Cornwall Athletic Club’s Noel Kindon and Suzy Bosustow took full advantage of the ideal conditions, winning their respective men’s and ladies races in last Sunday’s Cornish Marathon, bringing the 2011 Cornwall Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Cornwall Glass and Glazing, to yet another successful conclusion.

A record field of 246 runners lined up in the village of Pensilva, near Liskeard, facing one of the toughest marathons in the South West, with the runners heading along the Draynes Valley, climbing to the historic Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor, before negotiating a very hilly final six miles on their return to Pensilva via the Fowey Valley.

Kindon led from the gun, running alongside Andy Norris (Unattached) and Rob Burnham (Newquay Road Runners) for the first two miles, before easing ahead and facing a long, lonely solo run for the next 24 miles. Never losing concentration, the Cornwall AC runner crossed the finish line in 2 hours 44 minutes 15 seconds, over three minutes ahead of team-mate Justin Thomas, who realised one of his running ambitions to complete all 15 Grand Prix races in the same calendar year. Thomas began cautiously, surging into second place at ten miles and holding onto the runner's up spot, with ease all the way to the finish. Norris, who was ninth in this race last year, took full advantage of the calm, cloudy and mild conditions, clocking two hours 52 minutes 19 seconds, over 12 minutes or almost two miles faster than in 2011. Burnham faded to 11th place, with Duncan Oakes finishing fourth and leading St Austell Running Club to their first Grand Prix team victory of the year. Cornwall AC were well behind the mid Cornwall club in second place, with Hayle Runners in third.

The surprise of the Ladies race was the performance of Suzy, who has been nursing an injury over the past few months, but now seems well on the road to recovery. She won her first Grand Prix race, since the Truro Half Marathon over one year ago, finishing fifteen minutes ahead of Diane Roy (East Cornwall Harriers), with another up and coming East Cornwall Harrier, Tracey Brown, in third place.

With Sharon Daw finishing eighth, the East Cornwall Ladies were well deserved winners of the team prize, well clear of the runner’s up Hayle Runners, with St Austell Running Club in third place.

Falmouth Road Runners once again turned out in force, with no less than 14 hardy souls facing the challenge of the 26 miles marathon distance. Tony Brewer was the club's first man home, clocking a very respectable three hours nine minutes 45 seconds in 20th position.

Julian Evans was 33rd in 3 hours 22 minutes 13 seconds. A glance at the prize list in the Veteran categories will always find a few Falmouth names present and the Cornish Marathon proved no exception. Janet Watson won her fourth Grand Prix 55-59 category prize of the year out of just five races and the husband and wife team of Keith and Terry Marshall finished second and third in their respective 65-60 and 60-64 age groups.

Results - Men: 1 Noel Kindon CAC 2.44.15, 2 Justin Thomas CAC 2.47.22, 3 Andy Norris U 2.52.19, 4 Duncan Oakes STA 2.53.51, 5 Steve Marks NRR 2.57.01, 6 Dave Rowe STA 2.59.24, 7 Scott Abraham HR 3.00.33, 8 Steve Babb LRR 3.01.08, 9 Dave Stone EXH 3.01.56, 10 Milan Goc SID 3.02.51.

Ladies: 1 Suzy Bosustow CAC 3.09.33, 2 Diane Roy ECH 3.25.12, 3 Tracey Brown ECH 3.28.47, 4 Fiona Ruetsch HR 3.32.54, 5 Debbie Burman SDRC 3.35.26, 6 Tracey Baker U 3.37.20, 7 Karen Harrison CR 3.38.01, 8 Sharon Daw ECH 3.38.26, 9 Lizzie Irvine TRC 3.39.11, 10 Joanne Plumbley TAC 3.44.53.