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
PBs, points and a debut half
A group of AVRs took part in the Bridgwater half marathon on Sunday, a flat, fast road 13.1 miles going inland from the town with a wicked 5k out and back to finish.
First AVR home was Ryan Snell in eighth place and an excellent second M40 in 1:18.57. Dawn Carrah was second F60, 195th overall, in 1:56.57 while Jacqui Stokes smashed her PB finishing in 1:43.07, 91st place. Lee Brooker completed his first ever half marathon coming in 302nd place in 2:13.23. A big field of 439 completed the race in good conditions.
As well as looking for PBs, AVRs were able to secure points for the club championship as a half marathon is one of the ‘open’ events.
Full results
Woodbury Common Trail 10k
Six AVRs travelled over to Woodbury Common for a trail 10k on Sunday. Eleanor Wood was second female and first F60 in 56:49. Graham Newton was a brilliant first M60. Zoe Harp was a huge 13 minutes faster than last year finishing in 1:07.59. Rob Harp (58.02), Pam Goddard (1:16.41) and Rachel Hiscock (1:21.27) completed the AVRs with Cliff Marriott injured so helping the organisers on the day.
Full results to follow.
City to Sea
James Hawker completed the very tough mostly trail marathon starting at Exeter Quayside and finishing at Babbacombe Down near Torquay. He finished in an excellent 37th in 5:22.36 with 140 completed the run organised by Winding Paths.
Ann Coston and Ragnhild Richards chose the half marathon option following Ann’s recent injury. They decided to enjoy the run and treat the event as a ’nice day out’. They finished in 47thand 48th in 3:15.43 after part running and part walking the route which goes from Dawlish Warren to Babbacombe Down.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
The sun was back out this week so there was, as expected, a big turnout at Seaton for parkrun event number 334.
AVR dominated the female first finishers and the age graded podium with Debbie Whiston first female home in 20:11 and Karen Eyre third female finisher in 21:15. On age grade Eleanor Wood was first with a massive 90% for her 23:30 followed by Karen Eyre, 82% and Debbie Whiston 79%. Mike Wadsworth was fourth on age grade with 77% for his 21:39 which was also a shiny new PB.
There were also PBs for Rob Harp in 22:27; Mark Parsons in 24:45; David Whelan in 27:38; Rebecca King in 32:14; and Shirley Goy in 32:36.
Furthest for parkrun tourism this week were Louise and Aaron Rawlins who completed Zegerplas parkrun near Amsterdam.
For all other AVR tourist parkruns from last Saturday the results are online here
Spanish (not) parkrun
Not a race but a bit of fun with AVR on tour! Anthony and Adrianne Mullins on holiday in Spain and with no parkrun there so on Saturday morning they joined a local running club, Los Bandidos (The Bandits) based in Mojacar, Costa Almería.
They all ran 5k out and back along the beautiful Paseo del Mediterraneo, starting at 8am as the sun was rising, followed by coffee and doughnuts in the local cafe.
And finally …
Congratulations to Innes Fitzgerald who was fourth in the stacked 3000m final at the World Athletics U20 Championships final in Lima, Peru on Saturday in a PB of 8:57.01.
Also, good to see Jake Smith back racing and on the podium in second place at yesterday’s Vitality Big Half in 64:07. He was using the race as preparation for the Berlin marathon at the end of the month.
Village people
Four AVRs took a bank holiday trip into Somerset for the annual Baltonsborough five-mile race which is part of the local Village Show. The road race, which starts and finishes in the village south of Glastonbury, takes place on undulating country lanes.
First AVR home in 34th was Simon McClellan in 34:31, just five seconds ahead of Karen Eyre who was 36th, a superb fifth female and first F45 finishing in 34:36. Ian Kinnersley finished in 36:33 (57th) with Eleanor Wood in 38:03 (75th) and first F65. More than 170 enjoyed the race and lovely conditions.
Bank Holiday Bonanza in Seaton
There was a huge turnout of more than 50 AVRs for the latest Bank Holiday 10k time trial which starts in Colyford running through the Wetlands to the Esplanade then up to Axmouth and back to finish just after the final turn at the Hideaway. Conditions were good although there was a head wind for the runners to face. This was the final chance to earn points from this event for the 2024 Club Challenge.
Matt Clist ensured another 100 points were coming his way with a big win finishing in 35:12, amazingly identical to his May time despite never wearing a watch! He should be a shoe-in to win the naked run!
Full results
Glorious Golden Cap
Tony Smith was the sole AVR at this beautiful off road run on Sunday starting at the Old Radar Station on Stonebarrow. It is a 10k run over Golden Cap purely to enjoy the views, self-timed and organised by the National Trust taking place on the third Sunday of each month during the summer with September and October the final two events in 2024. A 5k option avoiding Golden Cap is also available.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
Conditions have rarely been quite so wretched at Seaton as on Saturday and, yet, still nearly 250 completed the parkrun in torrential rain. Huge thanks to all the volunteers who stood and cheered despite the heavy rain. Congratulations and thanks to AVR’s chair, Haydn Boehm, who celebrated his 100th volunteer stint in his usual quiet unassuming way as Run Director. First finisher in an excellent PB was Ritchie Durrant in 16:37. Debbie Whiston was second female in 20:34 with Terry Emmett third finisher in 18:10. Shirley Goy nabbed another PB in 32:53.
Out on the road, Simon and Bec Davey, secured their J at Jubilee parkrun in Northumberland while Jon Day and Paul Johns continued their tour of south-west parkruns at Upton House in Poole. But prize for the furthest event this week goes to Andrew Snook who completed Downsview parkrun in Toronto, Canada!
Summertime speedsters
The Yeovilton 5k summer series reached its penultimate event last week with ten AVRs making the trip into Somerset on another balmy Wednesday evening for a fast, flat 5k. First AVR home was Ritchie Durrant in 12th in 16:24 with Max Richardson, on return from injury, 37th in 18:42. Jason Potter was 58th in 19:50; David Long was 62nd in a PB of 19:58; Simon McClennan 65th in 20:16 and Adrian Strawbridge 67th in 20:25. Nick Adams was 118th in 24:03, David Hutton, 119th in 24:10 and David Cooke 128th in 25:49. Angela Kerr was 135th in 27:12 and second F65. All will have scored points in the club championship with just one final race left next month to secure points from this event.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
It was another sunny day in Seaton on Saturday for parkrun with a big tutu turnout for Aileen Heal who reached 200 parkruns and 200 volunteer credits – brilliant synchronicity! Congratulations to Laura Kerr and Duncan Davison who achieved their 100 parkrun milestones.
Debbie Whiston was second female finisher in 20:30 , third on age-grade with 78.2%. AVR women had a great day with Eleanor Wood in a magnificent 91.7% for her 23:08 and Angela Kerr 80.12% for 27:20 the top two on age-grade. There were PBs for Mike Wadsworth in 21:57; Mark Parsons in 25:08 and Rebecca King in 33:00.
Out on the road, Adele Girdwood completed Rothay parkrun in Ambleside which despite being in the Lake District is flat! Carol Austin and Lesley Adams ran from Wales into England and back during the Severn Bridge parkrun which also crosses two rivers, the Wye and the Severn, and three counties: Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire and Avon.
Jon and Gill Day did the Eden Project parkrun; Paul Johns completed Torbay Velopark parkrun; Andy West ran Minehead parkrun; Sam Summers and Rob Collier were at the scenic Netley Abbey while Tim Sibley couldn’t resist Osterley parkrun before a flight from Heathrow and Shuna George took part in Reigate Priory parkrun.