This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Accept settingsSettingsWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy
Ax Minster means business
After a gap of five years the Minster Challenge returned on Saturday with Axe Valley Runners dominating both podiums in the 12k multi-terrain race. Rich Hardy in 48:32 and Karen Eyre in 1:01.30 were the winners with AVR also taking the first seven male spots and five out of seven of the first female finishes.
It is a very challenging route, starting and finishing in Axminster, which then meanders out of the town into the beautiful surrounding countryside with climbs up Stammery Hill and Lodge Lane and a return via the aptly named Evil Lane! Despite the beautiful weather on the day runners faced a lot of mud, camber and flint underfoot.
Completing the men’s podium were Max Richardson, second in 49:04 and James Green, third in 49:35. AVR also had almost a clean sweep of the men’s age group crowns with Rich Hardy, also first M40; Ryan Snell first M45 in 51:20; Richard Jackson, first M50 in 1:05.14; Rob Collier first M55 in 53:00; Ian Kinnersley first M60 in 1:04.59; Mike Wadsworth first M65 in 1:05.03 and Kevin Feeney first M70 in 1:20.45.
On the women’s side, Kerry Board was third in 1:03.47 with Eleanor Wood fifth and first F65 in 1:07.54. Other age group winners were Karen Eyre, first F50; Jacqui Stokes first F45 in 1:10.06; Sarah Coates first F35 in 1:10.36; Ann Coston first F55 in 1:16.56; and Ragnhild Richards first F60 in 1:17.00.
Big thanks go to Ruby Red Running for reviving the event, Axe Valley Academy for hosting and AVR for providing the MC, Haydn Boehm. There were 87 finishers in the 12k race with 5k and children’s races also available. For the AVRs the race formed part of this year’s club challenge. Full results.
Yeovil Half and 10k
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning for the Yeovil Half Marathon and 10k which both start and finish in the centre of the Somerset town. Five AVRs popped over the border to take part. The routes are tough and undulating on country lanes surrounding Montacute House, the beautiful NT mansion house adjacent to Ham Hill.
In the 13.1 miler, Joel Seward came in a fantastic fourth place, nabbing a PB, of 1:14.57 which sets him up very well for the London Marathon in four weeks. Matt Hewer, also with eyes on the Capital’s big race, was 20th and second M45 in 1:20.51. Simon McClennan ran an excellent 1:32.47 to finish 93rd and secure himself a PB. Ron Seward finished in 1:53.16, fourth M70.
Meanwhile in the 10k Fiona Seward finished in 1:01.13 and third F70.
Coastal Splendour
Cathy Brenton took part in the Total Coastal Half Marathon on Saturday with a finishing time of 3:26:43 for the tough 13.1 miles of the South West Coast Path between Torquay and Shaldon.
The race started at Preston Green, then meandered through Torquay, onto the SWCP towards Babbacombe so the views were stunning but the terrain very challenging. The weather was perfect and helped especially with the last three hardest and toughest miles into Shaldon. Cathy, who finished in 60th from the 85 who took part, describes it as a great event with a generous cut-off and well organised by Winding Paths.
Not contend with 13.1 miles, James Hawker and Patrick Rosello took part in the ultra, 50k event which started in Kingswear, also following the Coast Path through Brixham and Paignton before joining the half marathon route to finish in Shaldon. Patrick was 45th in 7:14.43 with James 57th in 7:47.51 with 116 completing the longer race.
Gloucester Half
Matt Frost completed the Gloucester Half Marathon in 1:20.30, 38th place in the event which starts and finishes in Gloucester Park in the cathedral city. More than 1700 took part in the race with the route taking runners around the city centre passing the cathedral before heading out on closed roads and the canal towpath.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was another sunny day in Seaton with 223 finishers at the parkrun. AVR’s Debbie Whiston was first female finisher in 21:00 and second on age-grade with 77% despite using it as part of a three-hour marathon training run. Lily Sibley nabbed another PB of 34.03.
