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 26^th place in 48.43, just pipping Honiton’s Howard Bidmead, and taking third M55.  In 39^th place and winning the M70 award was Ron Seward finishing in 50.48.  Fiona Seward completed a good day for the Seward family, finishing 156^th in 1.03.50.

Andy Broom, 89^th 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, 235^th 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 351^st in 1:27.15 while Diane Newton was very pleased to finish in 2:12:26, 687^th, 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 248^th 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, 58^th 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.

The winners were definitely the organisers at the inaugural ColyTEN on Sunday, a 10-mile trail race put on by Axe Valley Runners in conjunction with Colyton Football Club and Colyton Youth Football.  It was a crisp sunny Autumn day, making perfect running conditions for the near 300 runners taking part.  The race had sold out a few days before which was testament to the hard work of the team from AVR preparing and promoting the event.

The race started and finished at Colyton Football Club taking in the beautiful River Coly valley and some steep inclines in and around MorganHayes woods.  Special mentions must go to Rob Collier, Karen Eyre and Sam Halls for all their organisation, route planning and corordination as well as all the volunteers that made the event possible.  AVR hope it will become an annual event.

In first place on the day was Samuel Kelly from Exmouth Harriers in 1:01.22.  Second was AVR’s Matt Clist in 1:05.48, also first M40.  First female was Kirsteen Welsh in 1:10.45 with Debbie Whiston second in 1:17.25, also first F40 followed by Emilie Brock, 1:20.16, second F40.

Prizes of hampers were donated by Ganesha Wholefoods of Axminster who also made a donation to Devon Air Ambulance.

Other category winners for AVR were: Sue Hayes, first F45 in 1:27.33; Eleanor Wood, first F65 in 1:31.55; Andy West, first M65 in 1:33.20 and Dawn Carrah, first F60 in 1:43.38.

Full results are here:

Sun shone in Southsea

Five AVRs headed over to Hampshire to take part in this year’s AJ Bell Great South Run, a ten-mile fast and flat course around the Portsmouth and Southsea peninsula taking in the historic docks including HMS Victory, Southsea Castle and glorious sea views.  Conditions were race perfect after a chilly start to the day.

First AVR home was Matt Frost in 215^th in 1:00.49 with Simon Dimmock in 1:11.00, 977^th.

Next was Carol Austin in 1:17.47 (2088^th), fourth F60 with Laura Kerr just behind in 2465^th in 1:19.21 and Angela Kerr in 5592^nd in 1:30.29, 13^th F65.

More than 20,000 took part in the race, which also saw Jake Smith’s return to racing after injury.  He came in eighth place in 48:30, delighted with his time after more than a year out of action.

Bath Half

It was perfect weather also in Bath for the half-marathon which attracted a very fast field among the 9000 runners.  First AVR home in an impressive 73^rd place was Jack Broom in 1:14:59 followed not far behind by Duncan Staddon in 1:16:27 which was an excellent seventh MV45.

Ron Seward finished in 1891^st  in 1:47:51, a brilliant sixth MV70.  He described the finish this year as having “excluded the north face of the Eiger, but instead had a more gentle but very tortuous climb for over one km. Just what’s needed at the end of a half marathon!”.  Julia Conway completed the AVR contingent finishing in 2:05.35.

Outstanding Ultras

On Saturday Louise Rawlins and Kathryn Thompson completed the 50k Race to the Sea which takes runners from Moors Valley Country Park to Bournemouth seafront following the Castleman Trailway through forest trails then the glorious coastal path into Bournemouth. With more than 400 taking part on the flat and scenic route, Louise finished in  294^th in 6:24.55 while Kathryn was 402^nd in 7:39.07.

Further afield Ragnhild Richards took part in the Cappadocia Ultra trail 63km for the second time.  It is an amazing race with 2000m+ ascent and very technical terrain. She was delighted to knock off 28 minutes on her time from two years ago to finish in 11 hrs 17, third in the 60+ age group.

Seaton parkrun

With so many AVRs racing on Sunday many took to supporting parkrun through volunteering this Saturday.  Second female finisher was Karen Eyre in 22:34 who took some time off from her mammoth ColyTEN organising duties.  Second male finisher was Luke Reed in 17:41 with Simon Dimmock third finisher in 20:51.

On the tourist trail, Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard completed Clapham Common parkrun while Tony Smith and Sam Miller completed their Scandi tour with Lovisten parkrun in Bergen, a spectacular course high above the beautiful city.

Tony Smith and Sam Miller travelled to Riga in Latvia for the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships.  Due to injury, their son Jake Smith wasn’t competing so it was their turn to take centre stage participating in the mass half marathon race.  An impressive 13000 runners took part in the mass race from more than 100 countries, starting just behind the elite race.

