Magnificent Mendips
What better way to end a late summer sunny Saturday than with a visit to the beach. Most of us wouldn’t run 30 miles first but Tim and Amie Sibley along with Jeremy Slade chose to run the Mendip Marauder 30 Miler. The run starts in Wells in Somerset and follows the West Mendip Way up and over the Mendip hills (more than once) before finishing on the beach at Uphill Sands. They endured the brutal hills and enjoyed the wonderful views before finishing on the beach in around 8hrs 26 minutes. A great day out and a rather impressive well-deserved medal.
Blistering Bridgewater
A handful of AVRs ventured to Bridgwater on a very hot Sunday with half-marathon and 10k races available. Both the half marathon and 10k were really flat and fast, but the 11 am start meant the runners got the full blast of the late summer high temperatures.
In the half marathon, Ryan Snell finished 10th and third M40 in 1:19:36; Alan Hornibrook, celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, was 75th in 1:41:05, third M60; Jacqui Stokes was 196th in 2:06:48 and Adele Girdwood finished 200th in 2:07:25, fourth F50 with 346 completing the course.
Fiona and Ron Seward opted for the 10k. Ron was 39th in 47:06, whilst Fiona finished in 1:03:28, 134th with 209 taking part.
Boiling Big Half
In a race that saw Mo Farah make his final appearance racing in his home city of London, Duncan Staddon and Rob Collier both impressed with their times of 1:16.55 and 1:22.23 respectively. Despite the 8.30am start it was already hot as the 15000 competitors ran the 13.1 miles from Shadwell along the Thames to Canary Wharf then crossing the river at Tower Bridge, enjoying the spectacular views of the Cutty Sark just before the finish in Greenwich.
Duncan was 196th and 11th M40 with Rob 468th, 12th M50. The race represented the British Championships for the half marathon distance so there were quality fields across the board. Jack Rowe took the victory in 1:01.08 with Cali Thackery the female crown finishing in 1:09.15.
Woodbury Trail 10k
This new race, organised by Budleigh Salterton Lions Club, was supported by four AVRs as Cliff Marriott; Aaron and Louise Rawlins; and Darrell Farley enjoyed the tough off road terrain in the boiling hot sunshine on Woodbury Common. First AVR home was Aaron in 55:43, 24th place, with Darrell 56th in 1:07.05; Cliff 73rd in 1:10.22 and Louise, struggling with injury but still taking ten minutes off last year’s time, was 99th in 1:15.41.
Inter-Services Success
Last Wednesday Debbie Whiston represented the Army at the Inter-Service 10km Champs at Eton Dorney on Wednesday coming fourth overall and second Female Masters in 39: 26.01.
News from parkrun
There was another bumper turnout at Seaton for parkrun on Saturday with 253 finishers. Ritchie Durrant took second in 17:17 with Rich Hardy third finisher in 18:24. Despite her race on Wednesday, Debbie Whiston was first female finisher in 19:39 after a great battle with visitor, Gemma Collier. She also first on age-grade in 80.8%.
Dave Hutton in 24:02; Ann-Louise Gridley in 30:24; and Kathryn Thompson in 30:58 all celebrated PBs. Big thanks as ever to the volunteers and pacers from AVR that support this event.
Tourism for parkrun continues with Rob Collier, Sam Summers and Rupert Pady in Horsham and Jo Orsman completing Ashton Court parkrun. Others can be seen here