Out and about Tom Parsons enjoyed Chippenham parkrun; Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard completed Frimley Lodge parkrun; Craig Tiley took part in Lydiard parkrun while Sean Vinnicombe enjoyed the beautiful but challenging Lanhydrock parkrun in Cornwall and John Whittaker ran Exeter Riverside parkrun. Sam Miller and Tony Smith completed the stunning Mount Edgcumbe parkrun, surely in everyone’s top three events.
And finally …
Jake Smith and friends gave the Derry City parkrun team a bit of a surprise with seven of them breaking 17 minutes and Jake taking almost a minute off the course record with his finish time of 14:17. The group were visting as part of a Stag weekend – definitely not your average stag party! More info: Fast Running
AVRs racing far and wide
It was a bumper racing weekend for AVR members with road and trail, competitive and friendly events across the country, many in preparation for marathons while others targeting national honours.
British champs success for the Newtons
Graham and Diane Newton ran the Forest of Dean Spring Trails Half Marathon. The course undulates along a course of forest trails through the heart of the Forest of Dean. More than 1,000 runners took part and were lulled into a false sense of ease on the long downhill start, only to work their way back up the 750 feet of elevation to get back to the finish line. Graham had a brilliant run, coming in second M75 in 1:54:33 to take the British Trail Running Championship silver medal. Diane was very pleased to finish third F75 in 3:09:09.
Flat Fens prove a challenge
With England Masters places at stake it was a stacked field at the Keith Hall Memorial 10k in Thorney with former international, Gemma Steel taking second place in the female race. Angela Kerr and Carol Austin travelled up to the flat, Fenland race which left the village on an out and back route on closed country roads. After the turn at 5k runners faced a wicked headwind back into the village.
Carol finished in 47:54, 46th female and seventh F60, with Angela, 80th female and sixth F65 in 55:10. The race was celebrating the 40th anniversary of Thorney Running Club and also celebrated the life of its chairman, Keith Hall. There were 333 competitors.
A right royal half
A trio of AVRs took part in the Green Park Reading Half Marathon, a popular pre-London marathon race. The fast scenic course finishes in the Reading FC stadium, home to the Royals, where a big crowd awaited the runners; including AVR’s very own Reading fan, Tony Smith!
Andy Charrington finished in 1:42.53, 1217th, seventh M65. Haydn Boeham and Suzi Blackett finished in 1:58.28 in 2872nd and 2873rd.
Feighan Fury
South West Road Runners organise this ten mile event in memory of Mike Feighan, a much loved former winner of the Grizzly who tragically passed away in 2021. The ten-mile event is a challenging, multi terrain race across the rolling hills of mid-Devon including hills, woods, trails and rivers. AVR’s Eleanor Wood was first F60 in 1:37.55; Jeremy Larcombe finished in 1:30.36 with Alan Morbey coming home in 1:53.54.
Birthday celebration in Eastleigh
Ryan Snell celebrated both his birthday and a return to racing following injury at the Valencia marathon in December by taking part in the fast, flat Eastleigh 10k in Hampshire. He finished first M45 and 55 in an excellent 35:38 in a race which attracted 2500 runners.
Oakley 20 revives Grizzly memories
Diana Burn completed the Oakley 20 mile undulating road race in 4:09 in preparation for her London marathon next month. She was second F70. She describes it as a very friendly race organised by Bedford Harriers, many of whom had run the Grizzly earlier this month. She received lots of shouts of ‘the home of the Grizzly’; ‘we love Seaton’ and ‘we were there two weeks ago’ as she ran in her AVR top!. She used this as a good excuse to stop and chat at water stations! This year 50 Bedford Harriers came down for the Grizzly weekend.
