Athletics update

Athletics update

The Tree Tops 5 mile race was held at Cubert on Tuesday 8th June in cool and overcast conditions. This popular event was sponsored by the local pub and was run over a two-lap course around quiet country lanes.

Ronnie James of Cornwall Athletic Club won the event in a time of 25:42. The first lady to cross the finishing line was Angela Alan of Plymouth Harriers with a time of 29:23.

The challenges of this fast event attracted eight East Cornwall Harriers to the start line with the intention of testing the speed they had built up from their weekly training sessions. To his surprise, Mark Andrew led his club mates from the start and finished with a time of 31:49. Mike Erith, known for his fast pace, caught Mark up around a mile from the finish but he was unable, on this occasion, to maintain the pace on the incline to the finishing line and he completed the course just a few seconds behind with a time of 31:57.

Brian Bradbeer was the next Harrier to finish, with the stopwatch recording a good time of 32:20, though it is felt that his faster race times will come later in the season. Alan Smith, taking a brief respite from his marathon schedule, finished in a time of 32:57. Bill Muller and Revis Crowle ran a closely fought race to finish in time of 33;24 and 33:27 respectively. Andrew Lord finished with a time of 33:50, demonstrating that it is possible to improve running performance despite the rigours of becoming a father to his second child recently. The other half of the running duo, Amanda Erith, ran a comfortable race to complete the two-lap event in a time of 37:13.

To conclude a successful evening's running, spot prizes were won by Andrew Lord, Mike and Amanda Erith and Mark Andrews.

East Cornwall Harriers also took part in the Blaythorne 10-mile race, which took place on Sunday 13th. It was a hot day, but this did not deter over 80 runners from competing in this event, which started from the football field in Camborne before enticing the participants around very attractive country lanes.

Dave Buzza of Cornwall Athletic Club set a new course record by winning the event in a time of 51:56 followed by fellow club member, Ronnia James, in a time of 53:23. Liz Gould from the Kidderminster Running Club was the first lady to finish in a time of 64:26, with Debbie Fuglar of the Newquay Road Runners coming second in the ladies' race with a time of 69:45.

Mike Erith felt at home on this fastish course and was pleased with his performance finishing in 21st position with a time of 67:28. Bill Muller enjoyed a particularly good run, finishing in 35th place in a time of 71:06. Bill ran neck and neck with Brian Bradbeer for most of the race but just managed to pull ahead in the last half mile. A disappointed Brian Bradbeer claimed 38th place in a time of 71:26.

Amanda Erith, feeling the hot conditions, was also disappointed with her performance, crossing the finishing line in a time of 79:33 (58th position). Amanda is looking forward to taking part in the 'Race For Life' women's race which is to take place in Plymouth on Sunday 20th June.

Also taking place on Sunday June 13th was the annual Kit Hill Run, at Callington. The five mile race started at finished at Callington Community School and takes the runners to the top of Kit Hill via the fields and then back down the road. The winner of this year's event was Pete Dent from Plymouth Harriers in 26:38, and the first lady home was Claire Smith, also from Plymouth Harriers, with a time of 30:26. Plymouth Harriers also won both male and female team trophies. Three East Cornwall Harriers took part. Len White finished in 31:37, Jacky Tyler completed the course in 37:56, while Pete Henwood finished in 41:28.