All ablaze in Beer
It was hot and sunny for Sunday’s Beer Blazer organised locally by Beer Primary School with a huge turnout of AVRs running and, also, supporting the event providing timers, marshals and back-markers.
The multi-terrain event starts and finishes near the school in the village then heads out over Beer Head to Branscombe and beyond. Coming back along the coast path it is a challenging race, with 5 and 10 mile options available.
In the 10-mile event it was a win for Wayne Loveridge of Chard Road Runners – who on Saturday had celebrated his 200th parkrun by finishing first at Seaton parkrun. Clearly even the post parkrun beach drink hadn’t affected him as he romped home in 1:15.33 just ahead of AVR’s Matt Clist in second, and first M45, in 1:16.33.
Third female, and first F65, was Eleanor Wood in a brilliant 1:46.16.
Tim Lenton was fifth, and first M50, in 1:23.05. Simon Mcclellan had a good run to finish 21st, and first M55 in 1:43.49. Ian Kinnesley took first M60 in 1:51.28 with Andy West first M65 in 1:57.22 and Ron Seward first M70 in 2:03.06. A total of 114 completed the 10-mile race.
Ninety runners chose the 5-mile version including a number of AVRs.
Full results of both events are here.
Great Runs moves to Bristol
Following the Birmingham events the Great Run was in Bristol on Sunday for the half marathon and 10k. The conditions were perfect, if a little hot for those taking the longer race option.
The races start in Bristol city centre before following the River Avon out through Clifton to Sneyd Park and Stoke Bishop returning the same way for a loop around the city to the finish. The course is flat and fast although with a good few turns especially near the end. In the half marathon, Ritchie Durrant was 81st finishing in 1:24.29.
Jacqui Stokes was delighted to finally crack the two hour barrier and did so in style finishing in 1:49.20, 1870th. Sue Hayes, running with her son, finished in 1:47.21, 9th F50 and 1637th and Mark Day, who took part with his son, was 5889th in 2:16.58.
Angela Kerr took part in the 10k race finishing in an excellent sixth F65 in 55:00 and 1893rd.
More than 15000 took part in both events with the Great Run machine rolling on up to Manchester for next Sunday’s Great Manchester half and 10k.
Jurassic Coast 100k
Once again, Julia Mallon took on an incredible challenge and nailed it! On Saturday she took part in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge completing the continuous 100k in an incredible 17 hours: 52 secs. The event started in Castle Corfe and finished in Bridport. The first half took in Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, so a lot of hills but stunning views to compensate for the effort. Then as the route went through Weymouth and onwards towards Bridport, it became flatter but unfortunately Julia was suffering by then from cramps and sickness but she battled on to complete the race.
Seaton parkrun
It was another sunny morning for parkrun in Seaton with 224 finishers. First female and first on age grade was Debbie Whiston in 20.24, 79%. Luke Reed was second finisher in 18.21 and there were PBs for Shirley Goy in 38.59 and Fran Cohen in 47.19.
There was a good turnout from AVR’s latest Couch to 5k group who are on week eight of the course and already taking part in parkrun thanks in no small part to the support and encouragement of Cliff Marriott and his team of helpers. Five of them secured PBs too!
Louise Rawlins celebrated her 100th volunteer stint at Seaton – an amazing achievement as she only started volunteering two years ago.
Out on the road, Adrianne and Anthony Marsden took part in Bolberry Down parkrun while Mark Spraggs enjoyed Penryn Campus in Cornwall. John Whittaker attended Bushy Park parkrun achieving the “where it all started” challenge; Emma Ellynn ran Ally Pally parkrun which has tremendous views of the capital; Carolyn Nation did Minehead parkrun. Bec and Simon Davey took part in Quakers Walk in Devizes securing their Q while James Ashforth did Hereford before a wedding in the city. Sam Miller enjoyed Malahide parkrun in the grounds of Malahide Castle and Gardens in Dublin.
