Of Honiton... and the Great South Run

The old Honiton 12K (7 ½ miles) Road Race has been converted to a “standard” 10 mile race over an “undulating” one-lap course. A pity, in some ways, because it was one of the few road races mid way between the more common 10K and 10 mile distances. The main benefits are the quieter roads, a lot more beautiful rural scenery and a couple of long flat sections where “enthusiastic” competitors can make up for the more undulating parts.

The race starts and finishes at Honiton High Street and was won by Martin Colwill of Bideford AAC in 1:00:01. Exmouth Harrier John Perratt was 42nd in 1:18:47 and 102 runners finished the race.

The Bupa Great South Run (10 Mile Road Race) at Portsmouth was completed by over 13,600 runners, including two Exmouth Harriers. The men’s event was won by Mo Farah in 46:25. Exmouth’s Stan Mason came 3284th in 1:28:32 out of 7,743 finishers. Ines Monteiro of Portugal won the women’s event in 52:32. Joan Mason was 1316th in 1:34:37 out of 5,888 runners.

(LT)

Parratt Trail, et. al.

Posted from Charleston, South Carolina!

Congratulations to Dawn Teed and Hugh Marsden for organising another very successful day for Exmouth Harriers at this year’s Parrett Trail Relays, with some great individual and team performances.

The event comprises six stages that total approximately 53 miles. It follows the long distance path from the mouth of the River Parrett on the North Somerset coast and crosses the county to finish just over the border in Dorset close to the source of the river at Wynyard’s Gap.

The race starts at Steart (not mispelt) and the first stage ends at Bridgewater Docks (10.5 miles). Leg 2 goes from Bridgewater Docks to Burrow Mump (7.9 miles). The third stage is from Burrowbridge to Oath Lock (8.5 miles). Next, stage 4 goes from Oath Lock to Kingsbury Episcopi (8.0 miles). Leg 5 runs from Kingsbury Episcopi to Lower Stratton (Wigborough) (9.5 miles). Finally, leg 6 takes the runners from Over Stratton to Wynyard’s Gap (8.6 miles).

Exmouth men’s team (5:40:08) were runners-up to Yeovil Town (5:38:29) in a much faster race than last year. But despite improving their time by 24 minutes compared with 21 minutes by Yeovil, they again failed to beat their rivals, but only by less than two minutes in over 5 ½ hours of racing!

Exmouth’s team comprised Hugh Marsden (1:06:57), Adam Miller (49:07), Mike Musgrove (52:26), Joel Morter (55:17), Dave Stone (58:38) and Jamie Pearson (57:43).

Hugh and Jamie both won their stages and Jamie’s time was a new course record for his leg.

Congratulations to the Exmouth team who won the mixed event in 6:35:34. Second-placed South West Road Runners were almost touching, however - just ten seconds adrift in 6:35:44!! So it was just as well that Exmouth managed to run 25 minutes faster than last year.

The Harriers involved were Andy Johnson (1:15:31), Lorraine Gilson (1:04:14), Steph French (1:08:28), Jon Croome (51:38), Terry Oldham (1:12:52) and Pete McKeown (1:02:51). Well done to Jon Croome and Pete McKeown who both won their legs.

Despite running 18 minutes quicker than last year when they won their category by 42 minutes, the Exmouth ladies team (6:45:53) had to settle for second place behind the formidable South West Road Runners team (6:28:06).

Exmouth’s team were Emma Dupain (1:23:10), Lucy Hodgson (1:01:08), Lorraine Croome (1:01:53), Jenny Timms (58:42), Hannah Bown (1:12:52) and Camilla Matheson (1:08:08). Well done, Emma, who produced the only Exmouth leg that was faster than the South West Road Runners leg – despite some great performances by other Exmouth ladies.

The next day, Exmouth Harrier Dave Stone was in action again, this time at the Dartmoor Vale Marathon.

The race, which starts and finishes at Newton Abbot Racecourse, also incorporates the Devon County Marathon Championships. It was won by John McFarlane of Thames Hare & Hounds in 2:40:02.

Congratulations to Dave, who started very steadily, but found he was able to up the tempo sufficiently in the later stages of the race to finish in second place in 2:51:10. And as he was the first Devon runner to finish, he became the Devon Men’s Marathon Champion for 2009!!

