Hayle Runners turn 30, and 22 seconds decided the day

Over 80 runners. Six teams. A full marathon covered one mile at a time. Hayle Runners marked three decades the way the club tends to do most things, together and out in the sun.

The club celebrated its 30th anniversary over the weekend with a marathon relay at the Recreation Ground in Hayle, bringing more than 80 members of all ages and abilities onto the course.

📷Tear Rogers and Sam Lewis between reps – Photo by Richard Collett

Six teams, one marathon

Six carefully balanced teams set out to complete the marathon distance of 26.2 miles in the quickest combined time. Each runner took on either two one-mile legs or a single two-mile leg before handing the baton to a teammate.

The loop ran one mile through Hayle, leaving the Recreation Ground via Black Road, heading through Glebe Row and Brookway, then returning along Lethlean Lane for the next handover.

Competition stayed close throughout, but the focus was on teamwork and bringing members together rather than on winning. Supporters lined the course all afternoon, and plenty of runners recorded personal bests over the mile.

📷Kevin Silver – Photo by Richard Collett

A 22-second finish

In warm sunshine and humid conditions, Team 2 took victory in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 54 seconds. Team 1 finished just 22 seconds behind. Team 6 completed the podium in third.

Chairman Richard Collett said: “When Hayle Runners started 30 years ago, I don’t think anyone imagined we’d one day have hundreds of members. Seeing over 80 people of every age and ability running together, cheering each other on and laughing between relay legs summed up exactly what this club has become.”

He added: “Of course everyone wanted to win, but the biggest success was watching runners who would never normally race together sharing a team. Whether someone was running a five-minute mile or taking a more relaxed pace, every leg counted exactly the same.”

One runner had a slightly different problem. Richard described how Neil Hayhurst had the job of slowing himself down while covering another runner’s leg. “Judging by the photo of him leaning on a fence waiting for permission to set off again, running flat out would probably have been easier for him.”

📷Timothea Cardell – Photo by Richard Collett

Food, sunshine and 30 years

Members stayed at the Recreation Ground after the relay for food and refreshments from The REC Cafe, with runners, families and supporters making the most of the weather.

Club member and group leader Helen Squire said: “There was plenty of fun, laughter and just the right amount of competitiveness to keep things exciting. A truly great atmosphere from start to finish.”

Fellow group leader Steve Hagan added: “That was a belter of a day.”

The club thanked everyone who helped organise the event, along with Nathan and his team at The REC Cafe for keeping more than 90 runners, supporters and volunteers fed throughout the afternoon.

Over 30 years, Hayle Runners has grown from a small group of local runners into one of Cornwall’s largest clubs, with more than 350 members. They range from beginners taking their first steps into running through to county athletes and World Age Group champions.

📷Alice Picking – Photo by Richard Collett

Anniversary relay results

1st – Team 2 – 3:21:54
(Alex Brooks, Jenny Buckland, Jerry Cartlidge, Debbie Gossington, Neil Hayhurst, Deborah Hocking, Frazer Humbles, Simon Jeffs, Paul Launder, Wendy Pascoe, Kevin Silver, Deborah Sturges)
2nd – Team 1 – 3:22:16
3rd – Team 6 – 3:27:58
4th – Team 4 – 3:31:16
5th – Team 5 – 3:34:20
6th – Team 3 – 3:36:47

📷Neil Hayhurst being thoroughly adjudicated by Claire Stone – Photo by Richard Collett

📷The winning team – Photo by Richard Collett

📷Runners on the day – Photo by Richard Collett