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
We raced the Tram and the Tram won
The annual AVR relay race against the tram took place last Tuesday. Runners turned out to try to beat the tram from Colyton station to Seaton station having first enjoyed a tram ride to Colyton. Yet again the tram took the win this year although only just! Congratulations to Rob Collier’s team who made a tremendous effort and were pipped by less than a minute.
The other seven teams put up a good fight and enjoyed the lovely evening run as the tram sailed past. There were reports of some dodgy baton passing, of runners getting lost and of a runner completing several legs rather than passing to his team-mates. All providing plenty of entertainment and ammunition for the Chair’s end of year awards.
Thanks to chef, Shaun Vinnicombe and his team of caterers who provided a wonderful barbecue back at the Cricket Club and to the TuTu Crew who sold cakes in aid of MacMillan. Devon Air Ambulance also received a donation of £200 thanks to AVR and Seaton Tramway.
Exeter 10k
On Wednesday six AVRs took part in the Exeter 10k organised by City Runs a two-lap traffic free flat route run on paths and tracks around the river Exe, the canal and the Riverside country park. Rob Collier was the first AVR home, 2nd M50 and 28th overall in 38:32; Cory Schultz finished in 49:29; Richard Matthews in 49:45; Carol Austin in 50:44 and 3rd F60; Albert Dlima in 50:44; Craig Tiley in 53:41; and Angela Kerr in 56:54 and 1st F65. There were 214 finishers.
Seaton parkrun
Ritchie Durrant was first finisher this week in 17:48. Debbie Whiston was first woman in 20:29 and she was also second on age grade, 77.54%. Georgie Ryan secured a PB of 31:34, Thom Mincham ran her 100th parkrun while David Sadler undertook his 200th volunteer stint at Seaton. Simon Freathy celebrated “Tutu” day, 22nd of the month, by finishing in 22:22!
Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley secured their Y for the alphabet challenge at York parkrun while Ron and Fiona Seward took part in Leavesden Country Park parkrun in Watford with Ron coming in top on age grade.
Swansea Half Iron Man
Steve Lewis yet again proved age is no barrier completing the Swansea 70.3 Iron Man last Sunday. He battled through the biblical monsoon conditions for the swim in Swansea’s Prince of Wales Dock as well as for the first 30 miles of the bike ride around the Gower Peninsular. Thankfully the sun came out for the run along Swansea Bay for the half marathon to the Mumbles lighthouse.
Steve was second M70 in an amazing total time of 7hours 56minutes; swim 43minutes; bike 4hours 21minutes and the run 2hours 33minutes.
Speedsters in Somerset
A group of AVRs popped up to Yeovilton on Wednesday evening for the third of the summer series of 5ks. Run on flat roads these races are great for securing personal bests. First AVR home, and fifth overall, was Jack Broom in 15:42 with Rich Hardy in 16th and fourth M40 in 16:39. Adrian Strawbridge dipped under 20 for the first time finishing in 19:59 while James Ashurst came in in 22:30. Hats off to Suzi Blackett who was 21stfemale in a PB of 23:30.
Who is off to Dalwood Fayre?
Organised by Honiton Running Club the Dalwood Fayre 10k was back after a few years away. The 10k route starts and finishes at the Tuckers Arms in Dalwood running into the beautiful Blackdown Hills on a challenging route taking in some 1000 feet of ascent over tricky terrain. Just 46 took part with most describing the downhill finish as the highlight!
AVR’s Matt Clist took the win in 40.24 with Eleanor Wood, second female in 55.50 and Rich Hardy, followed his cracking run at Yeovilton with third place in 42.38.
Jason Potter was seventh in 52.24 with Paul Johns hot on his heels in 52.46. Ron Seward was 16th in 57.37 and first M65; Andrew Hartnell was 18th in 58.01; Margaret Pearce 20th in 58.17; Caroline French 25th 1:01.20; Kevin Feeney 34th 1:07.29; Rebecca Eastburn 38th 1:11.44 and Carly Lowe 45th 1:32.31.
