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
Muggy Martock
A handful of AVRs headed up into Somerset for the Martock 10k, on a scenic and flat course promising fast times. But the sunshine, heat and closeness of the air was very challenging.
First AVR home in fifth place, and second M40, was Duncan Staddon in 36:13. Ron Seward was first M70, 94th in an impressive 47:06. Second M70 was another AVR, Eric Emerson in 54:27, 181st overall. Ann Coston finished in 52:12, second F50 and 149th with Angela Kerr in 55:28, 197th, second F60.
Other AVRs were Katharine Moran, 58:05, 232nd, Fiona Seward, 62:56, 273rd and Shirley Salter, 68:48, 320th. A total of 384 finished the race to be rewarded with a lovely wooden medal.
Giant Half
Mandy Harris ran White Star Running’s Giants Head half marathon in Dorset on Sunday in 3:11.18. With just over 1500 ft of climb it was another tough half in very hot conditions that took in the Cerne Abbas Giant.
PBs galore at sunny Seaton parkrun
Ryan Snell was second finisher in a PB of 17:41 with Debbie Whiston second female finisher in 19:39, also second on age-grade in 80.8%. Emilie Brock was third female in a PB of 19:57. On a sunny morning in perfect conditions there were also PBs for David Cull, 20:13; Jeremy Norcombe, 22:58; Zoe Trewick, 29:05; and Ann-Louise Gridley, 31:39.
Up in Teddington Kevin Feeney celebrated his 100th run at Bushy Park parkrun, the location of the first ever parkrun nearly 20 years ago. Keen to secure the “where it all started” parkrun challenge, Carol Austin, Martin Kerr and Angela Kerr made the pilgrimage there to run their first Bushy while Sarah Shepley completed her 39th at Bushy.
Aileen and Peter Heal completed Somerville Pavilion parkrun, known for its famous “curly-wurly” finish. All AVR parkrun results can be found here
Man v Horse
David and Susi Sadler travelled to mid-Wales for the infamous Man v Horse race in Llanwrtyd Wells. It was blisteringly hot for the 21-mile race which challenges runners to outrun the horses across mountainous terrain with an incredibly steep 3800 feet ascent.
For only the fourth time since the race began in 1980 a runner did actually beat the horse with Daniel Connolly finishing in 2:24.38. First horse home was DNS Ronaldo ridden by Kate Atkinson in 2:34.25. The race was started by BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth along with Susie Chan, endurance runner and peloton instructor, with the two of them then running the race.
David and Susi are dedicated Man v Horse participants with David having taken part eight times and Susi nine, including once riding a horse! They described this year’s event as the hardest yet due largely to the heat but loved it more than ever!
Sizzling Southend
On Sunday Ron Seward ran the Southend half-marathon in sizzlingly hot Southend where the mercury hit 26 degrees! A brilliantly marshalled course comprising of two loops along the seafront was interspersed with water sprays and numerous drinks stops. Ron finished an excellent 291st from more than 1500 finishers in 1:47:06. Given the conditions he was pleased with the time.
Tutu Tribe celebrate milestones
Another sunny Saturday in Seaton saw 244 finishers at parkrun and milestones for AVR’s Louise Rawlins celebrating completing 25 events and Haydn Boehm reaching 50 volunteer stints. They were joined by a big group of friends from AVR’s Runshiners to celebrate, all brightly adorned in tutus for the occasion. At parkrun volunteering and completing the 5k is celebrated with milestone T-shirts, wristbands, buffs and vests available when you reach 25, 50, 100, 250 and, even, 500.
First finisher on Saturday was AVR’s Ritchie Durrant in 17.44 with AVR’s Debbie Whiston first female in 19.55, also second on age-grade with 79%. Andy West, back from injury, was third on age-grade with 77% for his 22.43. Ann-Louise Gridley got a PB, 32.44 and Simon Dimmock celebrated an impressive 200th parkrun.
Hot and hilly for Crewkerne 10k
There was a good turnout of AVRs who hopped over the border to Somerset to support the Crewkerne 10k. Hot conditions and a hilly course made it a challenging run but the beautiful route and great atmosphere made up for it.
The winner, from Chard Road Runners was regular Seaton parkrun first finisher, Wayne Loveridge in a very impressive 34:53, over a minute ahead of the second placed, Shaun Dixon. First AVR home in fifth and first M40 was Duncan Staddon in an excellent 37:17. Rob Collier took first M50, 14th place, in 41:17. Eleanor Wood was fifth female and, second F55 in 49:25. Interestingly all three F55 placings were faster than the F35 and F45 categories! Ian Kinnersley had another good afternoon taking second M60 in 46:33, 35th overall.
More than 180 finished the race, organised by Crewkerne RC and full results can be found here:
No rest on a Bank Holiday!
Mandy Harris ran the White Star Running’s Ox Half Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday as part of a whole weekend of races organised by the Wiltshire club. The half marathon was held in the stunning Rushmore Estate with the route going across the rolling Wiltshire Downs and Cranborn Chase as well as the old Ox Drove, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
With nearly 1,700ft of climb and a sneaky evil hill towards the finish, Mandy was pleased to finish in 2:57:13, fourth F50.
Rik Tumber was also competing on the Bank Holiday at the Chagford 2Hills, tough fell race on Dartmoor.
After a lap around the cricket ground runners were straight into a steep technical climb of 225m in less than 1km up Meldon Hill. A rapid technical descent followed into deep bogs and then another steep technical climb of only about 150m onto Battadon Common. Finally another rapid technical descent down to the cricket club to finish. Rik was an impressive sixth finisher from more than 200 who completed the short but gruelling challenge.
Couch to 5k graduation!
On Wednesday the latest group of newbies to AVR “graduated” at the end of their Couch to 5k programme. Nine completed their final week with a 30-minute non-stop run. Big thanks to Cliff Marriott, Pam Goddard and the other helpers who have supported the group over the last nine weeks. On Wednesday they were rewarded with a shiny star, made by Louise Rawlins, and choc-ices!
Sunny parkrun again
Another sunny Saturday brought the crowds to Seaton again for parkrun with 252 finishers including a large contingent from Southampton celebrating an upcoming wedding. Second female home was Debbie Whiston in 19.56 who was also third on age-grade with 79%. First on age grade was Ron Seward in an impressive 81% with a shiny PB too of 22.16. There were also PBs for Gareth Walker, 23.42; Jo Orsman, 26.57; and Liz Curley, 33:09.
With the holiday season upon us, AVRs also took the opportunity for a parkrun while on their travels with visits to Sharpham Road Playing Fields, Cheddar; Heartlands in Cornwall; Bideford; Conwy and Lymington. All the details of these and the local parkrun results are here