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South West Shenanigans for AVR
Right across the south-west this weekend AVRs were racing with considerable success. From Bodmin to Bideford and Sidmouth to Somerset AVRs had it covered!
All for the Cornish pasty!
On Sunday, Jeremy Slade and Tim Sibley ventured across the border into Cornwall to run the Cornish Marathon, now in its 40th year. It is a challenging, hilly route with runners rewarded with wonderful views of Bodmin Moor and Cornwall, looping from Pensilva to Golitha falls and Jamaica Inn. The conditions were good and the threatened drizzle didn’t come. The autumn colours were lovely and it was a very well marshalled event with runners receiving a medal, hoodie and a tasty Cornish pasty after their 26.2 mile effort.
Both AVRs had great runs with Jeremy setting a huge marathon PB of 4:33:53 to finish 202nd, some 16 minutes quicker than last year. Tim also had a brilliant run to finish in an excellent 56th in 3:35:17. There were 378 finishers.
Bideford 10 – flat and fast!
Six AVRs ventured up to north Devon to compete in the Bideford 10 – a ten-mile, mainly flat route along the Tarka Trail starting and finishing in the town. There is a small hill as the runners head out of the town giving magnificent views of the Taw and Torridge Estuary. Always a well-organised race by Bideford AAC and attracting a competitive field, Sunday’s event was won by international steeplechaser, Phil Norman in 49:57.
First home for AVR was Rich Hardy, 17th in 56:52, fourth M40 followed by Ryan Snell, 20th in 57:35 taking the third M45 prize. Matt Frost and Matt Hewer were neck and neck with Matt Frost finishing in 40th in 1:00.47 and Matt Hewer in 1:00.51 in 42nd. These four were all using the event as part of their marathon training.
Diane and Graham Newton also had excellent runs after the disappointment of the cancellation of the Great South Run due to Storm Ashley. Graham was third M75 in 1:22.05 and Diane fourth F75 in 2:15.42.
Full results
Beautiful Byes – Sidmouth 10K
Five AVRs opted for the short trip to Sidford to take part in the Sidmouth 10k organised by LM Events. The race, which started at Sidford Social Hall, takes runners along the scenic Byes, adjacent to the River Sid, to the seafront and along the Esplanade before returning the same way. However, it also includes an evil steep hilly loop in each direction!
Joel Seward was first AVR home taking third place after a great race with the lead pack finishing in 36:46, some 43 seconds quicker than last year. Richard Coffey was 62nd in 51:26 while Carol Austin, returning from injury, was 16th female and second F55 in 52:46. Lee Brooker was 105th in 56:09 with Matt Chenery 111th in 56:27. There were wooden medals for the 266 finishers.
Herepath Half – the people’s path!
Five AVRs travelled up to Somerset for this challenging trail half marathon organised by Taunton’s Running Forever RC and forming part of the Somerset Race Series. The route follows the Staple Fitzpaine Herepath Trail in the Blackdown Hills for around 13.7 miles. The trail reaches the highest point in the Blackdown Hills to give fabulous views.
Herepaths were originally important trade and communication routes between settlements during the ninth century – they are often referred to as people’s paths.
First AVR home was Rob Collier in an excellent 12th place in 1:43.29 followed by Karen Eyre, 34th in 1:55.37; Eleanor Wood, 58th in 2:06.49 first F60; Zoe and Rob Harp 106th and 107th in 2:21.38. There were 177 finishers.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was a grey but still morning for Seaton parkrun on Saturday with 274 finishers. AVR’s Debbie Whiston was first female and second on age grade in 20:16, 79%. There were PBs for Mark Parsons in 23:38, Sue Hodge in 25:45, Sarah Farmer in 28:14 and Liz Curley in 31:29.
Further afield Tom Parsons nabbed his Z at Zegerplas parkrun in Alphen aan den Rejn in The Netherlands. He was delighted with a 21:26 PB. Meanwhile also on the alphabet challenge, Carolyn Nation was in Jersey for her J leaving her with just one letter to go. Tony Smith and Sam Miller completed Brueton parkrun in Solihull while Paul Johns was just down the road at Oaklands in Birmingham. Jon and Gill Day took part in the new Simmons parkrun in Okehampton and Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard ran Central parkrun in Plymouth.
A Grand Day Out
There was an impressive turnout of AVRs at the Grand Canal Canter half-marathon in Tiverton on Sunday perhaps tempted by those extra championship points on offer. The flat course is run entirely on the Grand Western canal towpath starting and finishing in Tiverton with the turnaround at Sampford Peverell.
It was a beautiful sunny morning, although still a little misty at 8am when the first race began in which Georgie Ryan took part finishing in 2:08.59, a new PB, and 75th place. The second race, at the later start of 10.45am attracted another eight AVRs with first AVR home Jason Potter in fourth place and first M35 in a PB of 1:36.11 closely followed by Simon McClellan in sixth place in 1:39:18. Luke Freathy was 12th in 1:52.01 with Jo Orsman in 29th in 2:13.35; Bob Carter, 30th in 2:15.16; Cath Brenton, 38th in 2:33.59; Shuna George, 44th in 2:48.53 and Baz Chandra, 45th in 2:48.54, running in his ever half-marathon.
