THE Prime Minister has vowed to look into the issue of a subsidised link between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

David Cameron used his visit to west Cornwall to meet members of the Penzance Town Team and discuss ways to help boost the fortunes of our high street and struggling economy.

He also promised to look at the possibility of a cash incentive to help people making the 28-mile journey between Penzance and the remote islands.

"I am going to look at the Isles of Scilly connection," he said.

"It is important for the people who live there and also for the tourist trade, which I know is vital, to make sure that the connectivity is there. I am going to have to look at that."

Despite his upbeat talk of helping the area to flourish, Mr Cameron refused to be drawn on when the Government would re-evaluate business rates, a major bugbear for many in Penzance who would be keen to see the levy lowered to more affordable levels.

"We will look at a business rate revaluation in due course, we don't have plans for it now," he told The Cornishman.

"Obviously there's the opportunity to try and make sure that landlords show flexibility so rents can come down and there's all the other things we can do to make shopkeeping more affordable by continuing with the rate relief scheme," he said.

During his visit, the Prime Minister also met members of the Town Team, made up of local business leaders brought together as part of the Portas Pilot scheme.

In a meeting, he thrashed out ideas to help boost the fortunes of the town's high street, including ways to access extra funding streams, take more control of parking charges and the possibility of changing the face of high streets to offer a mix of business and residential use.

Speaking to The Cornishman after the PM had travelled on to Redruth, Robin Turner, a member of the Town Team and one of those behind plans to launch a monthly market, said he thought the visit was very positive for those that wanted to work hard and reinvent Penzance.

"He intimated that he would like to find money to help Penzance achieve the goals of the Town Team volunteers," he said.

"He agreed with the Town Team's thoughts on parking, change of use planning and saw that business rates prevent businesses from being viable in their early years.

"He also stated he wanted to cut red tape, aiding funding streams to be drawn down for start-up business."

Also among the team members to pose questions to Mr Cameron was Peter Wood, manager of Wharfside Shopping Centre.

He was keen to hear what the leader of the country had to say about lowering parking charges.

"I think that like all good politicians he listened to our arguments, he took on board the car park pricing arguments, but I felt that he expected us to sort this out through the localism route and I think that he is right, perhaps we should protest more," said Mr Wood.

"He was interested in the debate on rates but he said that there were financial constraints.

"He did respond to The Cornishman's letter, he did appear interested and he did listen."

THE fight is on to win votes when Cornwall goes to the polls today, Prime Minister David Cameron said during a visit to Penzance this week.

He issued the battle cry after travelling to the town where he talked to business leaders about the state of the local economy.

He also used the opportunity to hit back at his coalition partners in a dig about council tax charges.

"You always have a fight on your hands in politics but I am very committed to helping my team here to do all we can to deliver a good result," he said.

Penzance was the first stop on Mr Cameron's visit to the duchy earlier this week. It is also where Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg held a business lunch recently, using the local spotlight to blast the Conservative and Independent heads at County Hall for their poor handling of Cornish residents' cash.

In a political tit for tat, Mr Cameron said: "I would reject that. There is a council tax freeze here because of the Conservatives and if you want it to continue, the best way to do that is to have a Conservative administration.

"It is a Conservative council tax freeze, it is our policy."

He also refused to accept that a freeze would, in fact, leave the local authority having to slash budgets and sack staff to the tune of an estimated £4.6 million.

"The administration did show it can find savings," he said. "You can start at the very top and look at the bureaucracy, look at the cost of the administration, look at the cost of the management and see what you can do there but I think taking out those savings without affecting frontline services is absolutely possible."

AN IMPASSIONED plea by the people of Penzance was answered by the most powerful man in the country this week.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited the town after The Cornishman wrote and asked him to travel to Penzance and see for himself the efforts of local traders to boost the fortunes of the high street.

Answering the call for help, he learnt about the successes of traders along Causewayhead, the obstacles faced by many businesses locally and met with members of the Penzance Town Team.

"I wanted to come to Penzance because I read very clearly in The Cornishman how much you wanted to talk to me as Prime Minister about the future of the town and what we can do to make sure it continues to be a success story," he said.

