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
Very Busy Weekends for AVR
Graham and Diane Newton both qualified for the England v Celtic 2020 Masters Half Marathon team. Unfortunately, like so many things last year due to covid, it was postponed. But finally last weekend the event took place at the Richmond Runfest. For Diane it was the first time she had donned her prized England kit, although Graham has previously represented England in both the Half Marathon and Marathon distance. The race started at Kew, wending its way around the famous gardens before heading out along the Thames footpath and ending in Richmond Deer Park. Going out with the elite at the head over 2,000 runners on what turned out to be a very hot and sunny day, Graham finished as 3rd MV70 in1:41:05 and Diane finished 5th FV70 in 2:35:26.
Graham also ran the Sundowner 5k event the night before the half marathon, and finished in 21st place overall and first MV70 in an amazing 21.55.
Tim Lenton and Patrick Devine-Wright took part in the annual Black Mountains fell race on Saturday. The race is quite a challenge, involving seventeen miles of tough mountain running with over 5,000ft of ascent. In hot conditions, Tim had a great run, coming in 3rd and first MV40. Patrick finished 13th and first MV50.
David Cooke ran 63.28s for 400m at the Yeovil Games on Sep 18th which is a new SW Vets AC record and it puts him 18th on the UK all time list for M65 400m.
Mendip AC hosted the Glastonbury Levels 10k road race, a pancake flat out and back course starting at Strode College in Street. This is a fast course and with ideal conditions there were PB’s a plenty. Joel Seward continues his amazing year finishing 11th in 34:51 a new PB. Next up the fast improving Richard Hardy, 12th in 35:50 and a new PB. Close behind was Rob Collier, 14th in 37:01 a new PB and 1st M50, he was followed closely by Matt Hewer in a season’s best coming 20th in 38:28. Louise Rawlings was doing her first road race 10k and despite pre race nerves was 174th in a very decent 58:20.
To qualify for the London Classics medal, participants must run the London Marathon, cycle RideLondon 100 and then swim the Swim Serpentine 2-mile event. To complete these challenges, Margaret Pearce and Alan Morbey travelled to London along with Caroline French for the Swim Serpentine 2 miler in the open water of the Serpentine in Hyde Park. In good conditions on a lovely sunny day, all three completed the course, Alan Morbey in 1:23:30, Caroline French 1:23:36 and Margaret Pearce 1:40:35, Margaret and Alan picking up their London Classics medals on completion. Other AVR swimmers were Fran Hodson taking 1:02:26 and Karl Hodson in 1:16:53.
Richard Jackson ran the Lundy Island Half Marathon finishing 56th out of 194 in 2:23:58. The fastest time and course record was set by Graham Bale of Plymstock RR in 1:43:37. Lundy Island race is hosted by Pure Trail Running and the course offers pristine wildlife entrusted tracks tended by the Landmark Trust. The route takes in all of the island’s landmarks including the North Lighthouse and undulating eastern & western clifftops. All entrants take the same 2 hour ferry crossing from Ilfracombe and endure the choppy but scenic ride to Lundy and all return on the same Ferry later in the day allowing plenty of time to enjoy the islands pub and scenic views once the race is completed.
Well done to Gemma Collier of Gloucester AC for winning the latest Seaton parkrun in 19:07, just pipping James Denne also of Gloucester AC by 1 second. Chris Swainson of Ramsbottom RC was 3rd in 19:22. The parkrun is not all about fast times, it is a run designed for everyone of any pace to get up and have a go at the 5K route each Saturday at 9:00am. See parkrun.org.uk for more info. Many people each week are first timers and they get a briefing at the start to help them on their way and ease nerves. You will be struck by the friendly atmosphere created not just by the runners, but also by the volunteer marshals and helpers who give their time freely each week. Go on – give it a go – you won’t regret it.
The Lytchett 10 is a ten mile road race starting at Lytchett Minster Sports Centre near Poole, is hilly and entirely on road and pavements. Haydn Boehm ran well to finish 85th out of 238 in 1:17:36. Here he is high five-ing his Daughter on the route.
