ColyTEN – a roaring success
The winners were definitely the organisers at the inaugural ColyTEN on Sunday, a 10-mile trail race put on by Axe Valley Runners in conjunction with Colyton Football Club and Colyton Youth Football. It was a crisp sunny Autumn day, making perfect running conditions for the near 300 runners taking part. The race had sold out a few days before which was testament to the hard work of the team from AVR preparing and promoting the event.
The race started and finished at Colyton Football Club taking in the beautiful River Coly valley and some steep inclines in and around MorganHayes woods. Special mentions must go to Rob Collier, Karen Eyre and Sam Halls for all their organisation, route planning and corordination as well as all the volunteers that made the event possible. AVR hope it will become an annual event.
In first place on the day was Samuel Kelly from Exmouth Harriers in 1:01.22. Second was AVR’s Matt Clist in 1:05.48, also first M40. First female was Kirsteen Welsh in 1:10.45 with Debbie Whiston second in 1:17.25, also first F40 followed by Emilie Brock, 1:20.16, second F40.
Prizes of hampers were donated by Ganesha Wholefoods of Axminster who also made a donation to Devon Air Ambulance.
Other category winners for AVR were: Sue Hayes, first F45 in 1:27.33; Eleanor Wood, first F65 in 1:31.55; Andy West, first M65 in 1:33.20 and Dawn Carrah, first F60 in 1:43.38.
Full results are here:
Sun shone in Southsea
Five AVRs headed over to Hampshire to take part in this year’s AJ Bell Great South Run, a ten-mile fast and flat course around the Portsmouth and Southsea peninsula taking in the historic docks including HMS Victory, Southsea Castle and glorious sea views. Conditions were race perfect after a chilly start to the day.
First AVR home was Matt Frost in 215th in 1:00.49 with Simon Dimmock in 1:11.00, 977th.
Next was Carol Austin in 1:17.47 (2088th), fourth F60 with Laura Kerr just behind in 2465th in 1:19.21 and Angela Kerr in 5592nd in 1:30.29, 13th F65.
More than 20,000 took part in the race, which also saw Jake Smith’s return to racing after injury. He came in eighth place in 48:30, delighted with his time after more than a year out of action.
Bath Half
It was perfect weather also in Bath for the half-marathon which attracted a very fast field among the 9000 runners. First AVR home in an impressive 73rd place was Jack Broom in 1:14:59 followed not far behind by Duncan Staddon in 1:16:27 which was an excellent seventh MV45.
Ron Seward finished in 1891st in 1:47:51, a brilliant sixth MV70. He described the finish this year as having “excluded the north face of the Eiger, but instead had a more gentle but very tortuous climb for over one km. Just what’s needed at the end of a half marathon!”. Julia Conway completed the AVR contingent finishing in 2:05.35.
Outstanding Ultras
On Saturday Louise Rawlins and Kathryn Thompson completed the 50k Race to the Sea which takes runners from Moors Valley Country Park to Bournemouth seafront following the Castleman Trailway through forest trails then the glorious coastal path into Bournemouth. With more than 400 taking part on the flat and scenic route, Louise finished in 294th in 6:24.55 while Kathryn was 402nd in 7:39.07.
Further afield Ragnhild Richards took part in the Cappadocia Ultra trail 63km for the second time. It is an amazing race with 2000m+ ascent and very technical terrain. She was delighted to knock off 28 minutes on her time from two years ago to finish in 11 hrs 17, third in the 60+ age group.
Seaton parkrun
With so many AVRs racing on Sunday many took to supporting parkrun through volunteering this Saturday. Second female finisher was Karen Eyre in 22:34 who took some time off from her mammoth ColyTEN organising duties. Second male finisher was Luke Reed in 17:41 with Simon Dimmock third finisher in 20:51.
On the tourist trail, Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard completed Clapham Common parkrun while Tony Smith and Sam Miller completed their Scandi tour with Lovisten parkrun in Bergen, a spectacular course high above the beautiful city.
