In Brighton conditions could not have been any better for the marathon and 10k on Sunday with glorious sunshine and a very light, cool breeze.

More than 13000 runners completed the marathon which starts at Preston park, goes into the city, out to Rottingdean before heading back to a spectacular seafront finish.  Angela Kerr was running her seventh Brighton and incredible 45^th marathon.  She completed it a 4:28.02, third F65, comfortably within the current London’s Good for Age criteria.

Martin Kerr had been planning to run it to celebrate his 70^th birthday but the pandemic interfered so today, at aged 72, he completed his fourth Brighton marathon in 6:15.16, ninth M70.

Earlier in the 10k Carol Austin competed in her first race for nearly three years due to a series of injuries and then Covid last month. More than 2600 finished the 10k with Carol happy to finish in 52:04 (622^nd) and third W60 (from 46).

On Saturday, five AVRs took part in the Exeter Epic Trail 10k at Escot in perfect weather conditions.  It was a tough hilly trail with 700 foot climb with more than 400 finishers. First AVR home was Matt Frost, third overall in 44.49 and first M30.  After leading until the halfway point, Ellie Dominey also took third place in the women’s race and first F30 in 47:46.

Kelly Nickels and Cath Brenton ran together finishing 157^th and 158^th in 1:03.11.  Heather Simmmons completed the AVR contingent in 1:05:29, 182^nd.

Earlier in the week Matt Frost had also competed in the Run Exe 5k along the riverside in Exeter.  It was the first race of the series and he finished 24th with an impressive personal best of 18:16.

Tim Sibley travelled to Turners Puddle for the Dorset Ooser marathon which attracted 159 competitiors. It winds its way through beautiful, rolling Dorset countryside in the Piddle Valley between Bere Regis and Dorchester. The lovely route meanders through fields, tracks, trails, woods and past crystal clear streams and shows off Dorset in spring at its best.

Given its undulating route and more than 2000 feet of elevation Tim finished in an impressive 4:21:49 coming in 31^st.

Haydn Boehm completed the Exeter Sprint Duathlon at Escot on Sunday. It began with an early and rather chilly 5k run around the spectacular scenery of the estate followed by a 20k bike on the rural roads surrounding the estate, before a second 5k run leg. Haydn completed it in 1:32.51 coming ninth M40.

At Seaton parkrun on Saturday, Joel Seward was third finisher in 18:52 while Maxine Sweetman smashed her personal best completing it in 28:32.  Eleanor Wood was third woman in 22:29 with a huge age-grade of 91.55%.

Picture: Ellie Dominey third woman at Escot

Several AVRs made the short journey into Dorset yesterday for the Bridport half-Marathon and 10K, organised by Beyond Events.  It was a gorgeous, sunny, cool morning so perfect racing conditions for the picturesque, mostly road courses.

In the half-marathon Laura Kerr had a terrific run finishing as third female from a field of 54 nabbing a big personal best of 1.53.07. Given the undulating course she was delighted with her time.

Adele Girdwood was 21^st in 2:01.09 with Angela Kerr, who was using it as a training run for other events, next AVR in 2:07.23 (29^th).

Kathryn Thomson finished in 2:41(51^st) in only her second ever half-marathon as she continues her excellent progress towards the London Marathon in October.

In the 10k event which also had one hill to negotiate, Sarah Whelan was first AVR home in 31^st in 1:03.51 with Tracey Stone finishing it in 1:11.18 (46^th) and in her first ever 10k, Caroline Wiseman came in 60^th in 1:13.57.

Further afield, Tony Smith and Sam Miller ran the Cardiff Half Marathon.  The top-class field – although this time without their son, Jake – included Welsh athlete, Natasha Cockram who won the women’s race in 1:10.47; a time that should see her secure a Commonwealth Games slot for Wales.  The mass participation race, that had been postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, attracted more than 11,000 runners.  Tony finished in an excellent 1:41:45, with Sam completing it in 2:11.49.

