It’s 35 years of shared miles, friendships, races, and stories — built by people who simply loved running and wanted to do it together.
Founded in 1991, Carn Runners has grown from a small group answering a newspaper advert into a thriving, welcoming club with members of all ages and abilities. Some faces have changed along the way, but the spirit of the club has remained exactly the same.
And remarkably, some of the runners who were there at the very beginning are still running with us today.
The story of Carn Runners begins in the summer of 1991, when Dennis Burrell spotted a simple advert in the local newspaper asking whether anyone would be interested in forming a running club.
Dennis had taken up running ten years earlier and, by 1991, had already completed the Duchy, Dartmoor, Athens, and London Marathons, alongside many local races of varying distances. Despite this, much of his training was done solo, or occasionally with a friend.
The idea of a local club — somewhere social, inclusive, and supportive — immediately struck a chord.
The first meeting took place at Broad Lane Chapel Hall in Illogan and was attended by around 15 people, including Martin Eddy, who placed the advert and went on to become a long-standing member of the club.
Among those early attendees were Tommy Polglase and Glynn Davis — both of whom are still running with Carn Runners today.
From that very first meeting, Carn Runners was born.
From the outset, Carn Runners was created to be a club for everyone.
No pressure. No barriers. Just people meeting up to run socially and enjoy being part of a group.
The club name was chosen carefully. With runners coming from both Camborne and Redruth, it was important not to favour either town. The proximity to Carn Brea made the choice an easy one — local, neutral, and meaningful.
The club operated from Broad Lane Chapel Hall for two years, steadily growing in numbers, before eventually moving to Holmans Sports Club in Camborne once it outgrew the space.
The first race Carn Runners attended as a club was a coach trip to the Taunton Half Marathon. With no official kit at the time, members ran in fluorescent yellow t-shirts, printed with Carn Runners in blue.
More races soon followed, including half marathons at Bovey Tracey, Plymouth, and Burnham-on-Sea.
The decision to adopt fluorescent yellow and royal blue as club colours came about simply because no other club was using anything remotely similar. The colours stood out then — and they still do today.
Carn Runners has a long and proud tradition of organising races, something that continues to play a key role in the club’s identity.
The club’s original race was the Blaythorne 10, a ten-mile event held annually in January and named after the Holmans clubhouse. The first race attracted fewer than 80 runners, but grew steadily as club running became more popular.
When the Cornwall Road Running Grand Prix was introduced, the Blaythorne 10 became the opening race of the series each year.
Following the club’s move from Holmans to Camborne School, the race was renamed the Stormforce 10, keeping the same route. The name reflected the reality of January racing in Cornwall — often wet, windy, and challenging.
In 2026, the club race evolved again with the introduction of the Trevithick 12K, a slightly shorter distance designed to appeal to a wider range of runners and encourage those newer to racing to take part.
The inaugural Trevithick 12K was a huge success, attracting over 700 runners and selling out — a milestone moment for the club.
While Carn Runners has always been a friendly and sociable club, it has also enjoyed its share of competitive success.
At Cornwall Grand Prix level, the Carn Runners ladies team won the overall team competition in 2006 and 2007, and many members have gone on to represent Cornwall at various distances and events.
Today, members take part in:
At the same time, the social side of the club remains just as important. Social group runs are a cornerstone of club life and are often just as enjoyable as race days.
One of the most remarkable parts of Carn Runners’ story is that some of its earliest members are still running with the club.
Dennis, now 81 years old, continues to run with Carn Runners — a living link to the club’s beginnings. Alongside him, Tommy and Glynn remain active members, bridging generations of runners.
Their presence is a powerful reminder that Carn Runners isn’t just about times, distances, or results — it’s about longevity, enjoyment, and shared experience.
As Carn Runners celebrates 35 years, the club continues to thrive with around 80 members and growing. All ages and abilities, a full calendar of runs and events, and a strong social core.
But this milestone isn’t just about reflecting on the past. It’s about inspiring the future.
Whether you’ve been running with us for decades, joined recently, or are thinking about taking your first steps with the club — Carn Runners remains what it has always been:
A welcoming club.
A supportive community.
Still running forward, together. 💙💛
