Athletes, parents and friends packed the Forum Room at the Penventon Park Hotel, Redruth to celebrate one of the most successful years ever in the twenty six year history of Cornwall Athletic Club.  Club Chairman, Alan Rowling commented, “One indicator of a top club is success in all the main disciplines of the sport, which are track and field, cross country and road running.  We are currently the South West Track and Field Division One League and Cup champions, the Cornwall Grand Prix Men’s Road Race champions and last winter, we won five of the seven team titles in the Westward Cross Country  League.  That’s a very good year by any standards.”

Presentations were made by Paul Ricketts (Assistant Manager Penventon Park Hotel) and Chris Hailey (Chairman Redruth Charity Trust).

Trophy winners represented all sections of the club, including Young Athletes, Seniors and Veterans and the evening provided the opportunity to reward athletes for their loyalty and commitment throughout the year, as well as recognising athletic performance.

The Chairman’s Trophy was won by Lamorna Newman who achieved three National Grade One standards in the Under 15 100m, 200m and 300m, including a county record in the latter event.  A new award, the Mike Hitchens Trophy, was presented by Mike, who is unable to be as involved with the club these days due to ill health.  The inaugural recipient was Neil Tunstall, who distinguished himself at the World Masters Track and Field Championships in Italy last summer, winning the 400 metre hurdles in the 45-49 age group and becoming the club’s first track and field World Champion.

The Ladies top athlete trophy was shared between the County’s leading female road runner, Jo Friday and the talented multi event youngster Alice Vage.  Jo, the current Ladies Cornwall Grand Prix road running champion, has been unbeated in her last fourteen consecutive Grand Prix races.  She is now beginning to make an impact on the national scene, finishing ninth in last month’s Bath Half Marathon.  Last summer Alice headed the Under 13 county rankings in five event, which included National Grade One standards in the high jump (1 metre 46) and pentathlon and also earned the distinction of being the club’s top athlete in the UK rankings, placing thirteenth in the high jump and twelfth in the pentathlon.

The Best Athlete award on the male side went to another of the club’s promising young athletes, Callum Jones.  Callum was also one of the five Cornwall Athletic Club athletes to achieve a National Grade One standard last summer, clocking 2 minutes 22.8 in the Under 13 800 metres.  He also had an extremely successful winter, winning five of his six Westward League races and clinching the  Under 13 individual league title.

This year the club was proud to present a Special Award to Conor Robinson.  Conor came to the club just before Christmas and on limited training won the Cornwall Schools Junior Boys Cross Country title in January.  Later in the month he finished fifth, competing in the lower end of the two year Under 15 age group, at the South of England Championships in London and early in February, won the Junior Boys race at the South West Cross Country Championships in Cheltenham.  He was clearly expected to do well at the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Liverpool in March and astounded everyone by winning the Junior Boys title and completed a quite outstanding three months by winning the Home Countries International race in Perth and leading the England Junior Boys team to victory.

AWARD WINNERS

Chairman’s Trophy: Lamorna Newman, Mike Hitchens Trophy: Neil Tunstall, Veteran’s Trophy Male: Adrian Ball, Veteran’s Trophy Female: Emma Stallard, Road Runners of the Year Male: Matt Pullen, Road Runner of the Year Female: Suzy Bosustow, Best Male (Athletic Performance): Callum Jones, Best Females (Athletic Performance): Jo Friday and Alice Vage, Best Newcome Male: Ryan Cleave, Best Newcome Female: Jenny Evans.

Cross Country: Most Improved Young Athlete Male: James Waldie, Most Improved Young Athlete Female: Freya Glover, Most Improved Senior Male: Matt Cleave, Most Improved Senior Female: Bethany Alston, Best Team Members Young Athletes Male: Under 13 Boys Team: Callum Jones, Tom Rawet, Same Heslop-George, Liam Littlejohn, Best Team Members Young Athletes Female: Olivia Ballard and Anna Ashbridge, Best Team Member Senior Male: John Waldie, Best Team Member Senior Female: Jenny Almey.

Track and Field including Sportshall: Most Improved Under 11 Male: Tom Wills, Most Improved Under 11 Female; Katie Jones, Most Improved Young Athlete Male: Sam Harry, Most Improved Young Athlete Female: Isabelle Luscombe, Most Improved Senior Male: James Hill, Most Improved Senior Female: Katie Hewitt, Best Team Member Young Athlete Male: Phillip Warwicker, Best Team Member Young Athlete Female: Becky Hocking, Best Team Member Senior Male: Ian Tucker, Best Team Members Senior Female: Christie Smith and Rebecca Turner.

PHOTOS WILL AVAILABLE IN A WEEK'S TIME