Blackdown beauty
More of a beast than a beauty this year after a week of rain making the course exceptionally boggy in places. The run is a social self-navigated one over the Blackdown hills; with 10 or 18 mile routes available, it also includes an optional pub stop and cream tea. Mandy Harris and Angela Kerr joined the field for the tough 18 mile (ish) run with 2500 feet of elevation which they described as making the Grizzly look like a walk in the park. They were rewarded with some great views as well as the cream tea!
Ex- ceptional effort by the Exe
Cath Brenton completed only her second ever half marathon on Sunday at the Exe Estuary. Following personal tragedy she hasn’t been able to train over the last few months but decided, with the support of two friends to tackle it. The route was a mix of beach, trail, cliff tops and hills and, with the support of two friends, she completed it in 3:12.43. The time wasn’t important: the fact that she is back out running and feeling the benefits – she says, “I am so happy to have achieved it and now I feel I am ready to return to my running.” AVR look forward to welcoming you back, Cath.
AVR’s, Georgie Ryan also completed the half marathon in 2:52.01.
Seaton parkrun
The strong winds on Saturday meant it was definitely not a PB day. Ryan Snell came in third finisher in 18:56 with Debbie Whiston first female, despite starting slightly late, in 22:09. Susi Sadler completed her 200thvolunteering stint at Seaton which is an incredible innings. Anyone can help and there is always a need for more volunteers especially during the holiday season so please contact seaton@parkrun.com if you can help.
AVR also supports two junior parkrun events in Axminster, Stop Line Way junior, and in Lyme, Cobb Gate junior. These take place on a Sunday morning at 9am and with it being just 2k your volunteering role is usually over and done by 9.30/45. Contact stoplinewayjuniors@parkrun.com or cobbgatejuniors@parkrun.com if you can help or to find out more.
Killerton Duathlon
A few AVRs headed up to Killerton on Sunday for a “Run-Bike-Run” duathlon event. The first run, 5k, was very muddy with some downhill. The cycle ride was flat but very windy followed by a second hard 3k run. Emilie Brook took second female and first F40 with Andrew Snook in third place, second M40. Haydn Boehm, Darrell Farley, Dan Clist and James Hawker also took part, the latter two in their first ever multi-sport event. Full results here
Potter by the Otter
The popular Otter Rail and River 10k on Saturday attracted a big turn-out of AVRs. The race follows the Otter river from Tipton St John down to Harpford then through the woods and back along the old railway line. More than 200 completed the 10k with Eleanor Wood taking first F65 finishing in 50.54. Special mention to Sarah Shepley who completed her first 10k since a serious knee injury. All finishers received a bottle of Otter ale and the race was well organised by Sidmouth Running Club. Full results here
Tree..mendous
Diane Newton entered Relish Running’s Westonbirt half marathon last weekend. Westonbirt is the national arboretum and is home to 2,500 species of trees, including many rare ones from around the world. More than 400 took part in the undulating two-lap course which wound around the various areas dedicated to different species. In her first half-marathon of the year Diane took the F70+ category prize finishing in 2:57:28.
Seaton parkrun
The first finishers this week were both AVRs with Ryan Snell in 17:51 and Emilie Brock in 20:48. Second finisher was Richard Hardy in 18:05 with Luke Reed third in 18:08 after a great tussle between the three of them before Ryan pulled away.
There was also a good haul of PBs for AVR this week from Gareth Walker 22:48, Jeremy Norcombe 22:57, Laura Kerr 23:40, Craig Tiley 24:08 and Dave Hutton 24:20. Laura was particularly pleased as she both smashed her Seaton parkrun PB but also secured an overall parkrun PB beating her Eastbourne time.
First on age grade percentage was AVR Ron Seward in 22:27 for 80.55% while Elaine Chesterman celebrated her 50th parkrun milestone. The parkrunners, volunteers and spectators were entertained on Saturday by a fabulous performance from the local Sunshine Samba.
Further afield Bec Davey secured her D at Dinton Pastures parkrun, Adele Girdwood ran Penrose parkrun, Amie and Tim Sibley, also in Cornwall, completed Trelissick while David and Susi Sadler took on Penrhyn parkrun in Wales.