More than 400 runners took part in the Sticker 5 mile road race, round eight of the Cornwall Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Cornwall Glass and Glazing.
This popular event attracted a high quality field in both the Men's and Ladies races, with Tony Brewer (Mile High) and Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) claiming the top individual prizes.
In the Men's race 19-year-old Dan Nash (East Cornwall Harriers) soon moved ahead of the pack and by the three mile point had built up a lead 20 seconds ahead of a formidable chasing pack, which included Brewer, the Cornwall AC pair Justin Thomas and James Waldie, Dan Alsop (St Austell Running Club) and Dan Rodgers (Launceston Road Runners).
Nash, now home on holiday from Cardiff University, where he is studying Bio Medical Science, began to tire on the hills as the race entered the tough closing few miles and Brewer soon sensed an opportunity to strike, which he took full advance of, passing Nash before the four mile marker and moving clear of the rest of the chasing pack, to win his second successive Grand Prix race within an 11 day period.
Nash rallied with the finish in sight, losing by just seven seconds, with Thomas third, just three seconds behind the East Cornwall Harrier.
An intriguing battle looked likely in the Ladies' race, with Cornwall AC's Emma Stepto prepared for the expected challenge from Miranda Heathcote (Newquay Road Runners) and Jane Khan (Hayle Runners), who has chosen to avoid the summer heat of Dubai by spending some time back home in St Ives.
Stepto and Khan shared the lead for the first mile, with Heathcote tucked in behind, before the Cornwall AC marathon international upped the pace and moved ahead of Khan, which was not totally unexpected, as the Hayle Runner would still be feeling the effects of a superb run a few weeks ago in the Edinburgh Marathon, where she finished second, achieving a fine personal best of 2 hours 43 minutes 55 seconds.
Once in the lead and scenting a sniff of victory, there was no stopping Stepto, who gradually built a substantial lead, crossing the finish line almost a minute ahead of Heathcote, with Khan a further 19 seconds adrift of the Newquay athlete.
Full details in this week's West Briton, Cornish Guardian and Cornishman.
