Super Sunny Sunday in Sidmouth
Ten AVRs took the short trip to Sidford to take part in the LM Events Sidmouth 10k, which starts and finishes at the social hall in the village. The route takes runners along the beautiful Byes to the seafront then loops back after two steep climbs on Hillside and Cliff Road.
After Storm Ciaran the sun shone on Sunday for the 256 runners with AVR’s Joel Seward taking first place in an excellent 37:29. After his cricket induced summer break from racing he is well and truly back!
Next AVR home was Tony Smith in 26th place in 48.43, just pipping Honiton’s Howard Bidmead, and taking third M55. In 39th place and winning the M70 award was Ron Seward finishing in 50.48. Fiona Seward completed a good day for the Seward family, finishing 156th in 1.03.50.
Andy Broom, 89th in 57.09; Gail Van Der Leeden, 112nd in 59.48; Sam Miller, 122nd in 1:00.56; Georgie Ryan, 161st in 1:04.41; Derek Blumfield, 82nd in 1:06.36 and Jayne Tumber, 235th in 1:15.28 were the other AVR finishers.
Birthday in Bideford
Amanda Gowler and Diane Newton took part in the Bideford AAC organised popular 10-mile race on Sunday. The race takes in magnificent views of the Taw and Torridge estuary heading out on roads and back on the Tarka Trail. It is a mainly flat route with three small inclines so can be a fast course depending on how the wind is on the day, especially on the Tarka Trail when head winds can make it a tough return.
On Sunday, new member Amanda Gowler celebrated her birthday, finishing 351st in 1:27.15 while Diane Newton was very pleased to finish in 2:12:26, 687th, well under the target she had set for herself.
More than 700 completed the well organised race, which forms one leg of the Bideford triple- 10k, 10 mile and half marathon organised throughout the year-
All for a pasty!
Jeremy Slade took part in his first road marathon for a number of years running the Cornish marathon on Sunday. After a number of hilly off road marathons and ultra marathons he had just the 26.2 miles to deal with and was rewarded with stunning views, a big PB and a Cornish pasty!
The very scenic but hilly circular route started along the Draynes Valley through ‘Poldark’ country of Bodmin Moor, then continued past King Arthur’s legendary Dozmary Pool, Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn at Bolventor and back along the beautiful Fowey Valley. Jeremy completed it in 4:50.07 coming in in 248th spot from nearly 400 finishers.
Devon Trail 10k
Cliff Marriott battled through the rain and wind on Saturday to take part in the Devon Trail 10k which started at Bicton College and ran around Woodbury Common. The lovely, undulating route was very wet underfoot from Storm Ciaran and included a number of river crossings but the rain held off during the race, which Cliff finished in 1:02.06, 58th from 142 finishers.
Rain stopped play!
There was no parkrun at Seaton due to the damage on the Esplanade including to the parkrun equipment store from Storm Ciaran. The clean-up has begun and hopefully the event will go ahead this Saturday, 11th Nov, when Seaton parkrun celebrates its seventh anniversary. Volunteers and parkrunners will be in fancy dress with prizes for the best outfits and there is every chance of cake! Check the event page or FB to confirm it is going ahead.
