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Sunny delight at Drogo
A huge turnout of AVRs enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather at the beautiful Castle Drogo estate for the 10m trail race run mainly on National Trust land, organised by South West Road Runners. With about 1600 feet of elevation it is a challenging race which 429 runners completed on Sunday.
First AVR home was Richard Hardy in seventh place in an impressive 1:11.40 with Rik Tumber (14th; 1:13.23) and Lee Moran (20th; 1:15.38) close behind. Rupert Pady was 62ndin 1:26.02.
First AVR female was Emilie Brock in an excellent 1:27.04, also second F40 with Kerry Board in 1:27.21, second F45 and Karen Eyre in 1:28.10, second F50. Eleanor Wood was first F65 in 1:29.47.
Other AVRs were: Haydn Boehm (108th; 1:31.35); Simon Davey (117th; 1:32.46); Jason Potter (123rd, 1:33.26); Tom Parsons (136th, 1:36.17); Wayne Tooze (151st, 1:37.50); Ian Kinnersley (162nd, 1:39.07); Andy West (185th, 1:40.58); James Hawker (201st, 1:42.56); Neil Johnson (215th, 1:45.25); Jeremy Larcombe (226th, 1:46.40); Suzi Blackett (251st; 1:49.57); Andy Charrington (261st, 1:50.55); Steve Lewis (263rd; 1:51.06); Alan Morbey (307th; 1:57.29); Katharine Moran (335th; 2:01.47); Henry Smith (341st; 2:02.40); John Larcombe (344th, 2:02.21); Kelly Nickels (355th, 2:04.11); Julia Mallon (362nd, 2:05.47); Helen Holmes (363rd, 2:05.47); Emma Richardson (374th, 2:10.02); Sam Tooze (375th, 2.10.02); and Maxine Sweetman (409th, 2:21.03).
All the results are here: https://www.swrr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Results-for-Website.pdf
Sixth birthday celebrations for Seaton parkrun
The sun shone as Seaton celebrated the sixth anniversary of joining the worldwide parkrun community. Since the first event in 2016 more than 45000 runs have been completed with nearly 10,000 different parkrunners enjoying the 5k scenic route along the Esplanade and including three small sections of pebbles. Visitors have come from far and wide and are celebrated with flags from every participant’s home country. The event is made possible by volunteers and more than 400 different people have helped over the 244 events.
Whether running, jogging, walking or volunteering parkrun is a great way to improve health and well-being.
At this week’s event AVR’s Ritchie Durrant was second in a PB of 16:58 after a great battle with Joel Seward who was third finisher in 16:59. Lucy Watkinson was second female in 20:34. The good conditions contributed to PBs for Christopher Rathbone in 19:45; Darrell Farley, 23:09; Gareth Walker, 23:44; Dan Clist , 24:48 and Jayne Tumber, 36:50.
Simon Freathy, a regular volunteer at parkrun, celebrated his 50th milestone with him and his friends running in colourful tutus adding to the party atmosphere.
Run Leader development
Carol Austin, Angela Kerr and Louise Rawlins attended the England Athletics Run Leader Development Day for the south-west on Sunday. Sessions were held on managing mixed ability groups; guide running and strength and conditioning for runners.
Tremendous Templer for AVR
AVR dominated the podiums at the Templer-10, a multi-terrain ten mile race around Stover Country Park. Torrential rain in the hour prior to the race made the conditions tricky as the mostly flat route took in river paths, fields and finished in the school sports field.
In the men’s race it was a clean sweep for AVR with Terry Emmett the overall winner in a brilliant 1:00.40. He also scooped first M40. Hot on his heels in second overall, and second M40, was Matt Clist in 1:01.07. Joel Seward completed the hat-trick with third in 1:02.02 (and first Senior Man).
Ellie Dominey was second female and first F35 in 1:12.36. Eleanor Wood was eighth female and first F65 in 1:19.20. Tenth overall was Richard Hardy in 1:04.13 chased home by Matt Orsman in 1:04.56, 12th and first M45. Rob Collier was 16th and took the M50 crown in 1:08.40 just behind Matt Frost, 15th in 1:08.12. Completing the AVR roll of honour was Ron Seward, second M70 in 1:27.26 with Steve Lewis 105th finisher, fourth M70, in 1:34.24.
Not content with ten individual prizes, AVR also nabbed first place for the men’s A team of Terry Emmett, Matt Clist, Joel Seward and Richard Hardy; and third for the B team of Matt Orsman, Matt Frost, Rob Collier and Ron Seward. The event was very well organised by Teignbridge Trotters with 177 runners completing the race.
Big AVR turnout in Sidmouth
There was a good turnout of AVRs at the Sidmouth 10k on Sunday which started and finished in Sidford, taking in the beautiful Byes, and then a stinger of a Salcombe Hill loop before heading back on the flat. The weather was wet, windy and wild for the 265 runners.
Simon Freathy was first AVR home in 32nd place in 46:29 followed by Laura Kerr in 50.01, ninth woman. Lyndsey Freathy 107th, 55:14; Adele Girdwood 118th, 55:52; Cliff Marriott 134th, 57:32; Viv Blumfield 211th, in a PB of 1:08.18; Sarah Whelan 223rd, 1:10.03; Kate Slater 231st, 1:10.54; Aileen Heal 234th, 1:12.00; Dave Whelan 263rd, 1:27.20 and Kate Patay 265th, 1:30.11 were the other AVR finishers. The race was organised by Sidmouth RC.
