Hot and hilly for Crewkerne 10k
There was a good turnout of AVRs who hopped over the border to Somerset to support the Crewkerne 10k. Hot conditions and a hilly course made it a challenging run but the beautiful route and great atmosphere made up for it.
The winner, from Chard Road Runners was regular Seaton parkrun first finisher, Wayne Loveridge in a very impressive 34:53, over a minute ahead of the second placed, Shaun Dixon. First AVR home in fifth and first M40 was Duncan Staddon in an excellent 37:17. Rob Collier took first M50, 14th place, in 41:17. Eleanor Wood was fifth female and, second F55 in 49:25. Interestingly all three F55 placings were faster than the F35 and F45 categories! Ian Kinnersley had another good afternoon taking second M60 in 46:33, 35th overall.
More than 180 finished the race, organised by Crewkerne RC and full results can be found here:
No rest on a Bank Holiday!
Mandy Harris ran the White Star Running’s Ox Half Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday as part of a whole weekend of races organised by the Wiltshire club. The half marathon was held in the stunning Rushmore Estate with the route going across the rolling Wiltshire Downs and Cranborn Chase as well as the old Ox Drove, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
With nearly 1,700ft of climb and a sneaky evil hill towards the finish, Mandy was pleased to finish in 2:57:13, fourth F50.
Rik Tumber was also competing on the Bank Holiday at the Chagford 2Hills, tough fell race on Dartmoor.
After a lap around the cricket ground runners were straight into a steep technical climb of 225m in less than 1km up Meldon Hill. A rapid technical descent followed into deep bogs and then another steep technical climb of only about 150m onto Battadon Common. Finally another rapid technical descent down to the cricket club to finish. Rik was an impressive sixth finisher from more than 200 who completed the short but gruelling challenge.
Couch to 5k graduation!
On Wednesday the latest group of newbies to AVR “graduated” at the end of their Couch to 5k programme. Nine completed their final week with a 30-minute non-stop run. Big thanks to Cliff Marriott, Pam Goddard and the other helpers who have supported the group over the last nine weeks. On Wednesday they were rewarded with a shiny star, made by Louise Rawlins, and choc-ices!
Sunny parkrun again
Another sunny Saturday brought the crowds to Seaton again for parkrun with 252 finishers including a large contingent from Southampton celebrating an upcoming wedding. Second female home was Debbie Whiston in 19.56 who was also third on age-grade with 79%. First on age grade was Ron Seward in an impressive 81% with a shiny PB too of 22.16. There were also PBs for Gareth Walker, 23.42; Jo Orsman, 26.57; and Liz Curley, 33:09.
With the holiday season upon us, AVRs also took the opportunity for a parkrun while on their travels with visits to Sharpham Road Playing Fields, Cheddar; Heartlands in Cornwall; Bideford; Conwy and Lymington. All the details of these and the local parkrun results are here
