EAST Cornwall Harriers have strengthened Liskeard’s links with its French twin town after recently visiting Quimperlé for a successful running exchange.

Six members of the Liskeard-based club travelled to Brittany to meet members of Les Galouperians, building friendships through a weekend of running, food and cultural exchange.

The group comprised head coach Revis Crowle, Ian Crowle, Tessa Mason, Nicole Doidge, Chris Ullman and founder member Pete Nash.

Despite Quimperlé having a population of around 64,000 compared with Liskeard’s 11,000-plus, East Cornwall Harriers has more than 140 members, compared with more than 60 at Les Galouperians.

The two clubs began their running programme with a five-mile run in temperatures reaching 25C, accompanied by members of the French club. The following day saw runners take part in informal races of different distances through woodland around the nearby village of Redene.

Unlike Britain, France does not have park runs, with stricter medical requirements for organised competition. Instead, clubs organise informal events where runners can choose marked routes, typically between 5km and 20km, and set off when they wish.

The Harriers tackled 8km and 15km routes before being welcomed by the Mayor of Quimperlé and members of the town administration.

The group was also interviewed by the local French press about their impressions of Liskeard’s twin town before joining Les Galouperians for a large buffet, giving members of both clubs the chance to get to know each other away from the running trails.

The French runners will return the visit when they travel to Liskeard over the Easter weekend in 2027.

The Harriers hope the successful exchange will become an annual event, further strengthening the relationship between the two clubs and their twin towns.

The club thanked Liskeard Town Council, whose funding of transport costs made the visit possible. Without that support, the Harriers said, the trip would not have happened.