Pete Hillman (pictured above) was toward the sharp end, tucked in behind Nathan Gosling (Culdrose) and Mike Wilsmore (42Cdo RM). Steve Wherry (Royal Mail) was yards behind and relishing the prospect of an intense workout!  Donna Jenkin (Royal Mail) soon took up the lead in the ladies race with Ceri Drew a couple of places behind.  Chris Harper (Culdrose) and Chris Beresford made up the six Carnies heading across the fields to Carminowe Creek.

The first steep slippery hill was soon getting the heart rates soaring as we headed back towards the Gunwalloe road.  Then it was along the muddy farm road at Chyvarloe and down the stoney track all the way to Loe Bar and back inland along the shore of Loe Pool.  This area was a bit of a ‘feeding station’ as runners gulped down swarm after swarm of midges via their open, gasping mouths!

Back to Carminowe Creek and the ladies headed back to the finish with Donna still leading and Ceri moving up into 2nd.  Meanwhile, the men turned left for an extra loop, heading over the notorious wooden bridge which in the past two years has had Pete failing to pass his skating proficiency test!  This year he managed to stay upright and track the leaders up the long climb towards Degibna Chapel.  With lungs, heart and legs ready to explode it was back over fields and along the path to the base of Sickbay Hill.

Pete managed to hang on to 3rd place along the endless, tortuous road to the finish, a long way distant.  So tortuous in fact that winner Nathan ran along it with his eyes closed hoping that the finish would come quicker if he did so.  It didn’t!
Donna had won the ladies race and Ceri had retained her 2nd  place. 
Steve managed another fantastic run with the two Chris’ a bit further back down that long hill and road to the finish.
A tough but excellent workout on a lovely Wednesday afternoon.

Cross Country….Bring it on!!!