Devon v Cornwall: The Rematch

Last October Claire Longman was the club’s only representative at the first Devon v Cornwall 10k race. Her report from the event got a number of us excited about this month’s 10 mile rematch, but sadly our contingent merely doubled to include Andy Goundry!  This time Andy gives us his perspective and urges more of us to get on board for the next one, to really give Devon some proper Cornish competition!

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park

Andy looking very serious!

Sunday 29^th January. A cold but still morning.  An hour and 15 minute drive. Met Claire at registration and realised the rest of TRC and in fact most of Cornwall seem to think you need a passport to come this far north!  So out numbered 2 to 1, we realise the outcome is inevitable.

Massed in front of Mount Edgcumbe House with a steep grassing decline in front, 157 runners wearing their county allegiance prepare for the race ahead. If you are coming back from a torn calf you need to avoid hills or treat them very gently. Wrong race then! This stunning and extremely testing, mostly off road race, is continuously up or down with very little level. The course headed from Mount Edgcumbe Park along the Tamar coastal footpath and via fields and numerous styles, kissing gates, steep sets of steps and more fields to the stunning Cawsand narrow streets (they make Mousehole and St Ives seem like the M25!), a country loop and after a very steep grassy downhill (where one Andy took a minor 2oom detour heading back outward and then realised he should have turned left and not right) before heading back along the same track to the finish. As if the course wasn’t tough enough, the finish was back up a 300m near vertical grassy hill to finish at the same point as the start, with the organiser shouting at all finishers, “don’t you dare walk up my hill!” Very few did, but I swear those that chose to walk probably went up it quicker.

Keep the tee shirt you wore, get a bottle of water and feel suitably rewarded just to have finished.

I know Claire will agree. This is a great race. The odd signage issue, but generally well run and marshalled.  A real sense of camaraderie and generally good fun.

The organisers have said both the last Sunday in October 10k race and last Sunday in January 10 mile races will be repeated as most who went thoroughly enjoyed it.

Put it in your diaries and lets give Devon a run for their money.

Andy G

Results

• Claire Longman: 13th Senior Lady - 01:33:23
• Andy Goundry: 6th Male Vet - 01:21:35

Download the full results: Devon v Cornwall Jan 2012 pdf

Claire on the final uphill push (centre, in black)

Claire crosses the line for Cornwall