"It is great to be here to talk to the Town Team and listen to their ideas so we can make a difference; to make sure we support independent traders, keep our town centres vibrant and get things done."

The Prime Minister arrived in Penzance at 11.30am on Monday morning to be greeted by Cornishman editor Jacqui Walls at the top of Causewayhead.

She led him on a guided walk down the cobbled street, accompanied by Dick Cliffe and Hannah Wallis, from Penzance's Town Team, and prospective Conservative Party candidate Derek Thomas.

Mr Cameron said he was struck by the feel of the cobbled street and the wealth of independent shops.

"The look and feel is fantastic," he said.

"There are so many slightly clone high streets around the country so when you find one which is absolutely buzzing on a Monday morning and has a lot of independent retailers and a lot of choice, and interesting shops, that is great to see.

"But obviously Penzance has its challenges in terms of other parts of the town."

Ms Wallis, who works in Walkers Jewellers and is vice-chairman of the Causewayhead Traders' Association, said the shopping venue was a great example of what could be done if people worked together.

"We are working really hard to keep Causewayhead busy and it shows that if we all work together things are achievable," she said.

"I think it is positive that he came and really good that The Cornishman invited him.

"Now we need to use this to spur us on."

TOP artists, consultants and architects from across the UK have been invited to contribute to a series of discussions about the future of Penzance.

Organised by the Exchange Gallery as part of its Postcard to Penzance project, anyone with ideas about the town's regeneration is invited to join the first debate, which takes place next Thursday between 6pm and 8pm.

Speakers include architect Sarah Gaventa, former director of Sea Change and a founding member of the London Festival of Architecture, and Alan Boldon, from the University of Brighton, who has worked as a consultant to towns and cities.

The panel will also include Patricia Brown, former chief executive of the Central London Partnership, who established the UK's first Business Improvement District (BID) scheme; designer and Jubilee Pool chairman Martin Nixon; and Dave Slatter, from Cornwall Council's planning and regeneration team.

Residents are invited to share suggestions and aspirations for the future of Penzance. They will also be given the opportunity to write their thoughts on postcards, which will be pinned up on the gallery's wall as part of the ongoing exhibition, supported by Feast. The event, supported by The Cornishman and First Great Western, takes place at The Exchange Gallery.

A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to safety following a crash in west Cornwall on Sunday.

The male, from Penzance, came off his vehicle at around noon on Sunday afternoon while travelling on the A30 to Sennen.

Police reported the rider to have "slid on the road" and come off his bike near Escalls Chapel on the road to the village.

Paramedics treated the motorcyclist at the scene, and he was airlifted to Royal Cornwall Hospital, at Treliske at 12.15pm suffered from injuries to his right leg – and reportedly a broken hip and femur.

No other road users were involved. Police closed Sennen's major link road from 12.35pm, reopening it by 2pm.

The rider was said to be "conscious and breathing".

Cornwall Air Ambulance were on a call at the Isles of Scilly at the time of the emergency call.

As a result Cornwall Search and Rescue attended the incident.

POLICE are searching for the driver of a stolen van involved in a hit and run incident in Hayle.

The black Ford Transit panel van, signwritten 'Alloy Kings' was in collision with a Peugeot 306 car on Carnsew Road between Jewsons Builders Merchants and the mini-roundabout at 8.45pm on Thursday, April 18.

The Transit failed to stop at the scene and the vehicle was found abandoned shortly after in Trevoarn Flats, Hayle.

Investigating officers said both vehicles were damaged but no one was seriously injured. The van was believed to have been taken from Millpond Avenue a short time before the collision.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the collision, particularly the driver of the black Transit at the time of, or shortly after the collision, to call police on 101, quoting crime reference AY/13/311.

THE owner of a young horse shot in the stomach says she fears the animal had been used for target practice.

Heidi Petzing's horse Princess has been left with a scar on her stomach after the random attack.

Another horse was also shot in the neck when an unknown shooter fired on the animals in a field near St Ives.