The Power of Ten(s)
Matt Frost took part in the Exeter City Community Trust Halloween 10 miler. Starting in Exeter Canal Basin, the flat and fast route took runners around the scenic route of the Exe Valley River Park with a five and ten mile option available. Matt chose the ten-mile race to use it as part of a marathon training run so did a 10-mile warm up beforehand. He was then aiming to run at planned marathon pace but ended up running in his words more like “a dream marathon pace” finishing fourth in an excellent 1:01:29. A total of 116 completed the 10m option.
Jeremy and John Larcombe took on The Stickler, a challenging ten-mile race hosted by the Dorset Doddlers, now in its 29th year. It includes three of Dorset’s highest peaks with more than 1500 feet of gruelling climbing, beginning with the infamous ’Stickle Path’. Runners ascend three locally renowned peaks along the beautiful Stour Valley: Okeford Beacon, Hod Hill and Hambledon Hill. The course is mostly on gravel tracks, with some stretches on tarmac and grass.
Luckily on Sunday it was a super sunny morning with the course dry in most places. Jeremy came in 128th in 1:32:42 with John 431st in 2:09:52. More than 500 completed the race.
Marathon Eryri
Back from completing two marathons on opposite sides of the world, Angela Kerr took part in her third marathon in two months at the beautiful and scenic Marathon Eryri in Snowdonia on Saturday. The demanding and spectacular route which encircles Yr Wyddfa – the highest peak in Wales – has made this iconic route one of the most popular races in the calendar. On a beautiful sunny day in Wales, Angela finished in 5:33.44, 593rd female, enjoying the stunning scenery as well as the 2590 feet of ascent!
Turkish Delight
Ragnhild Richards completed the Kaş half marathon in Kalkan, Turkey on Sunday. It was hilly and hot so she was pleased to finish in 2:16.32, just two seconds different to last year! She was also first, of two, F60.
Halloween Fun at Haldon
It was a spooky Friday night in the Haldon Woods and Louise Rawlins, never one to shy away from a dressing up opportunity, Aaron Rawlins and their son, Marley, took part in the Halloween Twilight 5k. With ghosts, spooks and zombies to distract and scare them they finished 33rd, 34th and 35th in 36:51.
Stonebarrow 10k
It was a beautiful autumn day for the final National Trust 10k of this summer with Tony Smith, Andy West and Sarah Day taking part in the slightly shortened route due to Landgon Woods being out of use but still providing spectacular views over Golden Cap. Purely for the enjoyment of the scenery and with no times this run is held on the fourth Sunday of the month, May to October.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
Conditions were perfect again in Seaton on Saturday with AVR securing both first finisher places and first on age-grade. Ritchie Durrant, first male in 17:13 and Kerry Board, first female in 22.21. Eleanor Wood was again first on age-grade with 91% for her 23:17. Simon Dimmock was second finisher in 18:30. There were PBs for Mark Parsons in 23:41; Nicola Guppy in 29:22; Helen Boehm in 29:26 and Shirley Goy in 30:43.
Further afield Paul Johns completed Riverfront parkrun in Newport; Jeremy and Liz Slade ran Arrow Valley parkrun in Redditch; Cliff Marriott took part in Thurrock parkrun in Essex; Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley joined the masses at the new Battersea parkrun while Patrick Devine-Wright, Rupert Pady, Karen Eyre and Tom Parsons enjoyed the new winter route at Killerton parkrun. Meanwhile David and Susi Sadler nabbed a U at Upton House parkrun and completed their 50th different location.
Mendip muddy madness
With the effects of Storm Ashley wiping out many events including the Great South Run it is a short round-up this week.
Storm Ashley was at its peak as AVR’s Karen Eyre and Rupert Pady took to the start line for the Mendip Muddle, a tough 20k multi-terrain race in the Mendip Hills starting at Blagdon. The route is described as scenic with a 420m climb and stunning views, a nature reserve, conifer forest and an iron age fort. However with the wind and driving rain and hail of Sunday runners just wanted to see the finish line. Finishing in an excellent ninth place, Rupert Pady was first M50 in 1:40.07 while Karen Eyre, despite feeling tired after organising the ColyTEN last week, also ran exceptionally well to finish eighth female and first F50 in 1:58.17. Both won a large tub of chocolates.
The race, which attracted 137 finishers, forms part of the Somerset Series of 18 races from which runners must complete eight to be in the final standings.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
On Saturday the perfect conditions attracted another big turnout to Seaton with 280 finishers. Many AVRs completed the parkrun before, as part of or after a longer run clearly aware of Storm Ashley’s arrival on Sunday! First AVR home was Rich Hardy, second finisher, in 17:47 just pipping Harry McMahon into the third finisher spot in 17:50. Debbie Whiston was second female in 20:12. Eleanor Wood with an amazing 90% was first on age-grade for her 23:33.
There were PBs for Zoe Harp in 25:35; Helen Boehm in 30:51; and Shirley Goy in 31:05.
Further afield Kerry Board, fresh from her brilliant Chicago marathon last week, took part in Roosevelt Island DC parkrun in Washington, finishing fourth woman on her tired legs in 23:20. Luke Freathy took part in Durham parkrun while Craig Tiley completed Nothwich parkrun and Andy Goy ran Peter Pan parkrun in Hull. Closer to home, Patrick Devine-Wright and Rupert Pady did Killerton parkrun and Georgie Ryan and Steve Saunders enjoyed the fast Exmouth parkrun.