Four very different events

Harriers were involved in four very different events last Sunday.

Five of them featured in the tough multi-terrain Musbury Castle Challenge that was extended from the normal distance of just under eight miles to ten miles for the tenth anniversary of the event. The winner was Adam Stobbs of Exeter Harriers in 1:17:02 and 77 runners completed the race.

Hugh Marsden was 1st vet man and 2nd overall in 1:17:29. Jamie Pearson came 4th in 1:23:31, with Mike Musgrove 9th in 1:27:13 in his first event for the club. Congratulations to Hugh on his individual award and also to Jamie and Mike who won the men’s team award with him. Dawn Teed was 44th in 1:52:24, with John Perratt 54th in 2:00:43.

At the other end of the scale, more than 50,000 runners completed the Great North Run Half Marathon that was won by the Kenyan, Martin Lel in 59:32. Slightly further back in the field but well above half way were Harriers' Stan Mason, 20,557th in 2:15:39 and wife Joan, 20,567th in 2:15:40.

.

Next, Harrier Julie Gellender was among the 7060 finishers in the ladies event at the famous Berlin Marathon. The winner was Atsede Habtamu Besuye of Ethiopia in 2:24:47 and Julie came 424th in 3:35:46.

The Newton Abbot Ladies 10K was won by Revis Crowle of East Cornwall Harriers in 39:38. Harrier Corinna Stephens came 128th in 58:19 and 286 runners completed the race.

.

(LT)

Devon 10,000 metres & Ivybridge Challenge

Wednesday, 9th September, saw Exmouth based runner Tom Merson, of Bristol & West A C, win the Devon County A A 10,000m Track Race at Exeter Arena in 30:41, a huge margin of nearly 4 minutes! Well done, Tom!

Three of the four Exmouth Harriers who competed also came away with one gold and two silver medals between them. Congratulations to John Perratt, 1st M70 and 27th overall in 46:35, Dave Stone, who came 2nd in 34:33 and Andy Johnson, 2nd M45 and 10th overall in 39:52!

In between, Carlos Payan also ran well to come 7th in 36:56, but just missed an award by 2 places. The event was split into two races with a total field of 31 runners.

Last Sunday, Harrier Dave Stone felt really strong in the Ivybridge Beacon Challenge. This scenic, but challenging, multi-terrain race starts and finishes in Victoria Park, Ivybridge. The course covers around 7.5 miles of woodland and moorland paths and includes the ascent of Western Beacon.

Congratulations to Dave, who ran superbly to win the event in 52:52. He was among the front group of four runners throughout the race and was in second place behind Jon Parkinson of Torbay A C when they reached the top of the Beacon. Using his superior speed and technique, however, he was able to overtake his rival on the rough ground down the hill to the finish at the school playing fields, arriving over a minute ahead of the runner-up. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed runners were separated by less than half a minute and 137 runners completed the race.

.

(LT)

Races... home and away

Over the last few years, some intrepid Harriers have tackled the mighty Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc. This year, there were three optional routes of 61, 66 or 104 miles for individual runners to choose from and a single team route.

This year it was the turn of Harrier Mark Thompson and he opted for the 66-mile “Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie” (TDS) race. With 6,700m of ascent to overcome, the event has a maximum completion time of 31 hours!

The race started in the centre of Chamonix at 5:00 am. The route then passed through Les Houches, Saint-Gervais and Saint-Nicolas de Véroce. The runners then left the gentleness of the Savoyard villages for a rough and magnificent course into the heart of the mountains which took them to Mont-Joly, incomparable balcony opposite Mont Blanc right up to Bourg Saint Maurice passing along some of the most beautiful paths and passes of Beaufortain and of Tarentese. Having savoured the warm welcome from the volunteers of Bourg Saint-Maurice and its neighbour Séez, the long ascent towards the Petit Saint-Bernard Pass, along the Roman Road began.

The runners then entered the Valle d’Aosta and reached the villages of La Thuile and Pré Saint-Didier where, opposite Mont-Blanc, they arrived at the centre of Courmayeur for a triumphant Finish. And how deserving after this great journey around the roof of Europe!

480 runners completed the race that was won by Patrick Bohard of France in 14:01:48. Congratulations to Mark, who came 251st in 24:09:01, on a wonderful achievement!!

Tuesday, 1st September, saw the fourth round of the Exe Summer 5K Series at Exwick won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C in 14:58. Exmouth runner Tom Merson of Bristol & West A C came 2nd in 15:02.

Three Harriers competed in the event and the first to finish was Carlos Payan who came 16th in 17:42. Andy Johnson was 24th in 19:06 and Dave Eveleigh was 54th in 24:05, out of the 70 runners who completed the race.

Over 10,800 runners took part in the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday and the winner was Ezekie Cherop in 1:03:26. Tom Merson was 18th in 1:08:54.

The first of the four Harriers to finish was Paul Samways, 264th in 1:25:58. Chris Dupain was 1253rd in 1:38:19 and Kevin Lingard 3395th in 1:50:36. Lissie Lingard came 6395th in 2:04:31.

The Bideford 10 Mile Race was won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C in 50:47 and the field of 197 runners included three Harriers. Adrian Kearns was the first home, 21st in 1:04:57 and John Perratt was 1st V70 and 79th overall in 1:18:31. Well done, John! Les Turner was 2nd V65 and 135th overall in 1:27:38.

.

(LT)

Forest Flyer & Dartmouth Regatta

Last Friday, six Harriers took part in the Forest Flyer Five (miles) Race on forest tracks, paths and fire roads in the beautiful Haldon Forest Park.

The winner was James Bellard of South West Road Runners in 30:52 and 159 runners completed the race.

The first Harrier to finish was Adam Miller in 6th place in 33:49, followed by Paul Samways, 13th in 35:06. Duncan Parkes was 32nd in 38:42. Hannah Bown came 48th in 39:56, with Emma Dupain 54th in 40:42. Les Turner was 90th in 46:32.

On Saturday, Exmouth Harriers Hugh Marsden and Dawn Teed competed in the extremely tough 5.1 miles Dartmouth Regatta Road Race and both performed superbly.

Congratulations to Hugh, who was 1st V50 and 12th overall in 31:53 and Dawn, who was 2nd LV45 in 41:08.

(LT)