The course featured most of Riga’s central landmarks; with the start and finish using the Gate to Old Riga adjacent to the main river Daugava. Criss-crossing the river on a predominantly flat course, the runners returned to Old Riga over Vanšu bridge offering a spectacular panorama of the city.

Tony finished an excellent 390^th, 11^th M55 in his best time for many years in 1:33.44 whilst Sam was also pleased with her 2:14.48 finish in 563^rd, 15^th F55.

Mud, mud glorious mud

The Honiton Hippo was once again full of mud, sweat and tears but with lots of fun and opportunities to wash up in the River Otter.  Thirteen AVRs joined the 150+runners in the 7 mile multi-terrain run.

Eleanor Wood was first AVR home in 1:09.07, in 28^th, fifth female and first F55.  Andy West was next AVR in 1:11.51, third M60.  Sid Heaslip followed in 57^th, 1:18.26 with Dawn Carrah in 1:20.40.  Full results are here.

Cardiff half

Vicki Wraight, Susan Wall and Laura Kerr popped over the border to take part in the Cardiff half-marathon in Wales, one of the country’s fastest half marathons; well-organised and with a great atmosphere at start and finish.  Despite an ongoing ankle injury Laura finished in an excellent 1:51.43, 697^th female.  Susan and Vicki ran together finishing in 2:40.24; Susan was 135^th F60.  More than 20,000 runners completed the 13.1 mile race.

Green success for Innes

Congratulations to Innes Fitzgerald who has won the BBC Young Athlete of the Year at the Green Sports Awards 2023.  Details here

50 not out!

SLW celebrates their birthday and other parkrun news

Stopline Way Junior parkrun celebrated its 50th run and first birthday in style at Axminster Town FC last Sunday.

Runners, their families, and volunteers enjoyed a fabulous postrun Stopline Way Junior parkrun celebration cake made by Kristina West (Knapp Cottage Cakes) and delicious vegan treats made by volunteer Wendy le Masurier.

Since the start a year ago the event has welcomed 197 junior parkrunners who have completed 857 Stopline Way Junior parkruns between them. The core team comprises about 20 volunteers, many of whom are AVR members, with 82 people having volunteered in total.

Here’s to the next 50!

At Seaton parkrun on Saturday Kerry Board was first female finisher in 22.23.  Both Matt Clist, second finisher and Ritchie Durrant, in third, nabbed PBs in 16.37 and 16.41, respectively with Matt also first on age-grade in 84%.

There were PBs too for Paul Johns in 21.21, Baz Chandra in 27.07 and Georgie Ryan in 30.14.

Congratulations to Viv Blumfield who celebrated her 50^th volunteer milestone.

In Cardiff it was wonderful to see Jake Smith on the comeback trail with a 14.44 first finisher placing!  Also in Wales, Carolyn Nation secured her D at Dolgellau parkrun.  Meanwhile, taking advantage of the good conditions in Exmouth, Carol Austin secured her best ever age-grade of 83% for her 23.09 while Stuart Olliver finished in 29.19.

And finally… over on the darkside!

It was a fantastic performance for Emilie Brock at the Thruxton Duathlon on Sunday where she secured a GB Age Group Team Qualifier position with second place in the F40 and tenth overall in the Run-Bike-Run event.

Luke Reed is on tenter hooks to see if his fourth place is enough to qualify but a week after representing GB in this year’s European triathlon it is very impressive.

Not content with running Berlin marathon last week, Haydn Boehm also took part finishing 18^th in his age category.  Like running the strength is in depth at tri and duathlon age groups events gets stronger every year.

After a few weeks without much racing the action came thick and fast this weekend.

Matt Frost travelled up to his homeland in the north-east on Sunday to join the 60,000+ runners of the Great North Run.  The half marathon, which starts in Newcastle and finishes in South Shields, is the biggest and most famous of the Great Run series and, on Sunday, Mo Farah chose it as his final (final) retirement event.  It also includes, weather permitting, a spectacular display from the famous Red Arrows.

The race was won by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola in 59:50 with Mo Farah finishing fourth.  Just behind them 544^thplace was Matt Frost in an impressive 1:27.16.  He said he found it tough but the highlight was a ‘high five’ from Newcastle manager, and race starter, Eddie Howe.

AVR women centre-stage in Somerset

Starting at Taunton racecourse, the Blackdown Half- Marathon was mainly trail with some quiet country roads and plenty of challenging climbs, including up to the highest point in the Blackdown Hills. On Sunday runners faced first thunderstorms then heat and humidity during the event, which was actually closer to 14 miles!

It was an all-female contingent for AVR on Sunday with first AVR home Kerry Board in a brilliant 2.03.07 to take second female and 25^th overall. Dawn Currah finished in an impressive 2.23.13, first F60.  Ragnhild Richards finished in 2.35.13; Kelly Giles in 2.37.21; and Rachel Hiscock in 3.08.38.

