clear of third placed Wiltshire.

In the men’s competition a very strong Devon squad were the clear winners, placing their four scoring runners in the top eight, with Cornwall third, eight points behind Wiltshire.

Tony Brewer (Mile High) had a superb run in the men’s race finishing in third place, with another Mile High man, Aaron Benney, producing a fine individual performance in seventh position.

Andrew Martin (16th) completed a trio of Mile High runners, followed by Cornwall’s fourth scorer, Matt Yates (Cornwall AC), in 24th place. Helston’s Paul Whear (Cornwall AC) just missed out on the scoring team, finishing two places and eight seconds behind Yates.

In the ladies' race, Amy Jose (Hayle Runners) celebrated her first county vest with a four minute personal best, finishing twenty fourth in Cornwall’s scoring team.

Former Olympic rower James Cracknell, who had also taken part in the race, was on hand to award Beth Ezra (Tamar Trotters) and Brewer their third placed trophies.

KEY FOR CLUBS:

CAC Cornwall AC, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MH Mile High, NRR Newquay Road Runners, TT Tamar Trotters.

CORNISH RESULTS

MEN: 3 Tony Brewer MH 1.11.13, 7 Aaron Benney MH 1.13.29, 16 Andrew Martin MH 1.17.11, 24 Matt Yates CAC 1.18.22, 26 Paul Whear CAC 1.18.28, 30 Tim Robinson LRR 1.20.06. Teams: 1 Devon, 2 Wiltshire, 3 Cornwall.

LADIES: 3 Beth Ezra TT 1.25.51, 5 Kathryn Burgess CAC 1.27.34, 9 Jeanette Johnson (V50) LRR 1.30.37, 17 Amy Jose HR 1.34.36, 21 Megan Davis NRR 1.35.43, 32 Emma Mossop FRR 1.39.17. Teams: 1 Devon, 2 Cornwall, 3 Wiltshire.

In the Cardiff Cross Country races, Cornwall AC’s Grace Brock (Under 17) and Maisy Luke (Under 13) enjoyed outstanding results at the first of the winter’s major National level events.

Running in the combined Under 20 and Under 17 race, Brock finished fifth overall, beaten only by four girls in the older age group and winning the Under 17 race in style, finishing eighteen seconds ahead of her closest rival over a relatively short course.

Luke also showed she is in great early season form contesting the lead in her race, before having to give way to Holly Weedall (Vale Royal AC, Cheshire) and finishing second, eight seconds behind the winner. In the same race another of Cornwall AC’s top ranking Young Athletes, Abby Jose, had a really good run in a high quality field, finishing in seventh position.

The Club’s strong Under 17 Men’s team once again packed well in another high standard race, led home by Kristof in 19th position, follows three places later by Abu Gupta (22nd), with Falmouth’s up and coming youngster Sam Goodchild (22nd) and the promising Helston runner Jacob McAlhone (29th) in close pursuit.

CAC RESULTS

Under 13 Girls: 2 Maisy Luke 8.58, 7 Abby Jose 9.39. Under 17 Women: 1 Grace Brock 15.05. Under 15 Boys: 31 Isaac Murray 10.33. Under 17 Men: 19 Kristof Klimek 16.48, 22 Abu Gupta 16.55, 26 Sam Goodchild 17.07, 29 Jacob McAlhone 17.09