"What I'm worried about is that the horses have been used for target practice," said Ms Petzing, 40. "Whoever did this is a mindless thug. To cause any animal unnecessary suffering is senseless."

The animals were hit some time between Wednesday, March 20, and Saturday, March 30, in a field near Trevalgan Campsite on the outskirts of the town.

It took a while for Ms Petzing to notice the wound on Princess because the two-year-old filly is still wearing her thick winter coat.

It was only when grooming her that the injury was discovered.

"I was mortified," said Ms Petzing, who owns Rosewall Stud at St Ives with her mother Tulie Richardson. "It's awful – absolutely dreadful."

Ms Petzing said the scar on Princess's stomach would have a long-term impact on the animal and on her business breeding show horses.

"She was bred for the show ring and now she's got a scar so she won't be used as a show horse," she said.

"That's her career over before it's started."

The businesswoman said she had had trouble with people shooting wildlife and horses before and had even put up signs around the site to warn people they would be prosecuted for trespassing.

"I think people might be going up there to shoot rabbits and they've shot the horses to get them out of the way," she said.

Ms Petzing has alerted other horse-owners to keep an eye out for anyone taking pot-shots at their animals.

"We're doing drive-bys at all times of the day to see if we can see anyone up there," said Ms Petzing, who is also a full-time enforcement officer.

"We've asked people who ride around there to keep an eye on the horses as well and we look out for other people's horses too.

"People have shown such support – the camaraderie has been fantastic – but we shouldn't all have to do this for each other."

A police spokeswoman said they could not rule out the possibility of a deliberate attack having been carried out: "We don't know if it was just someone out shooting who wasn't being very careful or if this was intentional."

Officers are also advising those taking part in country pursuits involving shooting to ensure they have permission to shoot on the land, and to be wary of livestock and other animals. Anyone with information about the injuries to the horses is being asked to contact police on 101 quoting crime reference AI/13/256.

DOGS are being stolen from gardens in St Day and sold for profit and illegal fights, it has been claimed.

Worried villagers have raised concerns after five dogs reportedly went missing last week.

Earlier this year a rottweiler and a rottweiler-cross German shepherd missing from Gwennap Pit, near St Day, were found shot dead and severely mutilated in Penstraze woods, near Truro.

Their owner feared they had been taken for fighting.

This week Julie Ward, of Crofthandy, said her eight-year-old springer spaniel, Bracken, disappeared last Wednesday.

Police have also confirmed a cairn terrier went missing from Poldice, with neighbours reporting sightings of two suspicious men driving a white Transit van in the area.

Ms Ward, a mother of five, said: "I came home on Wednesday afternoon to find my other dog barking like mad.

"I could not find Bracken anywhere – as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth.

"If he was down a badger hole or mine shaft his brother, Bramble, would have been sitting there with him – they were inseparable.

"I think someone picked him up or came to my drive and stole him. A lot of other dogs have gone missing recently and only yesterday (Monday) one was stolen from Illogan.

"The type of dogs stolen could be either sold on or used for fighting. We are devastated. If we found him dead we could live with that but not knowing where he is ... ."

Police confirmed Ms Ward's dog was reported as stolen from her driveway on April 24 between 1pm and 6pm.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police quoting reference GP/13/797.

The force is also appealing for information after a terrier went missing while out for a walk in the St Day area on the same day between 3pm and 4pm.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting police reference AC/13/1558.

A HOLY well near Helston is undergoing major restoration to rescue the stone structure from collapsing.

Volunteers joined archaeologists and builders to clear and restore Trelill Well.

The building became the first structure in Cornwall to be designated a scheduled monument in the 1920s.

It is regarded as a perfect example of a medieval well-house.

Built of local killas stone, and dating back to the 17th century, with a granite-arched doorway, the well-house has not undergone repairs or alteration for more than a century.

Archaeologist James Gossip, of Cornwall Council's historic environment projects department, said: "In the past ten years the building had started to suffer as a result of a build-up of silt against its back wall, and had become overgrown with ivy and other tree growth, with large roots loosening stones and threatening to collapse parts of the structure. The adjacent stream had also been blocked, causing water to pour through the rear wall and washing out the earth bedding mortar, leaving the structure in fragile condition."

