Inaugural Festival Four - Exeter

113 runners took part in the first inaugural Exeter Festival Four on Thursday evening, 26 June. Starting at the Canal Basin, the route (which was actually 4.3 miles) followed the River Exe to Countess Weir Bridges, returning to the finish at the Canal Basin along the Exeter Ship Canal cyclepath and towpath. Although dead flat, the course was not without its challenges. On the outward stretch, through the Exe flood plain, competitors had to contend with a herd of cows stampeding past runners and criss-crossing the course, while the return was into a stiff breeze.

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Of the four Exmouth Harriers who took part, Pete McKeown coped best with the challenges, finishing 10th in 26:01. Andrew Johnson ran the first half faster than he had planned, having to sprint past the cows before they blocked the course, and as a consequence he found himself struggling later. Although he was able to keep the two leading women (Caroline Hewitt of Tiverton Harriers, 27:04, and Karen Cook of South West Road Runners, 27:22) in his sight along the canal, he was unable to close the gap, eventually finishing 14th in 27:35.

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Ray Elston was 31st in 30:25 and Jim Wyatt finished 54th in 32:33. The race was won by James Bellwar of Exeter Tri Club in 22:54.

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Full results from

http://www.city-runs.co.uk/fest4/images/festive4_results.xls

Torbay Half Marathon

Seven Exmouth Harriers competed in the Torbay Half Marathon which was won by Toby Lambert of Alton Runners in 1:07:21.

Altogether, 1215 runners completed the race and the first Exmouth Harrier to finish was Adrian Kearns who came 42nd in 1:27:48, after an excellent performance. Eight minutes later, after an even better race, the evergreen John Perratt came 1st V65 and 130th overall in 1:35:31.

Next across the finish line were the three members of the Dupain family, Chris 221st in 1:39:41, Hannah 262nd in 1:42:13 and Nigel 447th in 1:49:26. Les Turner was 726th in 2:00:25, just ahead of Trevor Cope who was 744th in 2:01:49.

Of Talaton & Yeovilton

[Escot House -- the Talaton route passes through the Escot Estate]

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The Talaton Trotter, a 6½ mile multi terrain event, largely off-road following fields, footpaths, woods and country lanes, was held on Talaton Village Day, amongst all the other village festivities.

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The race was won by Gary Perratt of Axe Valley Runners in 44:12 and the field of 112 included two Exmouth Harriers. Adrian Taylor was 28th in 56:22 and Tim Gent was 42nd in 58:10.

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Lee Russell represented Exmouth Harriers at the June event of the Yeovilton 5K Road Race Summer Series. The winner was Toby Lambert of Winchester & District A C in 14:47 and 136 runners completed the race.

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Lee started the race rather tentatively, but soon found that he was able to increase the pace to consolidate his position. As the race went on he was able to speed up even more and enjoy the experience of passing runner after runner in the latter stages, coming 61st in 21:15. Although pleased with his performance and the result, he felt so strong as the race ended that he hopes to do even better at his next 5K race.

(LT)

South West Vets T&F Championships

At the South West Veterans’ Track & Field Championships at Exeter Arena, gold medals in all his four events, and setting new championship records in two of them, meant only one thing. Exmouth Harrier John Perratt (M70) is still a top performer in his age group and ruthlessly efficient at destroying the opposition.

In his first event, he reduced the championship record for the 5000m from 20:38.5 to 20:14.9. Then he won the 800m in 2:52.5 before going on to win the 400m in 76.6 secs. Finally, he reduced the championship record for the 1500m from 5:48.9 to 5:35.5.

During the course of the championships, John was also presented with the award to the winner of the South West Veterans’ Road Racing Grand Prix for the best average age graded % over four races. Congratulations to John on a brilliant set of performances!!

Les Turner also took part in the Track & Field Championships, coming 2nd in the 100m (M65) in 17.4 secs and 2nd in the 200m in 37.7 secs.

(LT)

Bampton 10k

At 18.30 hours on Saturday 14 June 2008 the long standing Bampton 10 kilometre road race commenced on a fine sunny evening. The windless, cloudless sky illuminated the runners as they lined up at the start in the picturesque village centre. There was a happy atmosphere hanging over the start line as the runners realised that the proceeds of the entry monies was being donated to the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

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The starting gun saw Hugh Marsden, Exmouth Harrier, away at a fast pace with the front runners, followed further back in the pack by the other Exeter Harriers contingent consisting of Andrew Johnson, Bob Woodall, Ray Elston and Dawn Teed. Dawn who prefers longer distances was the sole female club entrant.

