Hayle Runners take both team titles at St Agnes 5 Miler

Five miles does not sound like much until you wrap it around St Agnes Beacon on a humid evening. That was the test facing Hayle Runners at the Aggie 5, and they came home with two team titles and 18 age-category prizes.

Scorching temperatures and stifling humidity failed to slow the club as 61 members made the trip to St Agnes for the seventh race of the 2026 Cornwall GP series.

A tough new loop around the Beacon

A relatively new addition to the series, the St Agnes 5 Miler, known to many simply as the Aggie 5, sends runners on a picturesque but challenging anti-clockwise loop around St Agnes Beacon. The race starts at the Miners and Mechanics Institute, heads out towards St Agnes Head, loops back around the Beacon and returns to the village for a fast finish in the centre of St Agnes.

📷Emma Paull - Photo by Richard Collett

Green Army claim both team titles

Despite the testing conditions, both the men’s and ladies’ teams claimed first place.

The winning ladies’ team was made up of Emma Paull, Charlotte Bennett, Melodie Manners, Gail Aspden, Teigan Turner and Tear Rogers. The men’s title went to Sam Farmer, Daniel Costello, Daniel Millington, Jordan Morant, Peter Barnes and Neil Hayhurst.

At the sharp end of the field, Sam Farmer finished second overall, while Emma Paull claimed second lady overall.

Eighteen age-category prizes

Hayle Runners collected 18 age-category prizes across the two fields.

For the ladies, Melodie Manners took second in the 35-39 category, Emma Paull won the 40-44s, Charlotte Bennett took gold in the 50-54 group and Gail Aspden topped the 55-59s. Margaret Clark claimed silver in the 65-69 age group, Andrea Simmons won the 70-74 category and teammate Diane Warren finished second behind her.

For the men, Sam Farmer won the Under-35 category with Daniel Costello taking bronze in the same group. Jordan Morant finished second in the 35-39s and Liam O’Neill secured bronze. Peter Barnes won the 40-44 category, Neil Hayhurst claimed the 45-49s and Francis Malone-Lee took second. Mark Williams secured bronze in the 55-59 group, Steven Wherry finished third in the 60-64s, Jon Eldon again topped the 65-69 category and Chunky Penhaul rounded off the podium finishes with third in the 75-79s.

📷Sam Farmer - Photo by Richard Collett

Course bests despite the heat

There were personal milestones too. Tammy Kearney took one minute and 13 seconds off her previous course best, while David Wilding shaved 46 seconds from his previous fastest Aggie 5 time.

Hayle Runners chairman Richard Collett said: “The 5 mile distance has a habit of lulling you into a false sense of security. It doesn’t sound too intimidating until you add a humid summer evening, the climbs around the Beacon and 318 runners all trying to beat each other to the finish.

“Winning both team competitions, bringing home 18 age-category prizes and seeing Sam and Emma both finish second overall made it a fantastic evening for Hayle Runners. I’m especially pleased to see course PBs from Tammy and David despite the conditions. On a night like that, just crossing the finish line without melting felt like an achievement in itself.”

Hayle Runners thanked Ben Kent and his team at Into-Tri, along with the marshals, volunteers and supporters for organising another evening of racing.

Hayle Runners results

Scott Abraham – 0:36:02 Gail Aspden – 0:38:04 Claire Baker-Martin – 0:51:48 Peter Barnes – 0:29:41 Charlotte Bennett – 0:37:24 Emily Bennett – 0:43:35 Hannah Bundy – 0:44:37 Anthony Burrows – 0:45:13 Margaret Clark – 0:52:00 Richard Collier – 0:45:47 Samantha Collier – 1:07:02 Daniel Costello – 0:27:34 Nathan Cudmore – 0:39:47 Alfie Cuthbert – 0:39:58 Donna Dark – 1:08:33 Samantha Dixon – 1:06:55 Jon Eldon – 0:32:15 Sam Farmer – 0:26:48 Jamie Gore – 0:50:43 David Guffick – 0:33:58 Neil Hayhurst – 0:29:42 Andrew Heather – 0:49:49 Dan Hocking – 0:50:21 Frazer Humbles – 0:37:59 Andrew James – 0:33:48 Simon Jeffs – 0:34:39 Zac Jones – 0:38:29 Jemma Kearney – 0:57:46 Peter Kearney – 0:57:47 Tamara Kearney – 0:39:55 Brad Keenan – 0:42:54 Ruby King – 0:39:44 Cas Leo – 0:46:55 Samuel Little – 0:33:13 Francis Malone-Lee – 0:29:46 Melodie Manners – 0:37:37 Daniel Millington – 0:28:15 Jordan Morant – 0:29:33 Rowan Mulliss – 0:51:02 Mike Oxley – 0:44:49 Liam O’Neill – 0:30:28 Emma Paull – 0:31:22 Chunky Penhaul – 0:48:00 Nicholas Peters – 0:38:46 Alice Picking – 0:46:39 Scott Redrup – 0:44:23 Tear Rogers – 0:38:48 Andrew Searle – 0:39:46 Jack Searle – 0:40:46 Andrea Simmons – 0:40:05 Suzie Smith – 1:07:06 Helen Squire – 1:00:19 Mark Squire – 0:53:03 Claire Stone – 0:59:30 Deborah Sturges – 1:01:03 Teigan Turner – 0:38:48 Darren Uren – 0:40:25 Diane Warren – 0:45:01 Steven Wherry – 0:33:28 David Wilding – 0:37:11 Mark Williams – 0:34:07

📷Hayle Runners team - Photo by Richard Collett