He said restoration was vital to stabilise the structure.

A detailed archaeological survey was carried out to determine the extent of the problems and the best course of action.

Volunteers from Meneage Archaeology Group have been helping Cornwall Council's archaeologists clearing silt behind the well-house, removing vegetation and scraping loose earth from between the stones.

Mr Gossip added: "Loose stones have now been put back in place and the building re-pointed with lime mortar by building conservation specialists Joe Morris and Tim Lake that ensures the original appearance of the building is retained as far as possible."

The roof will be covered with turf by the volunteers.

Once the restoration work is completed, the area surrounding the well will be fenced off to help highlight the significance of the monument as a historic feature and secure the area around it. It is hoped a public open day will mark the completion.

The work is being funded by landowner Mark Rowe and organised by Cornwall Council's Scheduled Monument Management Project, to which English Heritage and the Cornwall Heritage Trust contribute. Wendron Parish Council has also given its support.

THE number of patients spending more than four hours in the emergency department of Royal Cornwall Hospital is increasing leading to the trust missing its annual targets.

Under guidelines 95 per cent of patients should spend no longer than four hours in the emergency department but in March that dropped to 87.14 per cent.

That was the lowest level achieved for the past three years.

This came after a figure of 88.1 per cent was recorded for February, 94.18 per cent in January and 93.2 per cent in December.

As a result RCHT missed its target for the last quarter of 2012-13 and also failed to achieve the 95 per cent target for the entire year.

Performance for the year was 93.43 per cent which meant that of the 73,007 patients seen at the emergency departments at Treliske and West Cornwall Hospital during 2012-13 a total of 4,791 spent more than four hours in the department.

The trust had taken action in April 2012 after missing the target then including the introduction of a "deep dive" for the RCHT board into performance data and analysis so they could understand and address the causes. A report going before the board this week suggested that the main reason for the failure to meet the target was a lack of medical bed capacity meaning that patients could not be moved out of the emergency department.

The report also highlighted that RCHT has seen an increase in discharge delays over the past two years.

During 2012-13 there was, on average, 24 delays a day.

However delays were particularly high in January – the worst month on delayed transfers of care since April 2009 – with an average of 35 delays a day and a maximum of 48.

The report states that while it improved slightly in March there were still on average 25 a day and a high of 44.

The report also covers the high outbreak of norovirus in February which led to the hospital having to close wards.

The peak number of cases was 18, significantly higher than at any other time of the year.

The outbreak affected staff as well as patients, putting additional strain on services.

THE owner of a young horse shot in the stomach said she feared the animal had been used as target practice.

Heidi Petzing's horse Princess has been left with a scar on her stomach after the random attack.

Another horse was also shot in the neck after someone fired on the animals in a field near St Ives.

"What I am worried about is that the horses have been used for target practice," she said.

"Whoever did this is a mindless thug; to cause any animal unnecessary suffering is senseless."

The animals were hit sometime between Wednesday, March 20, and Saturday, March 30, in a field near Trevalgan Campsite on the outskirts of the town.

It took a while for Ms Petzing to notice the wound on Princess because the two-year-old filly is still wearing her thick winter coat. It was only when grooming her that the injury was discovered.

"I was mortified," said the 40-year-old who owns Rosewall Stud, St Ives with her mother Tulie Richardson.

"It is awful, absolutely dreadful."

And a scar on her stomach will have a long-term impact on the animal and Ms Petzing's business breeding show horses.

"She was bred for the show ring and now she has got a scar so she wont be used as a show horse," she said.

"That is her career over before it has started."

The businesswoman said she has had trouble with people shooting wildlife and horses before.

Since the shooting, Ms Petzing has alerted other horse owners in the area to keep an eye out for anyone taking pot shots at their animals.

"We are doing drive-bys at all different times of the day and have asked people who ride around there to keep an eye on the horses as well to see if we can see anyone up there," said Ms Petzing, who is also a full-time enforcement officer.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We do not know if it was just someone out shooting who wasn't being very careful or if this was intentional."

