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Dartmoor ‘Delight’
Karen Eyre and Rupert Pady took part in The Pagan Trails half marathon in the toughest of conditions on Dartmoor. The challenging route visits many of the stone circles and pagan sites of north Dartmoor, steeped in ancient history and legends where mythical, mystical Dartmoor meets the lush valleys of the North Teign and Bovey rivers. Rupert was an excellent 27th in 2:30.45 with Karen finishing 78th in 3:04.52 with 140 completing the race in the wet and windy conditions.
Further afield
Three AVRs travelled further afield to take part in races this weekend.
In Helsby, Cheshire Angela Kerr ran the Essar Four Villages Half, the 40th running of this event. She completed the 13.1m in 2:12.16 in strong winds towards the end as Storm Isha arrived in the UK. Angela finished 1080th from nearly 1500 competitors and third F65, and now waits to hear if this will qualify her for the England Masters team.
Over in Essex, Cliff Marriott completed the Benfleet 15, which consisted of 15 multi-terrain miles of hills and mud in windy conditions. The course included parts of the 2012 Olympic mountain biking course as well as Canvey Island sea wall and the undulating Hadleigh Downs. Cliff finished in 2:35.13 and described it as perfect preparation for the Grizzly. He also received lots of love for the Grizzly from fellow runners!
While in the home counties Steve Lewis ran the Farnborough Winter Half Marathon. The popular, fast and flat 13.1m road race around the business and technology parks is said to be the ‘coolest’ half-marathon due to its winter timetable; it wasn’t quite the -5 degrees of last year but the wind from the incoming Storm Isha was challenging.
Steve finished in 1460th place and sixth M70 in 2:06.43 with nearly 2000 completing the event.
Windy Seaton parkrun
It was a battle of Joel Seward and Ritchie Durrant at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with Joel taking first finisher spot in 17:40 just ahead of Ritchie who finished in 17:48. Debbie Whiston was first female in 21:02, also first on age-grade in 76%, with Kerry Board third female in 23:19.
Despite extremely windy conditions Lucy Hanley managed a PB in 32:30 and Andy Goy celebrated his 300th parkrun.
Axmouth welcomes AVR
There was a huge turnout of AVRs supporting the Axmouth Challenge which raises money for the community village hall. With one mile, three mile, five and nine mile options there was a race suitable for most. All races started with a wicked steep uphill before dividing up and circling the gorgeous countryside above the village. The weather was perfect with chilly sunshine and little wind and the recent cold, dry spell had improved the conditions underfoot.
With the nine-mile option forming part of the 2024 club challenge there were a good percentage of AVRs amongst the 116 finishers. Wayne Loveridge of Chard Road Runners and Debbie Whiston of AVR were the winners with Wayne coming home in 54:36 and Debbie in 1:04.55. Second male was Michael Legg of Crewkerne followed by six AVRs headed by Matt Clist in third place in 56:12 and, last year’s winner, Rich Hardy, who once again ran ten miles to the start of the race, in fourth in 57:30.
The five-mile race was won by AVR’s Simon Dimmock in 42:22 with Amy Waterson first female in 46:29. AVR’s Simon Freathy was third, second AVR, in 46:30 with 28 finishers.
Full results are here
The three and one-mile races attracted mainly junior runners.
AVR also provided the timers, back markers for each race, and some marshals. Soup, tea, bacon butties and cakes were served in the village hall for runners, spectators and helpers adding to the lovely community feel to the event. A big thank you to all the organisers for another successful day.
Cornish Ultra
Julia Mallon took part in the Endurance Life North Cornwall Ultra on Saturday taking on 32 challenging miles of the beautiful Cornish coast path. The race started in Polzeath running along the coast path to Treligga and back again. It was very tough with 7,000 feet of elevation but the scenery was stunning. Finishing in 8:11:16 59th place from the 63 that completed it, Julia was also the first V50 female.
Worldwide parkruns for AVR
In Seaton it was very chilly day but still more than 200 ran, walked or jogged parkrun. Luke Reed was first finisher in 17:56 which also placed him third on age grade with 78%. Debbie Whiston was first female in 21:39. Second on age grade with 79% was Carol Austin for her 24:36. There were PBs for Pam Goddard in 29:17 and Shirley Goy in 43:33.
Paul Lloyd took part in Heartlands parkrun in Cornwall while Jon Day went to Teignmouth Promenade parkrun and Ian Smith tackled Northwich parkrun in Cheshire.