Diane’s delight at Bideford 10
Diane Newton travelled to North Devon to take part in the Bideford 10, a ten-mile race along the Tarka Trail with superb views of the Taw and Torridge Estuary. It was a wet and windy morning but luckily the clouds cleared just in time for the start from Bideford Town Centre. The race attracted some 500 runners and was won by Olympian steeplechaser Phil Norman in 49:58. Diane was very pleased to finish in 2:05:3, winning a nice trophy for third F70.
Stormy Exmouth
The start of the winter series of 5 mile races in Exmouth on Wednesday evening could not have faced more challenging conditions. The brutal wind and rain was so horrific the organisers halved the distance to 2.5 miles (1 lap). Matt Frost managed eighth place in 14:56.
Devon Duathlon Double
Luke Reed was second overall and first M40 in the sprint version of this Sportiva event, held in East Budleigh, with Haydn Boehm 18th overall and second M40 in the standard length event consisting of a run, bike, run.
Milestones at parkrun
At Seaton parkrun Carolyn Nation celebrated her 100th and Katharine Moran her 50th event. Both now qualify for their milestone T-shirts. Kerry Board was third female, sporting her 100 milestone T shirt achieved last week! AVRs Keith Agland, Haydn Boehm, Carol Austin and Katharine Moran also helped with pacing duties this week which was exceptionally challenging in the stormy conditions.
England Masters Qualification
Carol Austin has been selected to represent England at the Chester Half-Marathon next May following her result at the Bath half-marathon last month. She will be the fifth AVR to achieve this recognition.
Sugar Loaf
Further afield, Richard Hale was among the 101 finishers at the Winter Sugar Loaf Fell Race in the Black Mountains of South Wales. The six-mile hilly route included a cold wind and mist at the 596m summit and was a mix of slippery grass and muddy stoney tracks. Richard finished 90th and second M70 in 1:14:32.
A weekend in the Lakes with a difference
James Green teamed up with Justin Nicholas from Climb Southwest to take on the 53rd Original Mountain Marathon, OMM in the Langdale Valley this weekend. A 2-day self-navigated, self-supported mountain race where runners are provided with a map with checkpoints at the start.
The weather was reasonably mild but very windy with heavy showers all weekend. After day one the pair found themselves lying 15th with a time of 8hr 8mins overnight. After a good rest in a tent hastily pitched between the showers they attacked day two on sore limbs moving up to 11th overall with a total time of 14hrs 49mins. Just 24 couples completed this tough, endurance race in their category.
Herepath Half
Six AVRs crossed the border into Somerset for the multi-terrain Herepath Half-marathon, a circular race following the Staple Fitzpaine bridleway, a tough route with 1450 feet of ascent. Lee Moran was first AVR home in 10th place in an excellent 1:39.51. Eleanor Wood was second female to finish in a brilliant 1:58.40. Andy West was 74th in 2:09.33 while Steve Lewis was first M70 in 108th in 2:23.53. Suzie Blackett and Helen Holmes ran together to finish 122nd and 123rd in 2:34. A total of 168 finished the race organised Taunton’s Running Forever Running Club.
A Canter by the Canal
Starting at the Tiverton Canal Basin and heading along the canal towpath for 6.6 miles to Sampford Peverell then turning to run back to Tiverton, Aileen Heal, Bob Carter, Ian Westwood, Louise Rawlins and Zoe Harp were among the 75 competitors for the flat Winding Paths Grand Canal Half Marathon. Running together Louise Rawlins and Iain Westworth finished 35th and 36th in 2:13.30 with Bob Carter just behind in 42nd in 2:14.24. Zoe Harp came 63rd in 2:37.56 with Aileen Heal, recovering from a foot injury, in 64th in 2:39.08.
A sticky Stickler
Jeremy Larcombe and his father, John travelled to Blandford Forum in Dorset for the The Stickler; a tough 10.1 mile multi-terrain race that starts with the infamous stickle path and includes more than 1500 feet of gruelling climbing.
In the wind and rain through sticky mud Jeremy Larcombe finished in an impressive 1.46 with John Larcombe finishing in 2.07.
Spooky shenanigans for Halloween
Exeter Halloween 5 organised by the City Community Trust runs along the River Exe starting and finishing at the Quay. Matt Frost took third place in 30:17.70 with Darrell Farley 17th in 38:25.8 with 88 completing the 5m race.
Not content with one race, Matt also competed on Saturday evening at a 10k trail run Moonlit Meadow run organised by Channel Events. Run in the dark with just the use of head torches he was an excellent second in 42.36.
A trio of centuries
Three AVRs celebrated their 100th parkrun milestone at Seaton on Saturday. Kerry Board also finished third female in 22:07. Darrell Farley and John Hocking also ran their 100th while Rik Tumber was third finisher (and first Zombie) in 19:16.
At Stopline Way Junior parkrun the children and volunteers came in fancy dress for Halloween with 20 youngsters taking part in the 2k run.
Before a weekend of racing, a group of AVRs enjoyed a spooky Halloween fun run around Seaton in fancy dress –it is hoped this will become an annual event. Big thanks go to Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard for organising it.