Latest News

Grizzly 2022

 

Paws for Thought!

 

The sun shone, 1800 runners battled the hills, mud, river, bogs and pebbles, and Seaton was buzzing with the throngs of visitors enjoying the spectacular start and finish of the 34th running of the famous Grizzly.

With no race due to the pandemic last year, the worry of the impending effect of Covid-19 in 2020, high winds in 2019 and the ‘beast from the East’ in 2018, it was high time for some perfect weather conditions, and this is precisely what the weather gods granted on Sunday.

Five-time Olympian and European champion, Jo Pavey got the races underway after a moment’s applause to ‘paws for thought’ and remember all those who had lost their lives since the last Grizzly was held in 2020 and, in particular five-times winner of the Grizzly between 1996 and 2003, South West Road Runner, Mike Feighan who passed away following an accident last year.

 

The Grizzly, organised every year by volunteers from Axe Valley Runners,  began to the deafening sound of hundreds of runners on the pebble beach before they returned along the Esplanade past the cheering crowds.  The runners went off up Castle Hill to the sounds of the drummers and into the picturesque village of Beer.  Then it was up Beer Head and out towards Branscombe where the race divided with the Cub runners returning after negotiating the river at Branscombe Mouth.  The hardy full Grizzlers then headed up into the woods behind the village to tackle the most challenging parts of the course before the long pebble beach of Branscombe was the welcome sign of the return journey to Seaton.  All the way along the course, the runners were cheered on by hundreds of spectators and kept safe by the wonderful marshals from local community groups.

This year’s Cub run was won by Tom Perry of Exeter Harriers in 1:00.49  with Catie O’Donoghue from Bristol and West, first female in 1:11.19.

Second female was AVR’s, Ellie Dominey, in 1:14.48, who also received a prize for first AVR female home with Richard Hardy, 3rd  overall in 1:09.33 and first male AVR.

First male in the Grizzly was David Green from Rugby & Northampton AC in an impressive 2:18.30 with first female, Molly Browne from Birmingham Running Athletics Triathlon (BRAT) who completed the 20m course in a brilliant 2:42.36.  First AVR male was Matt Clist, 10th overall in 2:30.03 with Molly Adkin first AVR female, 3:07.34 in 9th female position overall.   Prizes were presented by Jo Pavey and John Barrington-Rouse, AVR President with each receiving a beautifully handcrafted plate made by local potter, Gilly Humphreys.

Over the years, the Grizzly has raised thousands of pounds for local, national and international charities and good causes with donations of more than £457k.  Huge thanks go to our sponsors East Devon Sports Therapy Centre who again provided post-race massage raising more than £250 for charity and Lyme Bay Winery who generously donated a miniature rum to all finishers.   Special Grizzly beer to help the runners for the last kick to home was offered on Beer Head by David Sadler.  Finally, a huge thank you to the landowners who allow hundreds of runners to traipse across their land, once a year, and to all the support groups whose services behind the scenes are vital to any event of this size going ahead.

Before Sunday’s main event, local junior runners took part in a number of races during Grizfest with 350 children from 4 to 15 running along Seaton’s Esplanade.  And on Saturday evening the famous Grizzly quiz returned to the Gateway with a full house.

Full results are at;  www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/grizzly

IMG_0043.JPG

 

Joel and Luke Take the 10k Top Spots!

Joel Seward and Luke Reed took part in the Exeter City 10km race which is hosted by MCC Promotions running along the pancake flat quay. Conditions were tough going out towards Countess Wear with a moderate headwind however this was quickly forgotten about with the tailwind to finish. Joel was first finisher in 35:33 and Luke was 10 seconds back finishing 2nd overall and a new PB of 35:42.

Five AVR’s headed to Wokingham for a half marathon in what was billed as one of the quickest courses in the country, although the incline into a headwind just after mile 10 slowed most runners down! Starting in Wokingham the course heads mainly out in the traffic free country roads before heading back to the town. First AVR back was Duncan Staddon in a very impressive PB of 1:14:47. Next was Terry Emmett in 1:18:25 followed by Rob Collier in a PB of 1:20:42. Cliff Marriott finished in 1:55:20, although he should have been quicker had it not been for all the autograph signing following his Page 3 appearance in Runners World. Angela Kerr was happy to get under the 2 hour mark completing in 1:59:43.

2022_Feb_Exeter10K.jpg2022_Feb_Angela_Cliff_Wokingham.JPG

Press Report week ending 28th November 2021

AVRs impress in Bicton sunshine

 

Axe Valley Runners were out in force at the Bicton Blister and Bicton Lite on Sunday which took place in bitterly cold but sunny and calm conditions around the glorious pebbled heaths of Bicton and Woodbury common.  Following Storm Arwen runners had to negotiate a fallen telegraph pole and a couple of  trees across the route but it was largely dry underfoot.  The event, organised brilliantly by Exmouth Harriers, had fallen to the pandemic last year so it was great to be back. This year the male and female winners received a huge box of locally grown vegetables and all finishers received a snood.

