AVRs excel at Forde Abbey
On Wednesday evening a big group of AVRs took part in the Forde Abbey 10k, a beautifully scenic but challenging race starting and finishing at the stunning Forde Abbey estate. With woodland, open fields, rocky tracks, a river crossing and plenty of hills, it is a tough race but few races have better views.
AVR’s Debbie Whiston won the women’s race in an excellent 50:16. AVR also took the top three spots in the F45 category with Karen Eyre, first F45 and fifth female in 54:50; Kerry Board, second F45, sixth female in 55:34 and Sue Hayes in 1:00:04 completing the F45 podium.
Rich Hardy was third home in a superb 45:39. Hot on his heels was Andrew Snook in 46:28, fourth place and first M40. Matt Hewer in ninth overall was third M40 in 49:31.
Rupert Pady was first M50 in 51:02 with Simon McClennan, second M50 in 52:26. Ron Seward took M70 in 1:01:54 from Graham Newton in 1:03.10.
Jacqui Stokes took third spot in F35 for her 1:02:09 finish. Dawn Carrah was first F55 in 1:07.10 and Eleanor Wood, first F65 in 58:39.
Full results are available here
Hot for Ham to Lyme
It was incredibly hot for the annual Ham & Lyme 50k and 100k races. The 50k race started at Ham Hill Country Park and finished in Lyme Regis following the Liberty Trail through some beautiful Somerset and Dorset scenery. This is a run through history along the trail taken by a small group of folk in 1685 who went to join the Monmouth Rebellion.
There were many very impressive performances for AVR. In particular, Joel Seward who came in second in the 50k race, despite a fall and slight wrong turn, in 4:05:10 having challenged the eventual winner, Shaun Dixon who finished in 4:03:54. AVR’s Matt Clist finished in an excellent third place in 4:08:39. Louise Rawlins knocked an incredible 90 minutes off last year’s time to finish in just over seven hours. Full results here.
AVR also ran the Lambert’s Castle water and food station which was very ably organised by Vicki Wraight and Susan Wall. Many thanks to them and to the other club members who dished out copious amounts of water, bananas, melon, wine gums, custard creams etc to the runners.
Exe Estuary Half Marathon and 50k
Cath Brenton and Adele Girdwood ran the Exe Estuary half marathon. It was a lovely scenic route, organised by Winding Paths, of 13.65 miles with a 1714 ft elevation gain involving a start at Budleigh Salterton, loop along the river path to Otterton then back along the coastal path to Exmouth where the course looped back to finish at the start. The weather was kind, being overcast for the first few hours then the sun came out; it was dry underfoot despite being trail.
Adele came 36th in 2:27:53 with Cath 88th in 3:10:25. More than 100 completed the half marathon.
Julia Mallon completed the 50k option, which starts with a 5 mile loop around the River Otter before following the same route as the half marathon along the coast path. She came 36th in an impressive 6:13:36.
Exeter River 10k
Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard ran the 10k river road race together on Friday evening finishing in 1:03.33. The race, organised by the City Community Trust, followed the scenic River Exe.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
A beautiful morning for a run saw 274 walkers and runners on Seaton seafront. AVR’s Debbie Whiston was second female finisher in 20:20 and Karen Eyre third in 22:15. PBs were secured by Rupert Pady in 20:23; Mark Parsons in 26:36, and Helen Boehm in 33:11.
Further afield Rachel Hiscock completed her 50th parkrun on her 50th birthday in 30:24 at Jamaica Pond parkrun in Boston USA!
Wayne and Sam Tooze took part in Winchester parkrun; Sam Miller and Tony Smith ran Peel parkrun in Manchester before attending the UK Champs where the Seaton parkrun female record holder Innes Fitzgerald secured a PB of 15:26 for a track 5k, finishing ninth against very stiff opposition.
