More than 200 runners took to the sands and dunes of St Ives Bay on Thursday, August 6, as Hayle Runners hosted the second race of the 2026/27 Cornwall Multi Terrain Race Series.
A total of 216 competitors completed the St Ives Bay 10K, which takes runners from Hayle along the beach towards Gwithian before heading into the Towans for a mixture of sandy paths and trails. The return journey features the race’s most notorious challenge, the aptly named Dune of Doom, before runners head back onto the beach for the final run towards the finish.
Conditions provided a typical Cornish summer evening, with warm temperatures and some cloud cover. The opening three miles along the beach offered a mixture of firm and softer sand, while organisers and competitors alike kept one eye on the quickly returning tide.
The evening began with the club’s popular one-mile fun run, which saw 34 young runners take to the beach before the main event.
At the front of the 10K, Belgrave Harriers’ Ollie Garrod claimed victory in 38:38, continuing an impressive week after also winning the Indian Queens Half Marathon just four days earlier. Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers finished second in 39:43, with Tim Zudrop of TRISPEED Marienfeld third in 40:57.
Annie Arnold of City of Plymouth Athletic Club was the first lady home in 43:05, followed by Cornwall AC’s Chloe Clarke in 45:58 and Jessie Sanzo of Bristol and West AC in 46:12.
The men’s team competition proved particularly close, with Hayle Runners and Truro Running Club both finishing on 49 points. The host club took the victory on the tie-break (as the last team runner finished ahead of Truro’s last team runner), with St Austell Running Club completing the podium in third.
Truro Running Club took first place in the ladies’ team competition, ahead of Hayle Runners in second and Truro’s second team in third.
There was a strong showing from the host club, with 27 Hayle Runners among the finishers. Liam O’Neill led the Green Army home in fifth place overall and was joined by Adam Gore, Jon Eldon and Alex Brooks in the victorious men’s team.
Hayle’s ladies secured second place, with Gail Aspden leading the team home alongside Florence Davies-Kirsop, Lynne Saywell and Susan Thomas.
Nine age-category awards also went to the Green Army. Gail Aspden won the Female 55-59 category, while Lynne Saywell marked a particularly successful debut in a Hayle vest by finishing third in the Female 60-64 category and earning a place in the club’s second-placed ladies’ team. Margaret Clark and Deborah Sturges took first and second respectively in the Female 65-69 category.
For the men, Liam O’Neill and Adam Gore finished second and third respectively in the Male 35-39 category, Mark Williams won the Male 55-59 category, Jon Eldon claimed first place in the Male 65-69s and Mark Squire finished second in the Male 70-74 category.
There were also several notable improvements among the Hayle contingent. Sam Robinson continued her recent run of progress by taking an impressive 12 minutes off her previous course time, while David Wilding recorded a four-minute course PB. Amelia Hill and Jon Eldon also improved on their previous performances.
David Farrier joined Saywell in wearing the Hayle green vest in competition for the first time.
“There’s something quite special about seeing hundreds of runners heading down the beach on a summer evening, although I suspect those feelings become slightly less charitable when they reach the Dune of Doom.
“This event takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes and we’re incredibly fortunate to have so many members, volunteers and local organisations willing to give their time to make it happen. Jamie and the organising team have spent months putting everything together, and seeing 216 runners finish the race and another 34 youngsters take part in the fun run makes all that work worthwhile.
“As the host club, we’re obviously delighted to see our men’s team win and our ladies finish second, but this race is really about putting on an event that runners from across Cornwall and beyond enjoy coming back to.”
Richard Collett
Club Chairman
Race director Jamie Gore led the Hayle Runners team responsible for organising the event, supported by club members and volunteers who helped with everything from registration and course preparation to marshalling and the finish area.
Hayle Runners would also like to thank race adjudicator Neville Witham and Hayle Surf Life Saving Club, which once again provided the race venue and medical cover, as well as Daniel Wheeler for photographing the evening.
The event was supported by Heyl CrossFit, St Ives Brewery, Bradleys Estate Agents and Carbis Bay Tesco. Bradleys sponsored the race mementos, assisted with the beach setup and had a team at the finish helping distribute them to runners. St Ives Brewery provided every finisher aged over 18 with a can of its low-alcohol Slipway IPA, Heyl CrossFit donated free membership prizes to the age-category winners, while Carbis Bay Tesco gifted bananas, apples and some sweets for the event.
Overall results
Men
1st – Ollie Garrod, Belgrave Harriers – 38:38
2nd – Jacob Landers, Tamar Trotters – 39:43
3rd – Tim Zudrop, TRISPEED Marienfeld – 40:57
Ladies
1st – Annie Arnold, City of Plymouth Athletic Club – 43:05
2nd – Chloe Clarke, Cornwall AC – 45:58
3rd – Jessie Sanzo, Bristol and West AC – 46:12
Mens Team Results
1st – Hayle Runners
2nd – Truro Running Club
3rd – St Austell Running Club
Ladies Team Results
1st – Truro Running Club A
2nd – Hayle Runners
3rd – Truro Running Club B
Hayle Runners full results
Gail Aspden – 55:13
Alex Brooks – 46:25
Jerry Cartlidge – 1:04:10
Margaret Clark – 1:15:06
Florence Davies-Kirsop – 55:40
Samantha Dixon – 1:29:20
Jon Eldon – 46:24
David Farrier – 1:05:26
Tim Fryer – 55:30
Adam Gore – 42:58
Debbie Gossington – 1:43:22
Amelia Hill – 1:35:25
Frazer Humbles – 55:30
Andrew James – 49:24
Jennie Massey – 1:43:22
Liam O’Neill – 41:57
Sam Robinson – 1:24:53
Lynne Saywell – 1:05:37
Andrew Searle – 53:45
Stuart Smith – 58:54
Mark Squire – 1:15:49
Claire Stone – 1:27:15
Deborah Sturges – 1:29:10
Susan Thomas – 1:08:45
Darren Uren – 1:02:45
David Wilding – 49:44
Mark Williams – 47:19