 

New Forest Half

Mark Spraggs headed over to the New Forest for the Garmin organised half-marathon.  A stunning multi-terrain course running through the heart of the New Forest with a blend of forest enclosures, open roads, far reaching views and of course, the famous New Forest Ponies.  With more than 1100 finishers, Mark finished in an impressive 200^th place in 1:47.54 on the fast, flat course.

Bosun and CapTEN

The capTEN and its partner the Bosun are run over the glorious Golden Cap in Dorset.  The capTEN is actually now 11 miles with the organisers generously adding an extra mile to take in both Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon, the crown jewels of the Jurassic Course, over the two-lap course.

Eleanor Wood was first F60 and an excellent 13^th overall, from 43 finishers, in 2:17.25 run in the soaring September temperatures and over the tough course with more than 3200 feet of elevation, equivalent to climbing Scafell Pike!

The Bosun is the one-lap, 5.5 mile race, still challenging with 1500 feet of elevation.  Kevin Feeney was sixth MV60 and 33^rd overall finishing in 1:17.11 with 61 completing the race.

Wye Valley Half

Last Saturday Julia Teague took part in the Wye Valley Half Trail Race. The race was 14 miles, so just over a half marathon, with plenty of challenging elevation.  Starting from Chepstow Racecourse with 200 runners, the route was stunning, crossing from England into Wales and back again, some technical parts, some woodland, some field, passing through picturesque villages, and even went through a cave!  In Julia’s view there was never a dull moment, it was a super friendly event with a really lovely medal and goodie-bag and one she recommends to AVRs in the future.  Julia was happy with her 3 hours finish in her first race for a while.

Yeovilton 5k

Adrian Strawbridge and David Cull were the only 2 AVRs at the Yeovilton Town Road Running Club 5k series, penultimate race last Wednesday evening.  Gutsy runs from both in unreasonably hot and sticky conditions, with another solid run from Adrian in at 20:25 and David shaving more time off with a shiny PB of 18:37, finishing 8^th and 25^th respectively (2^nd and 7^th  M40).

With the series finishing next week there is still the opportunity for AVRs to log their best summer 5k. Head over to the AVR facebook page for details on entry, car-sharing and a potential drink afterwards.

AVR dominate Seaton parkrun

AVRs placed two out of three in male, female and age-grade positions at Seaton parkrun on Saturday.  In perfect running conditions, Debbie Whiston was first female finisher in 20.17 with Karen Eyre, third in 22.55;  Ritchie Durrant was second male in 17.06 with Joel Seward third in 17.24; and Carol Austin placed second on age-grade in 80.3% for 24:09 and Ron Seward 79% for 22.52.  There was a PB for Ann-Louise Gridley in 29.40, paced superbly by Keith Agland.

Over at Stopline Way junior parkrun Vicki Wraight reached her 100^th volunteer milestone; an excellent achievement.

AVRs continue to enjoy their parkrun tourism with Tim and Amie Sibley scooping an I for the alphabet challenge at Isabel Trail parkrun and Mandy Harris enjoying her first ever away day parkrun at Polkemmet Country parkrun, near Bathgate, Scotland.

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Seward travelled to Tywyn in West Wales to race the train.  The event started at 2:05 pm as the Fat Controller blew his whistle. The steam train made its way up the gently sloping straight track to Abergynolwyn before making its return.

Meanwhile the runners were tackling fields, hills, tracks, streams and bogs made particularly challenging after Storm Betty. The outward part of the run was definitely easier than the return and the train was often tantalisingly in view. However, for the final part of the run the train’s route was considerably shorter than that of the runners.  Nonetheless, 47 of the 500 starters outperformed the steam engine which completed its route in 1hr 48 minutes. Having taken a couple of tumbles and completely immersing himself in the bog, Ron completed the 23 km course in a (replacement bus service) time of 2:19:56 in 234^th and third M70, being pipped to second by just two-hundredths of a second.

Seaton and parkrun tourism

 It was a bright, windy Saturday in Seaton with a very big turn-out for parkrun. Plenty of tourists joined the regulars with more than 300 finishers.  Second female was Debbie Whiston in 20:29, also second on age-grade in 77%.  Rich Hardy was fourth finisher in 19:20. Kathryn Thompson secured nice new PB in 32:10, respectively.

Tourism award for the furthest travelled this week goes to Chris Polley who did a hot and humid East Park parkrun in Singapore in an impressive 21:59. Tony Smith and Sam Miller did Glengariff parkrun in Ireland securing their G meaning they are just one-away from the full parkrun alphabet.  Meanwhile Carol Austin did Jersey Farm parkrun to nab her J leaving her also just one letter left.  Bec Davey also got her G at Great Yarmouth parkrun.