Further afield, Diane and Graham Newton took advantage of still being “Down Under” this week to take part in the lovely but rather undulating Risdon Brook parkrun, near Hobart, Tasmania. It was a family affair for them as they were joined by their son, Adam and granddaughter, Saskia. For Graham it was his first run in his new age category and he set a new course record for the M75-79 in 26.09, with Diane coming in 40:30 and third in her hotly contested over 70s age group. Adam and first-timer, Saskia, both finished first in their age categories making it a clean sweep for three generations of Newtons.
Freezing First Chance
The First Chance 10k, the first event of the 2024 InStep Devon Series, took place in cold but sunny conditions on Sunday. Starting and finishing on Exeter Quay the event, organised by South West Road Runners, was a sell-out with almost 600 runners taking part. A flat, fast course of a small then large loop alongside the River Exe the route included a number of tight turns and narrow parts but still saw some very speedy times.
Fourteen AVRs took part with Matt Frost, Tim Sibley and Suzi Blackett starting the year with huge PBs, and Carol Austin securing her best time since 2018 after a string of injuries.
First AVR home in a magnificent 34:41 was Rich Hardy, ninth overall and an excellent second M40. Sixth M40 and 23rd overall was Duncan Staddon in 35:22. Matt Frost was 33rd in 36:26 taking a minute off his PB.
In 113th Tim Sibley, currently in training for next month’s Seville marathon finished in a brilliant 41:36 which bodes well for the big one. Suzi Blackett took a huge three minutes off her PB finishing in 46:54, 13th F40.
In the battle of the F60s, Eleanor Wood finished 3rd F60 in an excellent 46:51 with Carol Austin, fourth F60 in 47:37.
The other AVRs were Ian Kinnersley in 43:11, fifth M60; Kerry Board in 45:05, tenth F40; Andy West, 45:51, 11th M60; Haydn Boehm in 44:35; Alan Hornibrook in 48:23; Shirley Salter and Maxine Sweetman, who ran together, finishing in 1.10:28.
Following the race last year’s InStep Devon Championship prizes were presented with AVR’s Kerry Board picking up overall Female and F45 prize and Suzi Blackett the F35 crown.
Ron Seward, who was unable to attend, won the M70 category with AVR also taking third place in both male and female team champs. After yesterday’s great start AVR will be looking at picking up some more silverware this time next year!
Walter Raleigh Round
Dan Clist and James Hawker enjoyed the winter sunshine and amazing scenery on Saturday completing the Walter Raleigh Round Half Marathon organised by Climb South West. Starting and finishing in Budleigh the route visits the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh and the countryside where he spent time as a child. Using quiet back lanes, country roads, little known footpaths and a disused railway line the course follows the Otter Valley, High Peak and the Jurassic Coast with some 366m of ascent and almost the same descent making it a challenging course and after Storm Henke the terrain was muddy even if the sun was shining.
The two AVRs ran together finishing in a creditable 2:40.47, 95th and 96th out of 146 who completed the event.
Chocs ahoy!
On Sunday across the other side of the world, Diane Newton took part in the Cadbury Half Marathon near Hobart, Tasmania. The race starts in front of the Cadbury factory, making a circuit of the Cadbury estate before setting off alongside the River Derwent across the Booker bridge and back. The event started at 6.30 am in a bid to beat the heat. However, Diane still found it uncomfortably hot. Unfortunately a marshalling error meant that the runners ended up running just over an extra kilometre. Diane finished in 3:15, coming first in the women’s over 70 category. All the runners were presented with a medal and a large bar of Cadbury chocolate.
Seaton parkrun
It was a beautiful chilly day for the first event of 2024 in Seaton with more than 300 enjoying the conditions. As it was pacer day several AVRs were supporting others achieve their targets so big thanks to Keith Agland, Haydn Boehm, Vicki Wraight, Louise Rawlins and Joel Seward for their excellent pacing.
Third finisher and in a brilliant PB time of 18:24 was Max Richardson. First female and second on age grade was Debbie Whiston in 20:17 with Ron Seward third on age grade in 23:45. There were PBs for Simon McClellan in 21:05; Lee Brooker in 27:37 and Shirley Goy in 44:11.
Andy West secured his 100th milestone last week so completing his 101st on Saturday!
Carolyn Nation popped over the border to Newport Wales to complete Riverside parkrun while David and Paula Cooke took part in Birkenhead parkrun.