THE huge field of 360 runners who lined up for last Sunday's Mount's Bay 10 Kilometre road race, round two of the Cornwall Grand Prix Series, sponsored by the Sandy Hill Physical Therapy Centre St. Austell, were bathed in warm winter sunshine as they set off from Marazion Community Centre in perfect windless conditions.

Defending champion, Kevin Sharp (Newquay Road Runners) was clearly determined to retain his title, heading the pack from early on. He was joined by Hayle's running vicar, Chris McQuillan-Wright, taking the morning off from ecclesiastical duties and the Cornwall Athletic Club pair, Noel Kindon and Matt Pullen.

By half way Sharp had begun to pull ahead of his pursuers, with McQuillan-Wright and Pullen moving clear of Kindon, who was going through a bad patch and was walking at one stage.

During the second half of the race, the Newquay runner's lead began to decrease but sensing the danger, he increased the pace in the closing stages, eventually winning by 21 seconds. Kindon, running a brave race, regained contact with McQuillan-Wright and Pullen as the three tackled the long uphill climb to the finish together. Who would be the stronger? The answer was soon revealed as McQuillan-Wright eased ahead of Kindon who crossed the line two seconds in front of his teammate, Pullen.

With Jon Keast (5th), Chris Harry (8th), an improving Jason Pascoe (9th) and Marc Sayers (15th), Cornwall Ac won their second successive Grand Prix men's team title, with Hayle Runners taking full advantage of a weakened Newquay Team, to deservedly clinch the runner's up prize.

At present Jo Friday (Cornwall AC) looks unstoppable in the ladies competition, repeating her victory achieved in the previous Grand Prix race two weeks ago. Jo ran one minute 25 seconds faster than in 2006, when she finished fourth.

At Mount's Bay the Camborne based Veterinary surgeon finished over one minute clear of Anne Luke (Tamar Trotters), who held off the fast finishing Carn Runner, Kensa Rescorla, by just six seconds. Kensa enjoyed excellent support from Juliet Knowles (4th), Donna Jenkin (5th) and Janet Ritchie (10th) to win their second Grand Prix race of the year and showed that they will be very much the team to beat in 2007.

Cornwall AC, not usually a dominant force in the ladies' competition, were comfortably placed in second, with Hayle Runners again in the frame in third spot.

Key for clubs: CAC Cornwall Athletic Club, CR Carn Runners, ECH East Cornwall Harriers, FRR Falmouth Road Runners, HR Hayle Runners, LRR Launceston Road Runners, MBH Mount's Bay Harriers, MH Mile High, NRR Newquay Road Runners, PH Plymouth Harriers, TRC Truro Running Club, TR Tri Logic, TT Tamar Trotters, U Unattached, WRN Women's Running Network RESULTS Men: 1 Kevin Sharp (NRR) 32.59, 2 Chris McQuillan-Wright (HR) 33.20, 3 Noel Kindon (CAC) 33.30, 4 Matt Pullen (CAC) 33.32, 5 Jon Keast (CAC) 35.02, 6 Pete Hillman (CR) 35.11. Age Categories Under 40 1 Kevin Sharp, 2 Chris McQuillan-Wright, 3 Noel Kindon. 40-44 1 Nick Martin (MH) 35.20, 2 Nigel Doyle (NRR) 38.21, Steven Wherry (CR) 38.42. 45-49 1 Chris Harry (CAC) 35.32, 2 Chris Hodge (CR) 37.31, 3 Terry Timms (CAC) 38.14. 50-54 1 Mario McNamara (HR) 37.42, 2 Allan Cooper (TRC) 39.03, 3 Steve Chapple (MBH) 39.35. 55-59 1 Pat Lockett (NRR) 38.54, 2 Bob Richards (HR) 40.12, 3 Geoff Letchford (MBH) 41.15. 60-64 1 Ron Shapland (NRR) 45.30, 2 Tony Laurillard (TT) 45.46, 3 Pete Sargent (NRR) 47.21. 65-69 1 Alan Smith (ECH) 47.05, 2 Roy Willbond-Smith (CR) 47.54, 3 Kevin O'Mahoney (LRR) 47.58. 70+ 1 Don Bristow (HR) 60.42, 2 Ted Mansell (CAC) 67.07. TEAMS 1 Cornwall AC 44 points, 2 Hayle Runners 94 points, 3 Newquay Road Runners 125 points.

Ladies: 1 Jo Friday (CAC) 37.49, 2 Anne Luke (TT) 38.55, 3 Kensa Rescorla (CR) 39.01, 4 Juliet Knowles (CR) 39.13, 5 Helen Pearson (CAC) 39.25, 6 Donna Jenkin (CR) 39.27. Age Categories Under 35 1 Jo Friday, 2 Kensa Rescorla, 3 Juliet Knowles. 35-39 1 Donna Jenkin, 2 Carol Randall (U) 42.16, 3 Emma Stallard (CAC) 43.17. 40-44 1 Sharon Dawe (ECH) 40.01, 2 Jill Anderson (PH) 44.18, 3 Lesley Dobson (NRR) 45.53. 45-49 1 Anne Luke, 2 Janet Ritchie (CR) 42.48, 3 Jacky Tyler (ECH) 45.59. 50-54 1 Caroline Hemsworth (FRR) 43.08, 2 Theresa Frost (WRN) 43.52, 3 Sue Taylor (TL) 46.56. 55-59 1 Brenda Evans (CR) 54.13, 2 Liz Easterbrook (HR) 54.59, 3 Terry Marshall (FRR) 59.00. 60+ 1 Lisa Wright (WRN) 55.27. TEAMS 1 Carn Runners 23 points, 2 Cornwall AC 32 points, 3 Hayle Runners 63 points