Jonathan Cornish (pictured above) was clock watching for good reason at the Elmbridge 10K on Sunday 23 July. The Hercules Wimbledon AC athlete was setting a new course record of 30:33, bagging a £100 prize bonus for slicing 20 seconds off London 2012 Olympian Scott Overall's course record.

The previous best (30:53) was set in 2018 when the Elmbridge 10K route was revised to its present out-and-back format, mostly on the scenic River Thames towpath to Hurst Park and back to the Race HQ at The Xcel Sports Hub, Walton-on-Thames.

The hard-working course markers got drenched while setting up the event on Saturday but Sunday morning saw the sun coming out and a cooling breeze – ideal conditions for fast running despite a few puddles on the Thames Path.

Jonathan Cornish was prominent from the gun and it was soon clear that he had the record in mind as he set out to successfully defend his Elmbridge title. Andrew Coley-Maud (Guildford & Godalming AC, 30:50) was also inside the previous best time for the course with a strong finish for second. Ollie Garrod (Belgrave Harriers, 31:11) filled the top three.

The women's race went down to the wire as Lilly Coward (Aldershot, Farnham & District) and Eliza Hawthorn (The Stragglers RC) were neck and neck entering the finishing straight and were both chip-timed at 36:14. First place was awarded to Coward by one second on gun times – 36:15 to 36:16. Gaby Reynolds (Herne Hill Harriers, 37:23) completed the rostrum.

There were 367 finishers in just over two hours and 232 of them beat 50 minutes on this multi-terrain course that can produce good times in the right circumstances. The top 100 finishers received gold medals; the next 100 took home silver and the remainder bronze in a nice touch by the organisers, Elmbridge Road Runners.

Brisk business was done with a 20% discount for all the entrants at sponsors Weybridge Sports' shop and Bodymechanics were busy providing pre-race and post-race massage treatments.

This was the 40th anniversary edition of this race and full results are available via runABC South race listing here.

Photo of Jonathan Cornish from 2022 by Neil Wardle for Elmbridge Road Runners