Jason Hyde, who is doing three half-marathons in three weeks, also completed Cardiff in 2:41.25 having run the Hampton Palace half last Sunday.  He moves on to the London Landmarks next week where he will be joined by a few other AVRs.

At Saturday’s Seaton parkrun, in cool, sunny conditions,  Matt Frost was second finisher, also nabbing a personal best of 18:37.  On age-grade Eleanor Wood was, again, top in an incredible 91.01%.

Meanwhile at Teignmouth Promenade parkrun, Ellie Dominey was first female finisher in 21:27.

Last Sunday Angela and Martin Kerr completed the 20-mile version of the Granite Way as ideal training for their upcoming Brighton marathon.  It was a sunny but very windy day up on the Dartmoor cycle way.  Martin was first M70 in 4:13.12 with Angela first F65 in 3:18.22.

Diane Newton ran the Bideford Half Marathon recently, lining up with nearly 800 runners on what turned out to be a very cold and windy day.  The race starts with a loop around Bideford before taking an undulating route out to Greater Torrington; then it’s on to the Tarka Trail alongside the River Torridge and back home.  It’s a lovely, well-organised race with a great atmosphere and Diane was very pleased to finish in 2:37:29, and fourth F70.

Pic:  Laura Kerr with her prizes for third female at Bridport Half

Members of Axe Valley Runners really gave a master class in 5k running at the weekend.

1st SM30-34 Joel Seward in 17:42

1st VM 65-69 Neil Johnson in 23:42

1st VM 70-74 Ron Seward in 23:39

1st VW 45-49 Kerry Board in 22:52

1st VW 60-64 Carol Austin in 25:46

1st VW 65-69 Eleanor Wood in 22:41 and also 1st overall on age grade in an incredible 90.74%

PBs for Maxine Sweetman 29:05 and Rachel Hiscox 29:58

Plus local resident JW15-17 Innes Fitzgerald broke the women’s course record again in a superb 17:25 (2nd on age grade 89% so watch out Eleanor!)

AVRs impress in Bicton sunshine

Axe Valley Runners were out in force at the Bicton Blister and Bicton Lite on Sunday which took place in bitterly cold but sunny and calm conditions around the glorious pebbled heaths of Bicton and Woodbury common.  Following Storm Arwen runners had to negotiate a fallen telegraph pole and a couple of  trees across the route but it was largely dry underfoot.  The event, organised brilliantly by Exmouth Harriers, had fallen to the pandemic last year so it was great to be back. This year the male and female winners received a huge box of locally grown vegetables and all finishers received a snood.

First female AVR and ninth woman to finish the 10m Blister was Eleanor Wood, also first F60, in a very impressive 1:26.32.  First AVR home  was Duncan Staddon in fifth place and second M40 in 1:06.14.    There was an AVR battle for the top M50 spot with Patrick Devine-Wright in 1:11.12 just pipping Rob Collier who was 22^nd overall in 1:11.39. Graham Newton took the M70 crown finishing 96^th in 1:27.01 while Karen Eyre was first F50 and 14^th woman in 1:27.56.

In the Bicton Lite, a 5m run starting and finishing on the same route as the Blister, a special mention must go to Paula Cooke and Sarah Whelan running their first ever race and comfortably breaking the hour finishing in 54:07 and 54:39 respectively.  Cliff Marriott was first AVR home in tenth place and second M55 in 42:35. Storming back after a few weeks of recuperation and first M70 was Ron Seward, 15^th in 43:35.

