Originally the idea of Simon Tregoning, Managing Director of Classic Cottages, the 44 mile race was inspired by the care the Simon’s father received during his final days at St Julia’s in Hayle. Now in its third year, the race was developed with Endurancelife as a way of providing a lasting legacy of funds to the charity, rather than a one off donation.
The race started at Lizard Point and finished at Land’s End, taking in 44 miles of coastal path in between. The course itself, one of the most challenging ultra marathons, includes innumerable steep climbs and descents along the way as well as providing runners with some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK.
The challenge was brutally simple… to run, between dawn and dusk, from the southern most, to the western most points of England, along the legendary South West Coastal Path. That translates to running a quarter of the compass from Lizard Point, to Land’s End.
Once again the competition was tough with endurance athletes travelling to compete at the event from right across the UK and Europe. Even more runners took part this year as The Classic Quarter is now an official qualifying event for one of the toughest trail running events in the world, The Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc.
The first runner to cross the line was Pete Roper from Shaftesbury, Dorset who completed the epic marathon in just 7 hours 14 minutes. He was followed by Simon Browning in second and Andrew Coulthurst in third.
Flying the flag for the women was Claire Akin-Smith from Bristol who came in at 8 hours and 37 minutes. Cleo Oliver took second and Kirsty Hewitson came in third.
The very first runners to cross the line were the Carn Runners relay team one from Camborne. Four runners each took on an 11 mile stretch of the course and finished at Land’s End just 6 hours and 33 minutes after leaving Lizard Point.
For the past two years the man who conceived the idea of the Classic Quarter ran solo, finishing in just under 11 hours and 10 hours respectively. For the first time this year Simon Tregoning ran as part of a four man relay team, finishing in sixth place with a time of 8 hours and 23 minutes.
This year even more relay teams took part. As an added incentive for 2009 The Budock Vean Hotel near Falmouth kindly offered a relaxing Spiezia Massage for up to four people and dinner for the team of four that raised the most money for Cornwall Hospice Care.
All money raised through sponsorship will be donated to Cornwall Hospice Care.
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