By Matt Pickard

THE Launceston Road Runners club have continued to pound the pavements and trails in some sweltering races throughout July and into August.

July 11 saw runners show fantastic endurance in the Hope Trail Festival, running five-mile laps of Newnham Park outside Plympton to complete different Ultramarathon distances. Nigel Reddicliffe and Nick Smith competed in the relays, running eight laps (40 miles) and six laps (30 miles) respectively, while in the 12, 24 and 36-hour races, Katie Fowler ran 13 laps, Jon Kappes 12 laps, Angela Brinicombe seven laps and both Vikki Savage and Elaine Hill did 30 miles (six laps).

Runners taking part in the Cornish Grand Prix series had a speedy "eyeballs out" four-mile race on Wednesday, July 15 at the Turkey Trot from Tricky's Bar, Redruth, with the following results: Andy Corbett – 27:58; Michaela Barron – 30:35; Matt Pickard – 31:29; Stuart Armstrong – 32:17; Mike Mehta – 35:21; Ian Grimes – 36:32; Angela Brinicombe – 37:22; Gabby Lyons – 42:41; Janet Lathom 43:32.

Launceston Road Runners, Hope Trail Festival.
Three of the club members that took on the tough Hope Trail Festival. From left: Katie Fowler, Nick Smith and Jon Kappes. (Picture: Launceston Road Runners). (Launceston Road Runners.)

The club did well in female podium finishes with Angela (F65-69) and Janet (F70-74) coming second in their respective categories and Michaela finishing third in the F35-39 age group.

On Sunday, July 19, at the Harlyn Bay "10K-ish", Joey Yeo finished with a time of one hour, three minutes and 28 seconds, while Jackie Chapman got home in 1:28:30.

Nick Smith got around in 2:21:41 and Jo Bailey in 3:55:48 at the Harlyn Trail Half Marathon. Meanwhile at the Wye Valley Tunnel 10K on the same day – which takes place along the old railway track and features 2km in the Tidenham Tunnel – Martin Venning finished third in his age category with a time of 1:09:26.

The following Saturday on July 25, Raoul Grantham and Ian Grimes took part in the Tywardreath Trotter seven-miler near Fowey, finishing with times of 1:08:25 and 1:10:52 respectively.

August kicked off with several races on Sunday the second, with Nick Smith earning a personal best with a time of 24:36 at the Stur 5K in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, while Ann Barriball completed the York 10K in 53:06.

Closer to home, at the Indian Queens Half Marathon, the runners from Launceston finished as follows: Andy Corbett – 1:36:37 (PB); Lewis Halliday – 1:43:36; Michaela Barron – 1:48:32 (PB and second in the F35-39 age group); Stuart Armstrong – 2:01:38 (PB); Matt Pickard – 2:01:59; Jenny Mills – 2:10:48 (first in F75-79 age group); Angela Brinicombe – 2:17:16; Vikki Savage – 2:53:47 (PB).

The club results for the month so far are rounded out with two final races.

At the St Ives 10K on Thursday the sixth, the trio of Nick Smith (59:43), Raoul Grantham (1:01:17) and Jackie Chapman (1:15:22) got around, while at the Sticker 5-mile two days later, the results were: Matt Pickard – 40:40; Stuart Armstrong – 40:54 (PB); Ann Barriball – 44:09; Raoul Grantham – 44:52 (PB); Angela Brinicombe – 46:10; Ian Grimes – 46:23; Linda Pickard – 52:38; Vikki Savage – 55:59 (PB).

The club was again well represented on the podium with Angela (F65-69) coming second in her category, while Stuart and Ian were third in theirs.

Launceston Road Runners meet for a social run every Tuesday at 6.45pm at Firebrand Brewery on Pennygillam Industrial Estate, and Thursday evenings at 6.30pm for a variety of different strength training sessions, with groups catering to all levels of ability. All are welcome!