The event also provided a fitting occasion for the presentation of the previous Cornwall Multi Terrain Race Series (MTRS) awards, with Hayle’s Liam O’Neill becoming the first runner in the club’s history to win the overall men’s series title.

Organised by Truro Running Club, the Tywarnhayle 10K was the fourth race of the 2026/27 MTRS season and attracted runners to Mount Hawke for one of the more demanding fixtures on the Cornish multi-terrain calendar.

Twenty Hayle Runners, comprising 12 ladies and eight men, tackled a challenging course featuring steep climbs, technical descents and spectacular coastal scenery.

O’Neill led Hayle home in 43:05, finishing fifth overall. Neil Hayhurst followed in 46:39, with Ian Curnow (50:02) and Mark Williams (51:24) completing the club’s scoring quartet as Hayle secured second place in the men’s team competition.

The club also collected six age-category prizes. Margaret Clark won the Female 65-69 category, while O’Neill finished second in the Male 35-39s and Hayhurst took third in the Male 45-49s.

Curnow and Williams claimed first and second respectively in the Male 55-59 category, while Jon Eldon secured victory in the Male 65-69s.

There were plenty of improvements further through the field, with several runners making substantial gains on their previous performances at the event.

Debbie Gossington recorded the biggest improvement, taking an impressive 17 minutes off her previous course time. Olivia Henwood improved by eight minutes, while Susan Thomas continued her recent run of personal bests with a six-minute improvement.

Brad Keenan and Melissa Tonkin each knocked five minutes off their previous times, while Eldon, Curnow and Deborah Sturges also celebrated course PBs.

Historic series victory for O’Neill

Following the race, attention turned to the presentation of the 2025/26 Cornwall Multi Terrain Race Series awards.

The series had attracted 696 individual competitors from 16 local clubs across its 12 races, with 374 men and 322 ladies completing at least one event.

For Hayle Runners, the standout achievement was O’Neill’s overall men’s title, making him the first member of the club to win the MTRS championship.

Florence Davies-Kirsop also enjoyed an excellent campaign, finishing eighth overall in the ladies’ standings despite contesting only the latter two-thirds of the series.

Hayle Runners chairman Richard Collett said: “Winning the MTRS is a huge achievement in its own right, but becoming the first Hayle Runner to do it makes it particularly special.

“Liam’s put together a fantastic season and thoroughly deserves the recognition. We’re also delighted for Flo, who managed to finish eighth overall in her first completion of the MTRS.

The Tywarnhayle 10K provided another encouraging result for this MTRS season for Hayle, with the men’s team silver and numerous course PBs demonstrating the club’s continued strength across the challenging off-road events.”

Hayle Runners thanked Truro Running Club and everyone involved in organising and marshalling the event, along with the supporters who cheered runners home.

Hayle Runners results

Margaret Clark - 1:20:16

Ian Curnow - 50:02

Florence Davies-Kirsop - 58:21

Jon Eldon - 53:13

Debbie Gossington - 1:21:36

Neil Hayhurst - 46:39

Olivia Henwood - 1:29:48

Amelia Hill - 1:33:35

Brad Keenan - 56:54

Paul Launder - 1:06:23

Jennie Massey - 1:51:27

Liam O’Neill - 43:05

Yelda Müge Parsons - 1:40:01

Kate Prosser - 1:18:35

Andrew Searle - 55:52

Deborah Sturges - 1:34:19

Susan Thomas - 1:15:38

Melissa Tonkin - 1:33:21

Rosanna Whitton - 1:17:43

Mark Williams - 51:24