The warm temperatures and light winds suggested that fast times could be the order of the day in last Sunday’s 30th Indian Queens Half Marathon.

The leading runners certainly took advantage of the favourable conditions, with Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) setting a new course record in the ladies race on her way to a fifth successive Indian Queens title,  Peter Le Grice (Mounts Bay Harriers) dipping under 71 minutes in the men’s race.

Emma’s main opposition came from the top ten male racers and it was no surprise to see her running in 7th place overall at the five mile mark, eventually crossing the line in 8th position overall, clocking 76 minutes 53 seconds, which improved her own course record of 79 minutes 17 seconds set in 2011.

Emma, from Helston, said: “I didn’t look at my watch during the race and was pleasantly surprised to beat the record so comfortably. 
I had a real tussle with Ken Walker (Newquay Road Runners) throughout the race, which I think helped both of us, although Ken got away from me towards the end.”

In the men's race Le Grice once again powered away at the start but on this occasion soon discovered he had company in the shape of Ben Pochee, who was making both his Grand Prix and Cornwall AC debut. 

These two were soon well clear of the chasers, led by a trio of Cornwall AC runners, Noel Kindon, who in turn headed Colin Snook and Justin Thomas.
From the first to the 12th mile, the two leaders ran side by side and it took a supreme effort from Le Grice  in the final mile to detach himself from Pochee, edging ahead to win by ten seconds, the closest finish in the men’s race for sometime.

Kindon, despite occasional stops to walk a few paces, held on to third place until the eleven mile point, when Thomas, who has moved ahead of Snook at six miles, sensed a podium place and passed Kindon, opening a 38 second gap over his team mate by the finish line. 

A clear cut team victory in the men's competition for Cornwall AC with their six scoring runners finishing in the top 14 positions, decided the outcome of the 2012 Cornwall Grand Prix team title, which went to the defending champions for the 11th successive year. 

The Ladies team title is still up for grabs with a strong Hayle Runners team packing well and finishing 16 points ahead of Cornwall AC, despite Cornwall having five scoring runners in the top fifteen places.


Results - Men : 1 Peter Le Grice MBH 1.10.53, 2 Ben Pochee CAC 1.11.03, 3 Justin Thomas CAC 1.13.32, 4 Noel Kindon CAC 1.14.10, 5 Colin Snook CAC 1.14.31, 6 Ken Walker NRR 1.16.02, 7 Ian Gooding TOR 1.16.17, 8 Dan Rodgers LRR 1.17.50, 9 Adrian Ball CAC 1.18.15., 10 Martin Colwill BID 1.18.38.  Age Categories: Under 40: 1 Peter Le Grice, 2 Justin Thomas, 3 Noel Kindon.  40-44: 1 Ben Pochee, 2 Scott Abraham HR 1.22.54, 3 Richard Keefe FRR 1.23.37.  45-49: 1 Adrian Ball, 2 Martin Colwill, 3 Steve Wherry CAC 1.19.48.  50-54: 1 Martin Davis NRR 1.25.13, 2 Chris Hodge CR 1.27.27, 3 Laurie Lee STA 1.29.39.  55-59: 1 Neville Witham CAC 1.30.15, 2 Malcolm Roberts STA 1.30.19, 3 Mark Andrews ECH 1.30.44.  60-64: 1 Doug Alsop STA 1.31.50, 2 Tom Polglase CR 1.32.36, 3 Nicholas Pettit TT 1.37.45.  65-69: 1 Brian Wiles LRR 1.35.42, 2 Stewart Townend HR 1.42.11, 3 Alan Littlejohns LRR 1.48.47. 70-74: 1 Norris Kington CAC 1.58.13.  75+: 1 Howard Haynes HR 2.05.28. 

Ladies : 1 Emma Stepto CAC 1.16.53 course record, 2 Isobel Wykes TRC 1.26.57, 3 Heidi Cottam CAC 1.32.14, 4 Fiona Ruetsch HR 1.33.19, 5 Rebecca Mingo TAV 1.33.49, 6 Debbie Harrison HR 1.33.58, 7 Karen Harrison CAC 1.35.20, 8 Donna Raggett CAC 1.35.30, 9 Sharon Daw ECH 1.36.11, 10 Faye Toms HR 1.36.17.  Age Categories: Under 35: 1 Isobel Wykes, 2 Heidi Cottam, 3 Rebecca Mingo.  35-39: 1 Faye Toms, 2 Charlotte Bennett HR 1.38.59, 3 Alison Moore U 1.40.26.  40-44: 1 Emma Stepto, 2 Debbie Harrison, 3 Karen Harrison.  45-49: 1 Fiona Ruetsch, 2 Sharon Daw, 3 Emma Murray STA 1.38.41.  50-54: 1 Hana Clitherow TRC 1.54.09, 2 Bobbie Sauerzape BBD 1.54.48, 3 Tessa Mason ECH 1.55.02.  55-59: 1 Jane Jackson OKE 1.47.12, 2 Carol Culley CR 2.22.44, 3 Iva McNevin MBH 3.06.33.  60-64: 1 Sue Taylor MBH 1.45.38, 2 Sandy Jamieson CR 2.10.56, 3 Susan Mellis STA 2.11.12.  65-69: 1 Marilyn Mitchell STA 2.16.08.  70+: 1 Timothea Cardell HR 2.11.49, 2 Val Hawken NRR 3.01.09.