Officers are also advising the public to be careful when performing country pursuits to ensure that they have permission to shoot on the land and to be wary of livestock and other animals while shooting.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting AI/13/256.

FURIOUS Marazion and Ludgvan residents have slammed Cornwall Council's behaviour over a controversial cycle path overlooking St Michael's Mount.

Two weeks ago, residents and local councillors were shocked to see that work had started on a footpath and cycleway between Marazion and the station car park.

When the plans to replace free parking with a cycle path were first revealed by Cornwall Council, they were strongly opposed by Ludgvan Parish Council, backed by a petition signed by 400 local people and a number of complaints from individuals.

The council decided to go ahead with the scheme but only informed interested parties on Friday, April 12 – just three days before work started to replace the lay-by between the yellow lines and the seawall with a cycle path.

Dave Parker, of Marazion, objected to the proposal and put forward a number of alternative suggestions.

He said: "Throughout the consultation process I feel I was repeatedly fed half-truths, quoted spurious quasi-scientific studies and other red herrings and had key information withheld from me."

Mr Parker said he requested to be present at the council meeting where the decision was made.

"I was promised that as soon as it was arranged I would be informed," he said.

"I was also promised a copy of the report so that I could see if my views had been represented fairly.

"I am still waiting, so broken promises by the council and it would seem that I have been denied the right to fair representation in a period of so-called consultation."

Vice-chairman of the parish council, Nigel Honess, stepped down last week after work started on the £50,000 project.

Ludgvan School secretary, Sarah Blight, said she believed the decision would have a negative impact on tourism.

She said: "Last May, I had the incredible honour of being the (Olympic) torchbearer who ran right on to the beach in front of St Michael's Mount where the world's press was positioned to capture the moment. It was a wonderful time and I felt very proud to be a part of such an occasion.

"However I certainly do not feel proud of a council who make decisions that will deter visitors and would request that they put this situation right by reinstating this parking facility."

A spokeswoman for Cornwall Council said: "Interaction with local communities on schemes forms an important part of the design process and can often improve the quality of our proposals.

"Vital though consultation is however, it will not always be possible to accommodate every view.

"The cycle path consultation revealed mixed feelings about the proposals. However there was strong support from people wanting increased safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Penzance and Marazion."

Work is expected to be completed by the end of May.

A "SCOURGE of Falmouth" has been jailed for breaching a court order imposed to keep him from causing trouble.

Michael John Starling, 31, was jailed on Monday for 12 weeks after being found drunk by police on Friday.

Starling had been given an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) the day before by Truro magistrates banning him from being under the influence of alcohol in Falmouth or Truro town centres.

Inspector Mark Richards said: "Starling was the scourge of Falmouth, now he's the scourge of Truro since moving in 2011."

Natasha Matthews, the Cornwall Council antisocial behaviour case worker who worked with police to apply for the Asbo, said: "We have been working on this since January. He was issued a warning then and subsequently given the Asbo last week."

The order was imposed after Starling, of Trevethenick Road, Truro, pleaded guilty to six offences including racial abuse, being drunk and disorderly and public order offences at Truro Magistrates' Court on Thursday. His solicitor, Rob Eccleston, said Starling was attempting to address his alcohol problems and was booked into a programme.

Magistrates heard on Monday that Starling was asked to leave his address on Friday night and effectively made homeless. He went to The Leats where he knew he had some bedding and shelter.

He maintained he was not drunk when police saw him and was asleep when they found him.

On Thursday, magistrates had heard that on January 14 Starling was asked to leave a train in Truro after shouting abuse at a passenger and verbally abusing rail staff.

An ambulance was called following an altercation involving Starling on January 25, when Starling became abusive.

On January 24, he verbally abused and challenged staff to a fight at a fast-food outlet in Truro.

Then, on February 20, he was asked to get off a train at Perranwell Station after shouting racial abuse at a passenger.

In another incident, Starling was asked to leave Truro train station when he and two females hurled abuse at staff and passengers. Rail workers reported smelling booze on his breath. And on April 22, Starling threatened to stab a person in the neck following an altercation.

