The Dune of Doom returns as 216 finish St Ives Bay 10K

The tide was already creeping back up the beach by the time 216 runners lined up on the sand at Hayle on Thursday, August 6, and most of them had heard the stories about what waited for them in the dunes further along the course.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

Sand, sunshine and a returning tide

More than 200 runners took to the sands and dunes of St Ives Bay as Hayle Runners hosted the second race of the 2026/27 Cornwall Multi Terrain Race Series. A total of 216 competitors completed the St Ives Bay 10K, a route that takes runners from Hayle along the beach towards Gwithian before heading into the Towans for a mix of sandy paths and trails. The return leg features the race’s most notorious test, the aptly named Dune of Doom, before runners head back onto the beach for the final push to the finish.

Conditions provided a fairly typical Cornish summer evening, warm with some cloud cover. The opening three miles along the beach offered a mixture of firm and softer sand, while organisers and competitors alike kept one eye on the quickly returning tide. The evening began with the club’s popular one-mile fun run, which saw 34 young runners take to the beach before the main event got under way.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

Garrod continues a big week with victory

At the front of the 10K, Belgrave Harriers’ Ollie Garrod claimed victory in 38:38, continuing an impressive week after also winning the Indian Queens Half Marathon just four days earlier. Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers finished second in 39:43, with Tim Zudrop of TRISPEED Marienfeld third in 40:57.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

Arnold leads the women home

Annie Arnold of City of Plymouth Athletic Club was the first lady home in 43:05, followed by Cornwall AC’s Chloe Clarke in 45:58 and Jessie Sanzo of Bristol and West AC in 46:12.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

Green Army edge Truro on a tie-break

The men’s team competition proved particularly close, with Hayle Runners and Truro Running Club both finishing on 49 points. The host club took the win on the tie-break, with the last Hayle team runner finishing ahead of Truro’s last team runner, while St Austell Running Club completed the podium in third.

Truro Running Club took first place in the ladies’ team competition, ahead of Hayle Runners in second and Truro’s second team in third.

There was a strong showing from the host club, with 27 Hayle Runners among the finishers. Liam O’Neill led the Green Army home in fifth place overall and was joined by Adam Gore, Jon Eldon and Alex Brooks in the victorious men’s team. Hayle’s ladies secured second place, with Gail Aspden leading the team home alongside Florence Davies-Kirsop, Lynne Saywell and Susan Thomas.

Full results

Overall podiums and team standings from the St Ives Bay 10K.

Men
1st	Ollie Garrod, Belgrave Harriers, 38:38
2nd	Jacob Landers, Tamar Trotters, 39:43
3rd	Tim Zudrop, TRISPEED Marienfeld, 40:57

Ladies
1st	Annie Arnold, City of Plymouth Athletic Club, 43:05
2nd	Chloe Clarke, Cornwall AC, 45:58
3rd	Jessie Sanzo, Bristol and West AC, 46:12

Men’s team results	Ladies’ team results
1st, Hayle Runners	1st, Truro Running Club A
2nd, Truro Running Club	2nd, Hayle Runners
3rd, St Austell Running Club	3rd, Truro Running Club B

Hayle Runners	Time
Liam O’Neill	41:57
Adam Gore	42:58
Alex Brooks	46:25
Jon Eldon	46:24
Andrew James	49:24
David Wilding	49:44
Mark Williams	47:19
Andrew Searle	53:45
Gail Aspden	55:13
Florence Davies-Kirsop	55:40
Tim Fryer	55:30
Frazer Humbles	55:30
Stuart Smith	58:54
Darren Uren	1:02:45
Jerry Cartlidge	1:04:10
Lynne Saywell	1:05:37
David Farrier	1:05:26
Susan Thomas	1:08:45
Margaret Clark	1:15:06
Mark Squire	1:15:49
Claire Stone	1:27:15
Sam Robinson	1:24:53
Deborah Sturges	1:29:10
Samantha Dixon	1:29:20
Amelia Hill	1:35:25
Debbie Gossington	1:43:22
Jennie Massey	1:43:22

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

Nine age-category wins and a run of personal bests

Nine age-category awards also went to the Green Army. Gail Aspden won the Female 55-59 category, while Lynne Saywell marked a particularly successful debut in a Hayle vest by finishing third in the Female 60-64 category and earning a place in the club’s second-placed ladies’ team. Margaret Clark and Deborah Sturges took first and second respectively in the Female 65-69 category.

For the men, Liam O’Neill and Adam Gore finished second and third respectively in the Male 35-39 category, Mark Williams won the Male 55-59 category, Jon Eldon claimed first place in the Male 65-69s and Mark Squire finished second in the Male 70-74 category.

There were also several notable improvements among the Hayle contingent. Sam Robinson continued her recent run of progress by taking an impressive 12 minutes off her previous course time, while David Wilding recorded a four-minute course personal best. Amelia Hill and Jon Eldon also improved on their previous performances.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler

New vests, new memories

David Farrier joined Lynne Saywell in wearing the Hayle green vest in competition for the first time, both finishing the evening as fully fledged members of the Green Army.

Hayle Runners chairman Richard Collett said: “There’s something quite special about seeing hundreds of runners heading down the beach on a summer evening, although I suspect those feelings become slightly less charitable when they reach the Dune of Doom.

“This event takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes and we’re incredibly fortunate to have so many members, volunteers and local organisations willing to give their time to make it happen. Jamie and the organising team have spent months putting everything together, and seeing 216 runners finish the race and another 34 youngsters take part in the fun run makes all that work worthwhile.

“As the host club, we’re obviously delighted to see our men’s team win and our ladies finish second, but this race is really about putting on an event that runners from across Cornwall and beyond enjoy coming back to.”

Thanks all round

Race director Jamie Gore led the Hayle Runners team responsible for organising the event, supported by club members and volunteers who helped with everything from registration and course preparation to marshalling and the finish area.

Hayle Runners also thanked race adjudicator Neville Witham and Hayle Surf Life Saving Club, which once again provided the race venue and medical cover, as well as Daniel Wheeler for photographing the evening.

The event was supported by Heyl CrossFit, St Ives Brewery and Bradleys Estate Agents. Bradleys sponsored the race mementos, assisted with the beach setup and had a team at the finish helping distribute them to runners. St Ives Brewery provided every finisher aged over 18 with a can of its low-alcohol Slipway IPA, while Heyl CrossFit donated free membership prizes to the age-category winners.

The race also supported Hayle Food Bank, the club’s chosen charity, with runners given the opportunity to make a donation when registering at HQ. Hayle Runners were delighted to see so many competitors choosing to contribute to an organisation providing important support within the local community.

Hayle Runners would like to thank everyone who raced, volunteered, marshalled, supported or contributed to another successful St Ives Bay 10K.

📷Credit: Daniel Wheeler