Witnessing dozens of runners beating a path along a Cornish beach in mid-Summer can only mean one thing – the annual St Ives Bay 10k race was under way.
Organised by Hayle Runners as part of the Multi Terrain Race Series, Tuesday’s event saw 188 competitors take part.
If you’re looking for a race that perfectly captures the beauty of Cornwall, then look no further than St Ives Bay 10k.
Starting with a three-mile run across the beach from Hayle to Gwithian, runners faced a climb up the steps, before a further two miles of dunes as they made their way back.
The ‘dune of doom’ awaited runners who climbed the sandy slope, rewarded with breath-taking views and an enormous sense of accomplishment. It was a final stretch across the beach for just over a mile to cross the finish line.
St Ives Bay attracts not only Cornish competitors, but runners from across the UK. As members of Dark Peak Fell Runners in Sheffield, Andrew Heyes returned this year to make light work of this challenging course, beating the route’s previous record – which he set – to storm home in a record-breaking chip time of exactly 34:00 minutes. His wife, Lauren Heyes, took pole position for the ladies, coming in at 40:22.
Meanwhile there was double success for Truro Running Club, taking both the men’s and the ladies’ top spots for team results.
Hayle Runners chair, Richard Collett, was profusive in his praise for all those who made it happen: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this event a success. A special thank you to our dedicated race directors, Jamie Gore and Melodie Manners, whose hard work and organization ensured a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants. We are grateful to Neville Witham, our adjudicator, for his professional oversight.
A big thank you to Hayle Surf Life Saving Club for providing not only a fantastic venue but also the vital medical cover, ensuring everyone’s safety. We also want to thank The Funky Brownie Co for supplying delicious brownies as our age category prizes. A big thanks also to St Ives Brewery for sponsoring our overall winner prizes, your support means a great deal to us.
Lastly, a massive thank you to the over 100 volunteers and marshals who gave up their time to ensure the event was set up, safe, and ran smoothly. We literally couldn’t have done it without them.”
Richard Collett
Club Chairman
Cornwall has 12 sections of protected landscape, with the St Ives Bay 10k passing through section six. To support and contribute to the conservation and protection of the area, 50pm from every entry is being donated to the Cornwall National Landscape Trust. That’s £106 raised for charity thanks to the runners who took part.
Prizes sponsored by St Ives Brewery were given to the first three male and female participants, as well as age category and team prizes.
Top three males: 1st – Andrew Heyes, 34:00, Dark Peak Fell Runners, 2nd – Jacob Landers, 36:30, Tamar Trotters, 3rd, Liam O’Neill, 40:02, Hayle Runners.
Top three females: 1st – Lauren Heyes, 40:22, Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield, 2nd – Chloe Clarke, 45:49, Cornwall AC, 3rd – Lucy Williams, 47:43, Truro Running Club.
Age category winners:
Female Under 35, Chloe Clarke: 45:49
Female 35-39, Lauren Heyes: 40:22
Female 40-44, Lottie Murphy: 56:03
Female 45-49, Colette Clements: 56: 23
Female 50-54, Satah Holland: 58:31
Female 55-59, Gail Aspden: 52:36
Female 60-64, Helen Mitchell: 53:38
Female 65-69, Sally Powell: 1:29:25
Male Under 35, Jacob Landers: 36:30
Male 35-39, Andrew Heyes: 34:00
Male 40-44, Andrew Senior: 43: 59
Male 45-49, Morgan Craig: 40:19
Male 50-54, Jonny Colaco: 41: 54
Male 55-59, Peter Sowerby: 42:42
Male 60-64, Darrin Porter: 44:06
Male 65-69, Jon Eldon: 47:16
Male 70-74, Peter Brocklehurst: 54:17
Male 75-79, Peter Drew: 1:09:56
Team winners:
Female 1st place, Truro Running Club, Lucy Williams, Gail Aspden, Helen Mitchell and Victoria Jackson.
Male 1st place, Truro Running Club, Peter Sowerby, Andrew Senior, Chris Annear and James Davies.
Full results
Younger runners kicked off the evening with a one-mile fun across the beach.
With tough competition along an even tougher course, 33 Hayle Runners did themselves proud as the club hosted the second event in the MTRS series.
The ladies’ team, consisting of Rebecca Quick (50:28), Teigan Turner, (58:51) Maddie Trewhella (59:40) and Kelly Bills (1:00:15) stormed home in second place.
In the team rankings, as well as placing second, Hayle ladies’ teams also took fourth, fifth and sixth position.
Hayle men’s team, made up of Liam O’Neill (40:04), Elliott Holmes (45:24), Samuel Goodwin (46:11) and Alex Brooks (46:32) matched the ladies’ team success, also taking silver.
Hayle men also took placed fifth in the team rankings thanks to Jon Eldon, Paul Gough, Frazer Humbles and Andrew Searle.
Hayle runners didn’t disappoint in the age categories, with Rebecca Quick taking silver in the under 35s, placing fourth overall and Hayle’s first lady over the finish line.
Kelly Bills took bronze in the 45-49 category and Caroline White placed second in the 65-69s. An impressive result for Caz who said: “What an evening! What a range of emotions! I was worried I wouldn’t make it to the end of the beach, but I loved it. My toughest race to date was my first as a Hayle Runner, but it won’t be my last.”
It was also Maddie Trewhella’s, Lisa Claire’s, Rosie Hill’s and Olivia Henwood’s first race wearing the Hayle Runners’ vest.
Liam O’Neill placed third overall and took silver in the 35-39 category, Paul Gough placed third in the 55-59 group, meanwhile Jon Eldon is consistently proving his going to be a tough man to beat in his new 65-69 age category taking gold.
In an evening of firsts, Samuel Goodwin made the men’s team, tail runner, Sam Robinson, tackled the St Ives Bay 10k for the first time and plenty of volunteers put on a high ves vest for the first time to marshal.
Hayle Runners full results
Kelly Bills – 1:00:15
Emma Bowden – 1:14:10
Alex Brooks – 0:46:32
Chris Butler – 1:00:07
Helen Cattran – 1:21:24
Kat Cumbley – 1:32:13
Oisin Curtis – 0:55:22
Jon Eldon – 0:47:17
Julie Frost – 1:20:17
Samuel Goodwin – 0:46:11
Paul Gough – 0:49:22
Olivia Henwood – 1:32:13
Amelia Hill – 1:36:14
Elliott Holmes – 0:45:24
Frazer Humbles – 0:49:32
Beverley Lamprill – 1:11:10
Paul Launder – 0:55:50
Santino Mangion – 0:52:10
Jennie Massey – 1:36:23
Simon Mayho – 1:14:05
Liam O’Neill – 0:40:04
Rebecca Quick – 0:50:28
Sam Robinson – 1:36:24
Andrew Searle – 0:49:38
Charles Simpson – 0:51:57
Lisa Stewart – 1:05:18
Claire Stone – 1:17:31
Deborah Sturges – 1:20:37
Susan Thomas – 1:08:49
Maddie Trewhella – 0:59:40
Teigan Turner – 0:58:51
Caroline White – 1:36:14
David Wilding – 0:53:30