Mr Eccleston said Starling was due to attend an alcohol programme on April 22, but had to appear in court the same day. He wanted help with the alcoholism he had struggled with since the age of 16.

Mr Eccleston said the five-year Asbo would go uncontested and Starling would live with his girlfriend in Truro, keeping him off the streets. An appeal has been lodged against the 12-week prison sentence.

A TRURO woman is offering an insight into the spell-casting world of witchcraft.

Self-proclaimed white witch Julianne White, who has been interested in the pagan-influenced Wiccan way of life for two decades, said she was offering the course to enlighten people on the path of harmony and appreciation for "all things natural and beautiful".

Ms White said: "I celebrate the moon phases and things like that but I don't go dancing under the moon naked."

A Wiccan is someone who is a member of the Wicca religion, which celebrates a deep respect for nature, incorporating rituals and helping others.

"It's more to do with using your energies. We already do certain rituals anyway – we brush our teeth because we have to – so it's just like that," she said.

A favourite spell of Julianne, who boasts proudly of her witchcraft hobby, is used to find a lost love. "You would get a red rose and pull the petals off and put them in a bag in your pocket. Once they begin to wilt, the love moves closer.

"I do practise white witchcraft, and these spells are a part of that."

Most of the spells are aimed at helping others and encouraging happiness.

Wiccans say they do not cast spells to hurt people, only to bring them good luck or to release stress.

The course, which will begin on May 10 and is held at Ms White's home, will be a mix of practical and theory-based information.

There will be the chance to learn some spells and connect with nature through walks, but the main point is to pass on knowledge and help people find their path.

Leanne Newton, who recently participated in Ms White's tarot, palm reading and cleansing course, said: "I didn't want the course to end, but now I can't wait for the Wiccan course to start. I'm really excited."

For more e-mail julianne.white16@bto penworld.com

A MYSTERY benefactor sent £500 to a fisherman whose lobster pots were stolen.

The West Briton reported how Barry Garland, from Perranporth, was left "gutted" after pots valued at £4,000 were stolen from St Agnes.

A week later a letter arrived at the West Briton offices containing £500 in cash for the fisherman, which was passed on to Mr Garland.

He said he had no idea where the money may have come from.

He added: "It's very generous of someone.

"It's absolutely fantastic and it will go straight towards new lobster pots.

"I'm speechless – the generosity of some people is incredible."

Mr Garland said the money would buy between 15 and 20 new pots, which have to be specially made.

Other people in the community have also rallied round to help Mr Garland.

Louise Treseder, from the Driftwood Spars pub in St Agnes, offered to hold a raffle to raise funds, and Bill English, from St Agnes Hotel, donated eight lobster pots.

"Thank you very much is all I can say," said Mr Garland.

A COUPLE say they are trying to rebuild their lives after their home was repeatedly inundated by floods and raw sewage.

David and Christina Warr say their cottage at Ladock has been left in a "totally unliveable state of ruin" by three floods in the past four months.

They and neighbours at Higher Cottages are frequently threatened by floods, they say.

Mr Warr said: "Every time there's a downpour we rush out to plug up the drains and divert the water away, but it's no use. We are at our wits' end.

"South West Water were quick to respond at the time, but nothing's being done."

In November the couple paid about £20,000 for repairs to flood damage. Then two days before Christmas Mr Warr, a plumber, had to use an industrial pump to divert 43,000 litres of water and raw sewage – but it eventually seeped in through the back door.

The couple left the next day because the taps were "running brown" and they could not use their toilet or bath.

Two weeks ago, they watched in horror as raw sewage and flood water inundated their home again.

Mr Warr said it had taken South West Water nearly five months to decontaminate the area after the sewage flood and they now feared plans for 19 new homes in Ladock would overload the village's sewers.

Mr Warr said: "No one should have to live like this. I'm not against the development, but the correct infrastructure must be put in first."

