Cornwall's road runners have had a busy last few days, with last Sunday's Magnificent 7 race following on just four days after the Summer Turkey Trot.


The Mag 7, as it is popularly known, round nine of the 2012 Cornwall Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Cornwall Glass and Glazing, sets a tough challenge for the runners, who have to negotiate a very testing seven miles around the Saltash area.
Unlike most races, no one seemed keen on setting the early pace, with the Cornwall AC trio of Colin Snook, Justin Thomas and James Waldie content to run together at the head of the field, just ahead of Tony Brewer (Mile High). 

Snook's injection of pace at the three mile point was the first positive move made by the leaders, which also proved to be a decisive tactic. 

"From running on this course previously", said Snook "I had decided to run hard on the generally flatter section between three and five miles and hopefully open a gap, which I could hold on to the finish and this is exactly how things worked out." 

Waldie was the first to lose contact, eventually drifting back to a disappointing thirteeneth place and then Thomas also found the pace being set by his team mate too fast, as Snook crossed the line in Saltash Rugby Club one minute and thirteen seconds ahead of Thomas, who was nevertheless pleased with another course personal best, beating last year's time by one minute.  Brewer, who is rapidly establishing himself as one of the county's leading road exponents, completed the podium places in third spot.

The Men's team trophy made its way into the Cornwall AC trophy cabinet for the fifth successive year, with Hayle Runners a distant second and the host club Tamar Trotters in third place.

No one would have bet against Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) winning the Ladies race and even Emma was surprised to break the six year old course record by fifteen seconds, saying, "I have had a busy week with the Turkey Trot last Wednesday and a 1500 metres race in the Southern Athletic League at Carn Brea on Saturday, so I decided to take it steady today and was naturally delighted to break the record."  Emma's 1500 metres time of 4 minutes 29 seconds on the Saturday improved her own County Veterans record set just a few weeks ago.

Team mate Naomi Tier was also in good form, finishing fourteenth overall and almost two minutes ahead of the third placed lady, Jo Meek (Tavistock AC).  With an emphatic Emma and Naomi one-two and support coming from Heidi Cottam (5th), Karen Harrison (14th), Jenny Almey (19th) and Kirstie Mutsaers (39th), the Ladies team trophy also found its way into the Cornwall AC cabinet.  The race for the second place could not have been closer, with Hayle Runners finishing just one point ahead of East Cornwall Harriers.
Results - Men : 1 Colin Snook CAC 39.27, 2 Justin Thomas CAC 40.40, 3 Tony Brewer MH 41.15, 4 Ken Walker NRR 41.44, 5 Nick Loewendahl U 41.47, 6 Steve Wherry CAC 41.50.  Age Categories: Under 40: 1 Colin Snook, 2 Justin Thomas, 3 Tony Brewer.  40-44: 1 Scott Abraham HR 44.47, 2 Phil Bolt CAC 45.45, 3 Richard Keefe FRR 46.10.  45-49: 1 Steve Wherry, 2 Paul Gregg TT 42.41, 3 Peter Sowerby TRC 43.02.  50-54: 1 David Philip ECH 48.01, 2 Laurie Lee STA 48.29, 3 Ian Crowle ECH 41.26.  55-59: 1 Mark Andrews ECH 48.38, 2 Malcolm Roberts STA 48.58, 3 Peter Allen NRR 52.45.  60-64: 1 Doug Alsop STA 50.15, 2 Philip Box LRR 58.17, 3 Martin Curtis HR 59.04.  65-69: 1 Brian Wiles LRR 51.35, 2 Alan Littlejohns LRR 58.44, 3 Ron Shapland NRR 60.05.  70-74: 1 Alan Smith ECH 63.22, 2 Norris Kington CAC 64.50, 3 Kevin O'Mahoney LRR 65.30.  75+: 1 Ken House SD 73.56.  Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 58 points, 2 Hayle Runners 122 points, 3 Tamar Trotters 205 points.
Ladies : 1 Emma Stepto CAC 42.12, 2 Naomi Tier CAC 43.40, 3 Jo Meek TAV 45.17, 4 Anne Luke TT 46.18, 5 Heidi Cottam CAC 49.19, 6 Revis Crowle 49.37.  Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Naomi Tier, 2 Heidi Cottam, 3 Rebecca Mingo TAV 51.07.  35-39: 1 Jo Meek, 2 Nicky Putman PH 50.29, 3 Charlotte Bennett HR 51.49.  40-44: 1 Emma Stepto, 2 Debbie Harrison HR 50.35, 3 Karen Harrison CAC 52.24.  45-49: 1 Sharon Daw ECH 49.57, 2 Fiona Ruetsch HR 50.39, 3 Diane Roy ECH 52.29.  50-54: 1 Revis Crowle, 2 Liz Matthews YKH 59.11, 3 Tessa Mason ECH 60.34.  55-59: 1 Anne Luke, 2 Patricia Fairlamb BJ 55.43, 3 Alison Joslin TRC 65.14.  60-64: 1 Sue Taylor MBH 58.45, 2 Sandy Jamieson CR 68.24, 3 Susan Mellis STA 69.58.  65-59: 1 Kate Nesbitt U 61.37, 2 Marilyn Mitchell STA 71.02, 3 Lisa Wright NRR 73.10.  70+: 1 Val Hawken NRR 84.45.  Teams: 1 Cornwall AC 80 points, 2 Hayle Runners 123 points, 3 East Cornwall Harriers 124 points.

Key for clubs: BJ Burnham Joggers, 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, PH Plymouth Harriers, SD South Devon AC, STA St Austell Running Club, TAV Tavistock AC, TRC Truro Running Club, TT Tamar Trotters, U Unattached YKH York Knaveshire Harriers.