A CLASSY Senior Boys' race provided the highlight of the Cornwall Schools Cross Country Championships held at a blustery Truro School on Saturday, writes Alan Rowling.

Dan Nash (Liskeard School), Conor Robinson (Truro College) and Hobie Martin (Newquay Tretherras) produced the expected 'Clash of the Titans' over a tough 5,790m course.

On the first medium lap there was little to choose between the main protagonists, with Callum Jones (Helston School), keeping pace in fourth place.

On the second lap Robinson, a three times English Schools' Cross Country international, forged ahead of the in form Nash, who finished third in the Senior Men's race at the recent South West Cross Country Championships, with another English Schools' International, Martin, drifting slightly off the pace.

Had Robinson, who is still on the comeback trail after a long term injury, made his move too soon? The final lap provided the answer, as Nash closed the gap and moved into the lead, sprinting hard for the finish and crossing the line five seconds ahead of Robinson, with Martin, who was second in the U17 race at the previous weekend's UK Cross Challenge in Cardiff, a further 11 seconds adrift.

The international flavour, so often clearly evident at this event these days, also shone through in the two Intermediate races with two more of the county's growing band of English Schools' International runners, winning their respective Girls' and Boys' titles.

Issy Steele (Falmouth School), on the comeback trail after a six week hip injury, was delighted with her performance over the demanding four kilometre course, finishing comfortably ahead of two of the county's most promising young runners, Molly Long (Truro School) and Newquay Tretherras' Charlotte Cayton-Smith.

English Schools' International Danny Old was in no mood to be denied the Intermediate Boys title despite the early attention of Oscar Holdsworth (Truro School), as the Treviglas College youngster, who remains eligible for this age group next year, eased ahead, beating Holdsworth by 18 seconds.

The Year 7 races once again attracted large fields with 60 lining up in a thrilling Girls' event, with Katie Hughes (Helston School) and Ellie Ringwood (Mounts Bay Academy) fighting for victory until the closing stages, when Katie inched clear and despite a fast finish from Ellie, the Helston schoolgirl held on to win by four seconds.

The equivalent Boys' race was less dramatic, with Bertie Holdsworth, running on his home course, finishing strongly ahead of the Penryn Sports College pair, Felix Hartley (2nd) and Sam Bray (3rd), who led their Penryn team to a clear cut team victory and the county title.

The individual and team titles in the Junior Girls' races both went to Newquay Tretherras School, with Annie Trotter winning the race comfortably and leading her school team to victory, with the four scoring members of the team all finishing in the top ten.

Callington Community College enjoyed a successful day, with Alice Rogers winning the Senior Girls' title by easily the biggest winning margin of the day and Sam Parham completing a Callington double in the Junior Boys' event.

Parham finished well ahead of Max Caddy (Mounts Bay Academy), who showed a keen tactical awareness, reminiscent of his dad, international 1500 metre runner Neil Caddy, as he moved through from tenth on the first lap to win a sprint finish for second place.

Full race results, page 75.