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The course is run through scenic countryside over extremely undulating lanes around the village of Bampton. From the start in the centre of the village the course immediately rises along the first hill and dwellings are soon left behind in the distance. The only sounds to disturb the birds in the hedgerows, was the slapping of the runners footwear on the metalled road surface, along with the laboured breathing of some of the competitors.

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Hugh Marsden maintained a in close contact with the race leaders throughout and about two kilometres into the race Andrew Johnson, as his norm starting well back in the pack, steadily overtook the middle markers and progressed higher up the positions. Hill after hill was mounted by the runners before descending into the valleys to be greeted by yet another hill.

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Just after the five kilometre marker, approaching the drinks station, a new sound greeted the athletes. The sound of leather on willow mingled with the other country chorus as the runners skirted the local village cricket green which was hosting a match. Much needed refreshing water was taken on board by some competitors as they faced the homeward stretch of the race.

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As the nine kilometre marker approached the last long hill stretched into sight before the final fast down hill stretch into the finishing lap of the football pitch.

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Hugh Marsden romped home in 11th overall place in a respectable time of 37 minutes and 19 seconds just two and one half minutes behind the ultimate winner, Peter Monaghan of Torbay Harriers. Andrew Johnson finished in 37th place in a time of 42 minutes and 11 seconds followed by Bob Woodall in 64th position in a time of exactly 45 minutes. Ray Elston finished second in the over sixty age category in a respectable time of 46 minutes and 9 seconds, in an overall position of 74th out of 214 finishers. Dawn Teed completed her valiant race in 122nd position in a time of 50 minutes and 54 seconds.

(RW)

A week's races...

Andrew Johnson ran the Michelmores 5K on Wednesday night. This is a difficult course, with lots of turns and a couple of nasty short rises, so he was quite pleased with his time of 20:44. (And according to his Garmin, it was a little long!) He was 35th (in the under 50 category - 39th overall), after losing a few places on the descent to the entrance to the Imperial.

Then Andrew travelled to Plymouth on Saturday for the Saltram 5K. He reports, "legs felt like lead after Wednesday and wandering round the house and garden during the afternoon. The course takes you downhill for about a mile before the stretch along the river and then the final long drag and I was quite pleased about how I managed to hold onto a decent pace until the final, steeper climb near the finish. My official time has me at 20:00 but I ran 19:59 on my watch - so I was just on my sub-20! 39th overall - I was on my own after turning away from the river, so I had no help at all on the hardest part of the course".

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Three Exmouth Harriers competed in the Killerton Kanter cross country race. Phil Bater was 59th in 52:43, Jim Wyatt was 1st V65 and 66th overall in 54:12 and Terry Oldham was 71st in 55:11. Peter Monaghan of Torbay A C was the winner in 37:48 and there were 147 finishers.

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The Ruby Run Half Marathon at Holsworthy was won by Peter Hockin in 1:16:15. Harrier Cathy Newman was 1st lady and 6th overall in 1:27:47 and Peter McKeown was 24th in 1:38:48, out of the field of 150 runners.

Crewkerne 9

Sunday, 1st June 2008
One of the most 'undulating' courses I have ever run. No mile of the nine is complete without flogging uphill for a while and plunging down the other side. "A good test" as they say.

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Just John Perratt and I made the short 30-mile trip to Crewkerne (plus Bill Valentine from Torbay AC). John finished on top of the 'age-related percentages' with 81.44% (1:06:49) - 3rd Vet/60. Just three others broke the 80% barrier, Paul Rose (2nd in the race) from Yeovil Town RRC with 80.71% (52:27), Martin Pearse (4th in the race) from Taunton AC with 80.36% (53:28), and yours truly with 80.38% (1:01:55) - 1st Vet/60.

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A tough undertaking, but very satisfying for all that. At one point in the lanes we were running through the flood-water that has plagued Crewkerne -- around a foot deep I'd say. And we all arrived back at the finish looking like we had run a particularly muddy cross country race.

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At least I feel that I can enter and run a race again without thinking about whether the medics are well trained!

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(RR)