Sunshine greeted the athletes in the 31st Duchy Open sponsored by Cornwall College (Camborne) at the Carn Brea Leisure Centre last weekend and the favourable conditions were reflected in the quality of performances achieved.

Liam and Sam with our sponsors, Cornwall College (Camborne)

This was most clearly evident in the Under 13 Girls age group, where the ten events produced three National Grade One performances from a talented trio of Newquay and Par Athletic Club youngsters.  Maria Brett, one of the day’s five triple winners, led the way equalling the Grade One Standard of 12.0 seconds in the 70 metre hurdles and later in the day went on to win the 200 metres (28.6) and long jump (4 metres 29).  Karis Harrington exceeded the Grade One shot standard comfortably with a winning throw of 9 metres 60 and on the track Charlotte Cayton-Smith equalled the Grade One time in the 1500 metres clocking 5 minutes 12.0.

Tamsin tracks Charlotte in the 1500 metres

Tom leads the 1500m but Anna keeps an eye on the rest

On the track Sam Heslop-George (Cornwall Athletic Club) was one of only four National Grade One performers, clocking 2 minutes 20.1 in the Under 13 800 metres, just one tenth outside his season’s best.

The Under 11 age group provided two of the elite group of triple winners, Jana Holmes (Cornwall Athletic Club) and Peter Tointon (Newquay and Par Athletic Club).  Jana was a comfortable winner of the 75 metres (11.9) and long jump (3 metres 59) but  had to fight much harder over 200 metres, winning by just one tenth of a second from team mate Francesca Waters in 24.5.  Sprinter Peter achieved a double success on the track, winning the 75 metres (11.1) and 150 metres (22.3), before turning his attention to the long jump, where he leapt 3 metres 71.

In the Under 17 Men’s competition, there was triple wins for Exeter track specialist Alex Crowter in the 100 metres (11.8), 200 metres (24.1) and 400 metres (54.4).  In the Senior events the former Cornwall Athletic Club high jumper Sarah Hewitt (nee Berry), who now competes for Brighton and Hove Athletic Club, made the long journey to the Duchy from Sussex to compete in this event and was duly rewarded with a trio of quality performances in the shot (9 metres 21), discus (35 metres 89) and high jump (1 metre 30).  Sarah’s husband Simon was also in winning form clearing 1 metre 70 in the high jump.

Liam wins the U13 High Jump (but not with this jump!)

Men's captain 'action man' Nathan

The quality of the performances from the Cornwall Athletic Club runners John Telford and Dave Buzza in the Veteran Men’s 1500 metres would not have been appreciated by the majority of the spectators.  John, the recently crowned British Masters Over 50 800 metre champion, moved clear of Dave in the finishing straight winning in 4 minutes 17.3, with Dave second in 4 minutes 18.3.  John’s time propels him to the head of the UK 1500 metre rankings for his 50-54 age group, with Dave moving up to 6th in the 45-49 UK list.

1500m start, Dave, John, Heidi and Ollie

A feature of the Senior events was the quality of the sprint double from Lee Christophers (Cornwall Athletic Club), who confirmed his ranking as the county’s fastest sprinter clocking 11.1 in the 100 metres and 22.9 in the 200 metres.  In the Under 20 field events, it was virtually a one man show, with James Hill winning no less than four events, the high jump (1 metre 40), shot (10 metres 21), javelin (40 metres 22) and discus (33 metres 34).

Can you spot James' discus?

Nathan in yet another event, what's new?

Spare a thought for young Jake Banevicius (Cornwall Athletic Club) who won both the Under 13 shot (7 metres 82) and discus (22 metres 29) producing a huge personal best in the latter event, only to fall less than one metre short of the National Grade One mark for his age group.

Great discus result from Jake and....

....now it's dad Kevin's turn (s)!

A CAC finishing phalanx in the day's last track event, the 400m

For full results go to the Track and Field Results section