Full results:

Blister 10m

Duncan Staddon  5th 1:06.14 (2^nd M40)

Terry Emmett  8^th 1:07.28

Richard Hardy 10^th 1:08.01

Tim Lenton 11^th 1:08.11  (2^nd M45)

Joel Seward 14^th 1:09.03

Ben Stone  15^th 1:09.25

Lee Moran 17^th 1:10.09

Patrick Devine-Wright  19^th 1:11.12  (1^st M50)

Rik Tumber 22^nd 1:11.38

Rob Collier  21^st 1:11.39 (2^nd M50)

Matt Hewer 31^st 1:14.12

Rupert Pady 34^th 1:15.31

Chris Polley 75^th 1:24.36

Haydn Boehm 79^th 1:24.51

Eleanor Wood 89^th 1:26.32 (1^st F60)

Graham Newton 96^th 1:27.01 (1^st M70)

James Ashforth 100^th 1:27.34

Jason Potter 101^st 1:27.45

Karen Eyre 103^rd 1:27.56 (1^st F50)

Wayne Tooze 112^th 1:28.32

Kerry Board 122^nd 1:30.01 (3^rd F45)

Andy West 126^th 1:30.20

Martin Sawer 164^th 1:33.43

Lee Stubbs 166^th 1:34.11

James Hawker 190th 1:37.01

Jeremy Slade 208^th 1:38.40

Kevin Feeney 250^th 1:44.03

Jeremy Norcombe 260^th 1:44.35

Heather Simmons 263^rd 1:46.08

Suzi Blackett 267^th 1:46.33

Katharine Moran 270^th 1:47.47

Mark Day 284^th 1:49.54

Gill Day 313^th  1:54.26

Vicki Wraight 329^th 1:57.22

Angela Kerr 330^th 1:57.22 (2^nd F65)

Geoff Rugg 332^nd 1:57.18

Charlotte Horlock 333^rd 1:57.50

Dave Mutter 335^th 1:58.43

Helen Holmes 337^th 1:58.50

Julia Mallon 336^th 1:58.51

Amie Sibley 347^th 2:00.39

Tim Sibley 348^th 2:00.39

Janette Mack 349^th 2:00.43

Shaun Vinnicombe 366^th 2:00.42

Martin Kerr 377^th 2:11.41

Diane Newton 382^nd 2:17.27

Bicton Lite – 5m

Cliff Marriott 10th 42:35  (2nd M55)

Ron Seward 15^th 43:35  (1^st M70)

Louise Rawlins 37^th 49:38 (2^nd F45)

Paula Cooke 49^th 54:07

Sarah Whelan 50^th 54.13

Lesley Adams 64^th 56:39 (3^rd F65)

Carol Austin 65^th 56:39

Kathryn Thompson 73^rd 58:32 (3^rd F35)

Aileen Heal 78^th 1:00.56

Shirley Salter 79^th 1:00.56

Dave Whelan 80^th 1:00.59

Sam Summers 84^th 1:04.37

Maxine Sweetman 85^th 1:04.37

Seaton parkrun survives Arwen

On Saturday and despite the full fire of Storm Arwen Seaton parkrun was able to go ahead with the support of Honiton Running Club who took on the majority of the volunteer roles on a special takeover day.  Run Director, Howard Bidmead and core team member, Jeremy Slade did an early morning route inspection to give the event the go-ahead while many local parkrun events had to be cancelled.  Numbers were down with just 105 finishers.  First AVR home was Simon Dimmock in 20.15 with performance of the day, Mark Spraggs just a second outside his PB finishing in 23:20 despite the challenging wind.

AVR supports Children in Need

Axe Valley Runners has raised more than £300 for Children in Need in a novel way. AVRs Tim and Amie Sibley led their fellow AVR members in two runs – the Coly Dog and the Coly Pup which, once committed to Strava, drew the outline of a seated dog or puppy. The runs followed roads and paths around Colyton and Colyford. Members showed their appreciation by donating to Children in Need and Tim was able to bank £313.10 in aid of the charity. It is hoped to  become a regular event.

Grizzly conditions for Welsh fell race

Richard Hale started his preparation for Grizzly 2022 with a 7.4 km race in the Blorenge mountains near Abergavenny.   The wintry, windy and snowy conditions made it very tough going on a course that included part of the Brecon Canal followed by the north steep side of the mountain to the 559m trig point.

Despite a fall, Richard finished 59th in 1:00:7, second MV70.