First female AVR and ninth woman to finish the 10m Blister was Eleanor Wood, also first F60, in a very impressive 1:26.32.  First AVR home  was Duncan Staddon in fifth place and second M40 in 1:06.14.    There was an AVR battle for the top M50 spot with Patrick Devine-Wright in 1:11.12 just pipping Rob Collier who was 22nd overall in 1:11.39. Graham Newton took the M70 crown finishing 96th in 1:27.01 while Karen Eyre was first F50 and 14th woman in 1:27.56.

In the Bicton Lite, a 5m run starting and finishing on the same route as the Blister, a special mention must go to Paula Cooke and Sarah Whelan running their first ever race and comfortably breaking the hour finishing in 54:07 and 54:39 respectively.  Cliff Marriott was first AVR home in tenth place and second M55 in 42:35. Storming back after a few weeks of recuperation and first M70 was Ron Seward, 15th in 43:35.

Full results:

Blister 10m

Duncan Staddon  5th 1:06.14 (2nd M40)

Terry Emmett  8th 1:07.28

Richard Hardy 10th 1:08.01

Tim Lenton 11th 1:08.11  (2nd M45)

Joel Seward 14th 1:09.03

Ben Stone  15th 1:09.25

Lee Moran 17th 1:10.09

Patrick Devine-Wright  19th 1:11.12  (1st M50)

Rik Tumber 22nd 1:11.38

Rob Collier  21st 1:11.39 (2nd M50)

Matt Hewer 31st 1:14.12

Rupert Pady 34th 1:15.31

Chris Polley 75th 1:24.36

Haydn Boehm 79th 1:24.51

Eleanor Wood 89th 1:26.32 (1st F60)

Graham Newton 96th 1:27.01 (1st M70)

James Ashforth 100th 1:27.34

Jason Potter 101st 1:27.45

Karen Eyre 103rd 1:27.56 (1st F50)

Wayne Tooze 112th 1:28.32

Kerry Board 122nd 1:30.01 (3rd F45)

Andy West 126th 1:30.20

Martin Sawer 164th 1:33.43

Lee Stubbs 166th 1:34.11

James Hawker 190th 1:37.01

Jeremy Slade 208th 1:38.40

Kevin Feeney 250th 1:44.03

Jeremy Norcombe 260th 1:44.35

Heather Simmons 263rd 1:46.08

Suzi Blackett 267th 1:46.33

Katharine Moran 270th 1:47.47

Mark Day 284th 1:49.54

Gill Day 313th  1:54.26

Vicki Wraight 329th 1:57.22

Angela Kerr 330th 1:57.22 (2nd F65)

Geoff Rugg 332nd 1:57.18

Charlotte Horlock 333rd 1:57.50

Dave Mutter 335th 1:58.43

Helen Holmes 337th 1:58.50

Julia Mallon 336th 1:58.51

Amie Sibley 347th 2:00.39

Tim Sibley 348th 2:00.39

Janette Mack 349th 2:00.43

Shaun Vinnicombe 366th 2:00.42

Martin Kerr 377th 2:11.41

Diane Newton 382nd 2:17.27

Bicton Lite – 5m

 

Cliff Marriott 10th 42:35  (2nd M55)

Ron Seward 15th 43:35  (1st M70)

Louise Rawlins 37th 49:38 (2nd F45)

Paula Cooke 49th 54:07

Sarah Whelan 50th 54.13

Lesley Adams 64th 56:39 (3rd F65)

Carol Austin 65th 56:39

Kathryn Thompson 73rd 58:32 (3rd F35)

Aileen Heal 78th 1:00.56

Shirley Salter 79th 1:00.56

Dave Whelan 80th 1:00.59

Sam Summers 84th 1:04.37

Maxine Sweetman 85th 1:04.37

Seaton parkrun survives Arwen

On Saturday and despite the full fire of Storm Arwen Seaton parkrun was able to go ahead with the support of Honiton Running Club who took on the majority of the volunteer roles on a special takeover day.  Run Director, Howard Bidmead and core team member, Jeremy Slade did an early morning route inspection to give the event the go-ahead while many local parkrun events had to be cancelled.  Numbers were down with just 105 finishers.  First AVR home was Simon Dimmock in 20.15 with performance of the day, Mark Spraggs just a second outside his PB finishing in 23:20 despite the challenging wind.

AVR supports Children in Need

 

Axe Valley Runners has raised more than £300 for Children in Need in a novel way. AVRs Tim and Amie Sibley led their fellow AVR members in two runs – the Coly Dog and the Coly Pup which, once committed to Strava, drew the outline of a seated dog or puppy. The runs followed roads and paths around Colyton and Colyford. Members showed their appreciation by donating to Children in Need and Tim was able to bank £313.10 in aid of the charity. It is hoped to  become a regular event.

Grizzly conditions for Welsh fell race

Richard Hale started his preparation for Grizzly 2022 with a 7.4 km race in the Blorenge mountains near Abergavenny.   The wintry, windy and snowy conditions made it very tough going on a course that included part of the Brecon Canal followed by the north steep side of the mountain to the 559m trig point.

Despite a fall, Richard finished 59th in 1:00:7, second MV70.