Ladock parish councillor Mike Gibbons said he was horrified by the damage to their home: "I plan to organise a meeting between South West Water and Cornwall Council," he said. "The Warr's home has been flooded with raw sewage. Something needs to happen."

A spokesman from South West Water said: "The problem is flood water from the Tresillian River entering the pumping station during bad weather, not the capacity of the equipment. We're trying to find a solution which may include installing a flood protection bund round the pumping station.

"We attended the pumping station which was flooded by the river in December and removed sewage by tanker to try to protect homes.

"We responded to a new call from residents reporting a blockage, and carried out investigations including a check of the cleanliness of the area around the pumping station as a goodwill service to residents."

GYLLYNGVASE Surf Life Saving and Triathlon Club were among the medals at last week's British Life Saving Sport Pool Championships in Somerset.

A strong team of nipper and junior members from the club entered the Championships held in Millfield.

The club picked up a large collection of medals after two days of fierce competition at the 50m pool.

The dual life saving and triathlon club are improving every year since establishing in 2008, and the nipper team (7 – 12 years) finished in fourth place, closely behind larger clubs Woolacombe, St Ives and Portreath.

The junior squad (13-19 years) also showed a lot of skill and determination, despite having one of the smallest teams in the competition. Susie Laws, 15, took home gold in the 50m sprint race.

Matthew Stone, president of Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving and Triathlon Club said: "I am very proud of all of the competitors from Gylly.

Work

"Everyone's hard work over the last year has clearly showed over the Championships.

"I must say a big thank you to all coaches and officials who continue to volunteer their time to support the club."

The success is all the more impressive when you consider their results four years ago, when the team finished second from last.

This time around, they received one gold, two silver and nine bronze medals.

There was a lot of effort and teamwork to be seen from all Gylly competitors who attended the Championships.

The club encourages its members to supplement their beach based fitness, triathlon and lifesaving training with winter training and pool championships.

Gyllyngvase SLSC members aged from just eight years old learn lifesaving skills and become stronger swimmers by continuing their training in the pool. To find out more, visit www.gyllysurf.org.uk

CORNWALL skipper Ben Hilton believes his side face a "massive test" when they open their Bill Beaumont Cup campaign with a match against Gloucestershire at Cinderford on Saturday (3pm).

Gloucestershire had not named their squad at the time of going to press, and will be missing several players as a number of their feeder clubs have re-arranged league games to play this weekend.

But crucially, Cinderford have called off their home National League One match with Old Albanians, which means their players will be available for the county side, making Gloucestershire a very tough proposition, with the vast majority of the Cornwall squad drawn from National Two South clubs Redruth and Cornish All Blacks.

Cornwall won 17-0 against Devon at Brickfields in their recent Tamar Cup clash, but made heavy weather of it against much weaker opponents.

However, Hilton believes that not too much should be read into that performance as there were plenty of disruptions to the Duchy squad that evening.

"The worry is we aren't as prepared as last year, and that's not due to a lack of organisation, but the pure logistics of trying to get everyone together," said Hilton, who is a teacher at St Petroc's School in Bude.

"I think we will give a good account of ourselves, but we are very aware of how difficult this year is, playing Gloucestershire and Kent away, and reigning champions Hertfordshire at home. There are no banker wins in there."

If Cornwall can get their campaign off to a winning start though, it will give them a nice boost before the long trip to Rochester to face Kent the following weekend.

Cornwall have made seven changes from the side that beat Devon in the Tamar Cup. Jake Murphy takes over from Joe Parma at full back, while Coventry's Steve Johns comes in for Lewis Paterson at centre.

There is also a new half-back pairing of Redruth duo Paul Thirlby and Greg Goodfellow, who replace Matt Shepherd and Steve Perry.

In the pack, Redruth loose-head prop Darren Jacques has recovered from an ankle injury to take over from Tamar Cup man of the match Martin Rice, who is on the bench.

There are also two changes in the back row, with All Blacks skipper Tom Rawlings at openside flanker, providing he has recovered from a knee injury picked up in a league game against Worthing recently, and Plymouth Albion's Sam Hocking at No.8, with James Goldsworthy and Josh Lord making way.