Well, after the Cornish Marathon the final Grand Prix results are in and CAC have again won the Men’s team and come 3rd in the Ladies, thanks to a great effort from a lot of people. Thanks to all competing athletes (and other halves!), especially those who went the extra mile, literally, by doing a race for the team which they might not have been going to do.  Fortunately our men are so strong now that this isn’t often necessary, but several of our girls have done this over the season and we’re grateful!  Sneaking 3rd overall was certainly a nice reward.

Jo, the 2007 Ladies Grand Prix Champion

Dave, the 2007 Men's Grand Prix Champion

On the individual front Jo Friday has had a magnificent unbeaten year and comfortably won the Ladies title   She was well supported by Suzy Bosustow, who, in her first Grand Prix season, came a superb 6th overall and 3rd Under 35’s.  Sam Alexander also completed her first Grand Prix and was a promising 67th overall and 12th Veteran 40-44, improving vastly over the year.

Suzy, 6th overall in her first year in the GP
Not bad for starters

Our men dominated, with Dave Buzza winning the open title as well as the Veterans 40-44 crown.  For the first time CAC had the first three overall, with the very talented Matt Pullen finishing an incredible 2nd in his debut Grand Prix season (he’s a world champion sailor and low handicap golfer as well as a talented triathlete and duathlete) and Jon Keast finishing 3rd, after rarely coming outside the top five.  Jason Pascoe was a solid 8th, reward for a consistent season and Justin Thomas was 16th, despite having a couple of dodgy races.  Dave Southby ran all 14 races for the 2nd year in succession and despite this came 25th overall and 7th Veteran 40-44.  Our other club nutter, Graham Storer, also completed the full 14 as well as sundry others, such as the Grizzly and the Berlin Marathon, still finishing 12th Veteran 45-49 and 58th overall.

Matt, 2nd overall in his first GP year

Jon, still 'flying' along, finished 3rd overall

.....and now for the real 'hard men'

14 GP races, 14 finishes, for the second successive year
Beat that and he probably will!!

Another member of the elite club
14 GP races, 14 finishes,
and that does take some doing

Pete Torr was 54th overall and a classy 4th in the Veteran 50-54 section, as well as cruising the most consistent suntan category.  Danny Marsh managed to fit in enough qualifying races between surf life saving events to finish 66th overall and 26th Under 40 in his first Grand Prix season, just beating Viv Bray who was one position behind and 23rd Veteran 40-44.

Eight races completd once again.  Well done Viv,
a CAC team man through and through

Quite a few of our athletes would have completed the Grand Prix but for injury, including Emma Stallard, Sarah Keast, Jill and Ken Curtis, Matt Lewis, Dave Pell, Dave Norton and Noel Kindon.

WELL DONE TO ALL AND LET’S NOW WIN THE WESTWARD LEAGUE THIS WINTER AND BOTH MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS IN THE GRAND PRIX IN 2008