The Long, the Short and the Relay
Photos below of Julia Mallon at finish of Lakeland 50, Ian Kinnersley SW coast to coast, and Graham Newton at the Totnes 10K.
It was certainly a week for long distance races and Julia Mallon ran the Lakeland 50 (miles) and reports that it was certainly an amazing but tough experience. The race started at Dalemain at 11.45am on Saturday in full sun, which continued throughout the day and apparently reached 28c. The checkpoints were absolutely amazing and runners were given pasta, soup, stew, tea etc and were very well looked after. There was a moment at about 3.30am on Sunday morning, before reaching Tilberthwaite checkpoint that was particularly tough as tiredness kicked in and Julia couldn’t work out where she was, but as the sun rose again and a cheese toasty at the next checkpoint was eaten, it picked her up and got her to the end. Julia completed the 50 miles in 18 hours and 3 seconds finishing 762nd out of 1134 at 5.45am the next morning. Annoyingly Julia’s watch said that she’d only done 49.6 miles so after crossing the finish line it then took her about half an hour to shuffle around to round it up to 50 miles. It was the toughest thing that Julia has ever done but she will definitely be trying to get in next year.
The second long distance race was done by Ian Kinnersley It was a 102 km route between Minehead on the north coast and Dawlish on the south coast. The route took in Exmoor’s highest point Dunkery Beacon and the continued along the Exe valley. It passed through Dulverton, Tiverton and Exeter en route. Ian completed the route with a friend from Staffordshire who was seriously injured in a motor cycle accident a number of years ago which resulted in him having one leg shorter than the other. The weather was due to be wet and didn’t disappoint. As they came off Dunkery Beacon heading towards the first feed station there was a torrential rain shower which completely soaked all the competitors including them. So, with extremely wet clothes and shoes they continued. At about 50km Ian’s friend developed a hip injury which then severely hampered them from there to the finish. Also due to wet socks and shoes Ian developed a very large blister on his left foot by about 70km which also slowed them. They finally finished during the early hours of Sunday morning and their time was 17:56:43 moving time, 20:18:46 total time with stops. Ian finished 104th out of 417.
Congratulations to David Cooke who broke the M65 South West Veterans AC 400 metres record at the Northern Masters AC championship at Stretford, Manchester last week taking only 63.95 seconds.
On Monday evening the Axe Valley Runners took part on the annual race the tram from Colyton to Seaton tram station. A great time was had by all, with five relay teams competing to try and beat the tram back to Seaton. This year the tram won, however congratulations to the first AVR team back, which included Matt Orsman, Jack Broom, James Glennie, Matt Clyst, Lee Moran and Rob Collier.
Ellie Dominey took part in the Totnes 10k, a race she has done 6 times and have previously won twice. This was her first race back after having her second child 4 months ago. Ellie had pregnancy complications and endured a slow rehab process to get back to running. The aim was not to race it but just to finish and enjoy the day. Ellie warmed up by running the 1 mile fun run with her 2 year old, Sylvester, (his debut race!) and then took the 10k steady as she hadn’t run beyond 5k since April 2020. She was pleased to feel fit and strong but reports there is just no leg speed there at the moment and finished in 50:50, some 8 minutes down on her best but, crucially, not injured, still finishing 1st F35. Graham Newton was the 1st over 70 in the 10K taking 51:09 and Ron Seward the 3rd over 70 finisher.
There were 316 runners in this week’s Seaton parkrun. First finisher was Robert Wood of Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC in 16:22 with Mike Burrett of Leeds City AC 2nd, 16:25 and Wayne Loveridge of Chard RRC 3rd, 16:33. Eleanor Wood achieved a magnificent age grade of 90+%! A few AVRs ventured to the Killerton parkrun now run in reverse to aid social distancing with an uphill finish. Jon Day was 26th out of 292 in 22:10; Ellie Dominey 87th, 25:45; Matt Dominey 96th, 26:24 and Gill Day 193rd in a new PB of 32:28.
The 1st picture below is of Ellie Dominey and Sylvester with their medals attached. Ellie ran the Totnes 10K and warmed up with a 1 mile fun run with Sylvester.
Second is the AVR gang before race the tram.