Cornwall AC - England Athletics x Athletics Weekly Club of the Month

Cornwall AC are our latest England Athletics x Athletics Weekly Club of the Month, having helped develop stars such as pole vaulter Molly Caudery and para long jumper Sam Jose, as well as having an excellent pathway through from Cornwall Athletics Academy. 

The club are embedded in the local community, and have produced a steady stream of international athletes throughout their history, as Club Chairman, Alan Rowling tells us: 

“The rich history started in 1974, when (Carn Brea) Leisure Centre opened, and the track opened at the same time. Over the early years, there were two clubs using the facility on different evenings, so in 1982, they amalgamated. 

“57 people from the club have run in an international vest. That’s a mark of what this club have done and how it’s developed.” 

One of those stars is Cornish pole vaulter Molly Caudery, who credits the club and facility for the beginnings of her international successes, as Alan continues: 

“Molly started her pole vault training here at Carn Brea. From the English Schools gold medal up to the podium of the World Indoor Championships, her roots have always been at Cornwall AC.” 

In the mini-documentary, Molly herself speaks about the importance of the club and facility, as well as grassroots athletics more widely, in her journey: 

“I started at Cornwall AC when I was about 11 years old. I came up and tried pretty much everything, started in multi-events, and grew up on this track. We used to have our school sports days here, and it was just such a huge part of my life growing up. 

“I kept coming back to the track because I felt like I fell in love with the sport instantly when I started. There’s a social life around it as well. Grassroots athletics I think is so special, all across the country and even the world, just to have the opportunity to express yourself on the track is so much fun. 

“You get to race your best mates every day or see who can jump the highest. I’m very competitive and the track is the perfect place to express that.” 

With the track at Cornwall currently looking worn out, the club and leisure centre are looking for funding to re-lay the track, as they currently are without a competition licence, something they are working hard to resolve. 

The Centre Manager of the club’s facility, Carn Brea Leisure Centre, is Rob Rosevear, who is working closely with the club to try to resolve the matter. He told us: 

“We’re in the heart of the community. One of our biggest focuses is getting people active. There are only two tracks in the county – this track specifically is extremely important to West Cornwall.  

“Our relationship with Cornwall AC runs really well because we both share similar visions.”