Brooks Cornwall County Cross-Country Championships 4th November 2012 at Newquay Sports Centre

After last year's successful inclusion of the Cornwall County Cross Country Championships within the Westward League fixture the 2012 Championships followed the same format and at the same venue over the playing fields and pastureland adjacent to the Newquay Sports Centre.

Once again, the interest and numbers were maintained at the very much higher level. With the additional competition from the Devon athletes competing for their clubs, the standard was also significantly better. The course, which has been rated by visiting Devon teams as one of the best in the South West, was at its most testing after months of wet weather, compounded by an overnight deluge which made the going slippery and heavy.

The day opened with the Senior Women's race combined with both Under 17 Men's and Women's athletes. The front end of the race was dominated by the Under 17 men and more importantly, Cornish athletes. Sam Lane de Courtin (Tavistock) took his first victory over local Devon rivals to claim the County victory followed quickly by Thomas Wood (Mounts Bay) and Danny Old (Newquay & Par). Old led his team to victory with Kieran Rowe 6th and James Craddock 9th.

Veteran International, Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) had the leading group of male athletes in her sights from the start and built up a commanding lead over the rest of the female athletes, winning by 2 minutes. Such is the strength of veteran athletics in Cornwall at the moment, the top three were all in these age group categories. Stepto won the WV40 medal, Jenny Nash (East Cornwall H) was second and WV50 winner with Lucy Mancer (Newquay & Par) third and winner of the WV35. The team positions could not have been tighter but with a higher third placed athlete, Newquay & Par took the medals over Cornwall AC, both on 14 points. Mancer led the team with Stephanie Martin 5th and Sharon Coyne 6th.

With only three Under 17's and five Under 20's these were the only age groups to be poorly supported, however, this did not detract from the quality of the athletes that did complete the 5Km course. In the Under 17's the Cornwall Champion was Isabel Steele (Cornwall AC), Charlotte Cayton-Smith in her Tretherras School kit was second and Lucy Bowden (Newquay & Par) third. The Under 20's was won by Alice Rogers (Tavistock) Jess Behennah (East Cornwall H) was second and Chloe Carley (Truro College) 3rd.

Katie Hughes (Cornwall AC) led from the gun in the Under 13 Girls race but was chased all the way to the line by Imogen Wood (Mounts Bay H) and Sian Temple (Tavistock). Cornwall AC won the team medals with Maya Groves (4th) and Sarah Wilson (9th) backing up Katie's win.

Finn Birnie (Newquay & Par) left it until the last 600m to overtake the early leader in the Under 13 Boys race but was a clear winner at the line over James Greenwood (Bodmin) and Will Savage (Helston). Newquay & Par AC were team winners thanks to Finn's win plus Lois garner 7th and Sam Bray 8th.

The popular Under 11 Development races were well attended despite the races falling at the end of half term but with just one complete team in the boys race, the number of scorers may be brought down to three in line with the other younger age groups for 2013. Clare Tapsell (Bodmin) won the girls event with Chloe Pettitt (Newquay & Par) in silver and Ella Henry-Brock (St Petroc's, Bude) with Bronze. Bodmin, St Petroc's won the team event with Tapsell, Jodie Greenwood (6th), Daisy Greenwood (9th) and Tia Brown (10th).

The Boys race saw the closest finish of the day. After taking the lead in a tight trio, Charlie Parker (Newquay & Par) looked to have snatched victory but a chasing Sam Norton (Truro School) just dipped on the line for a vest thickness win  with Matthew Rodden (Penzance) a close third. Goldolphin School were the winning team with Titas Zemkins (10), Louis Usher (15), Loius Bell (17) and Joel Sharkey (18).

The opening laps of the under 15 Girls race was a very cagey affair with a group of ten athletes not wanting to take the lead but gaps started to show half way through the second lap, the Cornish 

athletes just losing touch with the Devon girls. Taking the Championship medal was Yoyo Barnsley (Cornwall AC) just ahead of Tess Masselink (Tavistock) and Annie Trotter (Newquay & Par). With Lily England 4th and Lowenna Hawkey 6th, Newquay & Par were team winners.

In a quality Under 15 Boys race, the Cornish lads struggled to keep in touch with their Devon rivals but still showed some class as Ben Rogers (Cornwall AC) held off Frankie Aldred ( East Cornwall H) and James Williams (Cornwall AC). Jonathan Wilson (5th) completed the winning Cornwall AC team.

The finale was the Under 20 and Senior Men’s race over four laps of the course which by now had deteriorated and steadily got worse as about 120 men progressed over the 10Kms. Mile High were a force in the County for many years  but have not shown on the cross country scene recently but they showed they were back in contention with the winning performance coming from one of their athletes, Tony Brewer. Cornwall AC still showed that they were the strongest team with the win from Dan Rodgers at silver placing and Justin Thomas Bronze medalist, the team completed by the winner of the individual Under 20 medal, Callum Jones. Andrew Worden took Silver for the U20's and Tom Rawet the bronze. In the veteran age groups, Chris Harry won the VM50 medal (6th), Tony Dunn the VM45 (7th) and Adrian Mutsaers the VM40 (29).

Teams will now be selected from these Championships to represent Cornwall in the South West Championships at Bicton Arena in January, followed by the National Inter Counties at Birmingham in March.