Cornwall Athletic Club emerged as the top club in the 2017-18 Charles Stanley Westward Cross Country League, winning five of the nine team titles and six individual titles, writes Alan Rowling.

The club celebrated their best team results since the 2012-13 season, having won only four team titles over the past four years.

The sixth and final race was held over a course at Redruth School, which, despite waterlogged sections, produced good running conditions after the recent snow.

Cornwall AC's senior ladies team led the way with the ‘A’ team winning the league title for the 12th time over the last 16 years.

The strength in depth was clear for all to see with the ‘B’ team finishing in second place and the ‘C’ team seventh. The veteran ladies won their title for the fourth time in the last five years.

The senior ladies' race at Redruth produced a one-two for the club, with the up and coming Heidi Tregenza winning her first ever Westward League race League race after 15 years of trying.

Heidi's first Westward League race was as an Under 13 in 2003, when the Cornwall AC team finished second overall. At Redruth, Heidi finished 13 seconds ahead of the ladies' team captain Emma Stepto, who, leading by example, was crowned as the overall senior ladies' champion and the veterans' 45-49 champion, with Heidi finishing the season in third place overall.

The under-13 girls were equally dominant retaining their team title, with the ‘B’ team in fifth place and the ‘C’ team finishing eighth. National Under 13 Cross Country Champion Maisy Luke retained her individual title, ably supported by Abbie Jose, who finished third overall.

The under-17 men won their team title for the first time since the 2011-12 season, led by rapidly improving Sam Goodchild, who was a convincing winner at Redruth, 38 seconds clear of Floyd Ratcliffe (Mile High, Penryn). Sam also claimed the individual title in this age group.

In the senior men’s race, the Cornwall AC team once again failed to match the men from Bideford AAC, having to be content with silver medals.

In the veteran’s category the club’s team was more successful, winning this title for the sixth successive year.

Individually one of the club’s Falmouth University recruits, Jordan Clay, was once again very much at home on the challenging course, winning the men’s race by a huge margin of almost one and a half minutes.

Joe Argall, running in his first Westward League of the winter, moved through sensibly after a cautious start, to finish third, just six seconds behind the runner up.

There were overall age group wins for Justin Thomas (Vet 40-44) and Tony Dunn (Vet 50-59), with Paul Whear (Vet 45-49), Ian Wright (Vet 60+) and Nancy Hill (50-54) all finishing second in their age categories.

The under-13 boys fought hard throughout the season but could never quite match the team from Exeter Harriers, finishing in second place overall, led by Zac Clemens, who just missed out on a top three placing in fourth position overall.