Thames Trail
The Windsor Trail half Marathon is a guided tour of a race beginning at the foot of Windsor Castle and meandering along the River Thames passing the Royal Windsor racecourse and Dorney Lake, the summer Olympic venue for rowing and kayaking, and the spires of Eton College before heading back to finish just before the gates of Windsor Castle. AVR’s Ian Kinnersley finished an impressive seventh in 1:43.11 and first M60, a great pre-London Marathon work out. There were 126 finishers.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
There was a special guest at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with AVR’s James Ashforth running as a robin in preparation for his Guinness World Record attempt taking place at the London Marathon next month where he hopes to become the fastest ever marathon runner dressed as a bird. He is running for Tommy’s following personal experiences of baby loss this is a charity close to his heart and many others at AVR. Details and donations can be made here
First finisher on Saturday was Ritchie Durrant in 17:26 with Ann-Louise Childe bagged another PB in 28:14.
Out on the road Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley enjoyed the sunshine in Vienna at Donaupark parkrun; Tony Smith took part in Richmond parkrun; Tim and Amie Sibley bagged a D for their parkrun alphabet in at Dudley parkrun; Carolyn Nation ran the flat, fast Walsall Arboretum parkrun; Jon Day and Paul Johns completed Barnstable parkrun; and Shirley and Andy Goy took on the new Greendale Farm Shop parkrun. Prior to their races on Sunday, Diana Burn completed Milton Keynes parkrun and carol Austin and Angela and Martin Kerr ran March parkrun.
And finally …
Spare a thought for Simon Davey who travelled back from Vietnam for the Hastings half marathon only to find it cancelled due to a police incident.
It’s a weekend of three halves!
With Spring marathon training in full swing, this weekend is a popular one for a half-marathon race tester. AVRs competed over the 13.1-mile distance in events in Bath, Fleet and Weymouth.
In Bath the race attracted a top-class field as it was a qualifier for the British team at the World Road Racing Championships taking place in September. It was won by former AVR, Jake Smith in a brilliant 1:02.20 meaning he is guaranteed a spot in the team if he can shave 20 seconds off that time at another half-marathon before the selection in mid-May. After two years of battling injury and RED-S it is fantastic to see Jake again competing at the very top.
Also back from injury, Duncan Staddon had a fine race finishing in 146th place in 1:18.31 and an impressive third M45. Heather Simmons finished in 2:13.51. More than 11000 completed the race in the beautiful regency city.
The Fleet half marathon also saw a competitive field with England Masters selection up for grabs. Debbie Whiston, using the race as part of her training preparations for London, finished in 1:26.44, 33rd female and ninth F45.
Meanwhile just down the road in Dorset, Diana Burn, also in London marathon training, used the Weymouth half-marathon as a slow training run finishing in 2:31 and second F70.
Nantwich 10k
Ron and Fiona Seward travelled up to Cheshire to run the Nantwich 10k, a fast and flat race on closed country lanes in the picturesque Cheshire countryside. It was a very cold, but sunny morning for the nearly 1750 runners. Fiona completed the course in 59:39 to be the first F70 in 1235th place while Ron finished in an excellent 46:27 for 338th and second M70 from an amazing 13 in that age bracket.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was a cold, sunny morning for Seaton parkrun with our friends at Honiton RC providing the majority of the volunteers as part of a “takeover” day. AVR’s Karen Eyre was first female and first on age-grade in 21:19 and 82.7%. First finisher was Joel Seward in 18:01 with Tony Smith, Seaton parkrun’s co-Event Director finishing in an excellent sub-20, 19:57 and third on age-grade 77.7%. As well as Tony there were PBs for Ann-Louise Childe in 28:18 and James Childe in 28:55.
Away from Seaton, Carol Austin completed Donaupark parkrun in Vienna, her 70th different venue and tenth different country. Closer to home Tom Parsons, Gill Day, Rachel Hiscock, Denise Burges and Shirley Salter took part in Greendale Farm Shop parkrun, mercifully dry for a change. Elsewhere, Pam Goddard ran Woodley parkrun in Reading; Shaun Vinnicombe completed Hove Promenade; Paul Johns ran Shepton Mallet parkrun; Mark Spraggs enjoyed Lymington Woodside and Tim and Amie Sibley took part in Porthcawl parkrun.
And finally
Following her debut for the senior GB team at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, Innes Fitzgerald has been selected for the World Athletics Championships in Nanjing which take place next weekend.