Last Sunday saw swimmers take to the water to enjoy the annual Looe Island Swim and excellent event in the sea swimming calendar. Again this year, the event was sold out, demonstrating its popularity with swimmers. The athletes taking part in the open water swim are taken by boat to the nature reserve island, then they swim back to the East Looe Beach. The swim is just over a mile long and raises money for the Chestnut Appeal Foundation. With last year's evening having to be cancelled, due to Covid 19. 

Several Looe Pioneers ditched their trainers and got into their wetsuits to take to the water, including Guy Cooper, Jag Wagstaff, Julie Gregory and Mark Deacon took part in the swim.

For any athlete this is a challenge, to swim in one mile in open water and on the day this was in choppy conditions didn't help. However this didn't stop 15 year old local teen Tilly Baker. For Tilly this was her first attempt at this swimming challenge and her efforts paid off. Tilly is an excellent swimmer and she completed the swim in a highly impressive time, just days before she returns to her studies. 

Carol Beaver took part in the Fowey swim, where the conditions were flat, however Carol developed cramp during the one mile swim, but continued on without support to complete the swim in 54 minutes. 

Last week saw athletes take part in a series of races in Plymouth, both the10K and half marathon, on the same day and started on the Hoe. Making this a highly popular event. 

The 10K route takes the athletes from the war memorial located on Plymouth Hoe, runs on to Citadel Road, from here they run along to the Theatre Royal and continue along Royal Parade. Then the athletes move on to Exeter Street and Sutton Road, before making their way on to Embankment Road, then turn and run alongside Embankment road returning to the city. For the individual completing the half marathon, this is where they travel across the River Plym, where the half marathon athletes run along Billacombe Road towards Elburton, turning on to Haye Lane. Turning again at mile 8 and heading alongside Saltram, before reaching mile 9 and running alongside the River Plym on The Ride. At mile 10 they run along Laira bridge and rejoin the 10K route. From here the athletes take Gdynia Way then Vauxhall Street with the marina providing athletes with a beautiful view. For the last mile, the athletes stayed close to the water, then returned to the Hoe for the finish line. 

Emma Collins completed the 10k in an impressive 52:59.

Mark Deacon completed the run in 1:26:22 finishing first for the pioneers. Jo Robinson came in first for the female pioneers, with a time of 1:29:20, quickly followed by Dale Staff (1:29:38). Emma Langstaff came in at 1:40:41, followed by Natalie Storey at 1:40:48. Alison Catnach was the next pioneer with a time of 1:49:34. Then came Mandy Gibson 1:50:22, with her husband Phil Gibson following behind with a time of 1:51:19. Helen Lawes and Darren Hardwick crossed the finish line together with a time of 1:59:22. Louisa Chisholm got to the finish line in 2:01:11, Rob Kernaghan finished in 2:02:29, followed by Giles Francis with a time of 2:05:01. Linda Cuff came in at 2:06:40 and Lynne Overd completed in 2:59:45.

Three pioneers Nina Bond, Peter Heywood and Kathy Saunders took part in the Treggy 7 route. A 7 mile route starting in Launceston town centre in a circular route. With the first mile, mainly taking the athletes down hill on to undulating rural roads. Where athletes then have to climb the half mile incline up to the village of Tregadillett. By this point the athletes have run more than half of the route and are starting on the return leg of the journey. The final three miles are mainly down hill and athletes finish the route at Launceston castle. 
Nina Bond came back first for the pioneers with a time of 1:08:40
Peter Heywood completed the run in 1:19:02
Kathy Saunders who came first in her age category, and completed the run in 1:22:24.

Clive Finnimore, completed the 4th stage of the Saints and Smugglers Challenge. With the extraordinary 28.5 mile route, from Padstow to Fowey. Starting just outside of Padstow, run inland and hug the river. From here the athletes run towards Trenance, and on to St Breock Downs Monolith and on to Withiel before making their way onto Tremorebridge.  Zigzagging along the lanes and road, the athletes then run up to Helman Tor, before making their way onto Lanlivery and Milltown, finally making their way to Golant and running along the Fowey River, before finishing the race at Fowey. Clive Finnimore completed this epic trail route in 4:43:40, finishing 5th.

​Saturday 4th September marked a special day for many runners around the world, with End to End Run organising a World Record Attempt at getting the most number of people running 5K within a 24 hour period. The previous record was 6718 individuals.

Lots of Pioneers joined in the World Record Attempt, with Carol Beaver, Sandra Northcott and Kathy Saunders, opting to complete the Lanhydrock Park run 5K route. Whereas Julie Gregory, Anne Libby, Sara Grattan, Anne Harry, Angie Harrison, Jay Wagstaff and Lynne Overd taking advantage of the closed Sandplace road near Looe. Donna Gundry and William Gundry, took advantage of the decent weather and completed their 5K on Tregonhawke beach, then had the compulsory dip in the sea, followed by a refreshing ice lolly. Jon and Heidi Hoskin completed their 5K together, as part of the World Record Attempt. Within 24 hours of the cut off point a massive 9196 people took part, making this a World Record Breaking 5K event. 

​Bank holiday Monday saw 5 exceptional pioneers take on the Dragon Triathlon at Bodmin. The 5 pioneers challenged themselves to the Big Dragon, consisting of a 400M swim that took place in Bodmin Leisure Centre followed by a 24K bike ride. The cyclist followed Lostwithiel Road from the leisure centre on to Treffry Lane, where they continue for just short of 12K which brings them to Cornwall Services. From here the cyclists turn back and add in an extra mini loop to ensure that they have completed the distance, and return along Treffry Lane and back to the Leisure centre. From here the athletes park their bikes and start the final segment of the day, which is a 5.6K run. 

For the run the athletes head out of Island Lane, and turn Respryn Road, and take to the Lanhydrock woods, before turning and repeating this first section, then loop around Bodmin College Campus to the finish line. 

Mark Deacon, who came in 16th overall, completed the swim in 7:59, the bike section in 46:24 and the run in 22:39. Nina Bond came back first for the Looe Pioneers females with an impressive swim of 9:49, completing the bike stage in 56:10 and the run in 33:12. Carol Beaver, a regular triathlete,  finished the swim in 12:43, with the bike section taking 1:03:57, and completing the run in 38:40. Whereas for Kirstie Maywood this was her first triathlon, completing the swim in 14:07, followed by an impressive bike section 1:13:24, and super quick run 34:14. Julie Gregory finished her swim in14.44, then powered on to the bike section with a time of 1:27: 42 and ended with her run in 39:14.