92 runners completed the race.

A hiatus

I am away in foreign parts for a fortnight or so from the 19th… I will try to make the odd post, but may not be able to do so. Normal service will be resumed on my return.

Of Eden... and other races East

The Eden Project is a superb venue for the full and half marathon races that were held on Sunday as it is at the heart of the re-generation to return the area around St. Austell called the “Clay Country” that was scarred by industry and mineral extraction, including the “Cornish Alps” (large white spoil heaps), to its natural state and as the re-planting is undertaken, tracks and trails are being opened for public access.

It also has substantial infrastructure, facilities, car parking space and catering for a large event and is a magnificent example of how a disused clay pit has been adapted and turned into a world-class visitor attraction.

The Concept of the Eden Project Marathon and Half Marathon is to showcase this regeneration
work and to give the competitor the opportunity to witness the extraordinary scenery - both man made and natural - this area has to offer.

Both races share the same start and finish areas within the Eden Project and are run simultaneously but separately. Both are multi-terrain with the marathon being 40% road, 60% trail and the half marathon 70% road, 30% trail.

Both courses are “testing” as the region is hilly and the trails are very stony. The full marathon course is a figure of eight with the crossover being in the Eden Project. The competitors initially run on the Western loop and on their return to the Eden Project after 13.1 miles, then run the Eastern loop.

The competitors in the half marathon just run the Eastern loop.

This gives an opportunity for spectators in Eden to see some of the races and to browse around the Eden Project. Alternatively, there are excellent viewing points for spectators out on the course.

In heavy drizzle that lasted all day, 306 runners completed the full marathon that was won by Pete Roper of Poole AC in 2:46:11. Exmouth Harrier Dave Stone ran superbly to take 3rd place in 2:59:55.

Harriers also featured in the half marathon that was won by Chris Thompson of Aldershot, Farnham & District in 1:18:41. Andy Kennedy was 192nd in 1:54:24, with Denise Kennedy 607th in 2:25:29, out of the field of 773 runners.

On the same day, three veteran Exmouth Harriers journeyed to South Molton to take part in the inaugural "Struggle" which is a 12 kilometre multi terrain course.

In persistent drizzle the race started close to the South Molton Rugby Club. The course climbed slightly along the tarmac road surface before quickly turning left into the Community woods and thereafter through the local recreation grounds, both surfaces still being tarmac.

At the top of this incline the course followed a farm track, which was extremely wet and muddy under foot, the optional line being soft slippery mud or rutted water filled tractor tracks. This track led up to open fields where two styles were negotiated before descending to and then ascending from a stream that was crossed by way of a slippery footbridge.

The open fields emerged nearly 4 kilometres from the start, at a location called "Hill", which is aptly named. A descent followed along a short length of tarmac track before more open fields where a sharp left hand turn brought the runners on to the road, B3227. A level road for nearly 2 kilometres before a left turn brought the runners back to the bottom of the road ascending to the "Hill". A stretch of some 1250 metres of road rose about 250 metres before turning right to join the outbound length of the course.

The race was completed in the field of the rugby ground where the final 50 metre dash for the finishing line went from under the posts to the half way line.

The first runner home was Owen Evans, who was unattached, in a time of 47 minutes and 22 seconds.

Bob Woodall of Exmouth Harriers came in 30th overall place taking the first V60 prize in a time of 59 minutes and 2 seconds. He was followed by Ray Elston in 50th place, taking the first V70 prize in a time of 62:21. Ray in this impressive time would also have qualified for the second V60. Jim Wyatt completed the Exmouth trio in 72nd overall place in 68:09. Jim was the third V65.

A total number of 134 runners completed the course, the last runner home finishing in a time of 101:26.

Sunday also saw the Ten Mile Road Race Championships of the British Masters Athletics Federation in conjunction with the South West Vets AC Championships at the Isle of Portland.

The race was hosted by the Royal Manor of Portland Athletics Club. It involved a smaller lap of around 3.5 miles followed by a 6.5 mile loop that took runners down a scenic route to the lighthouse at the Bill of Portland. The route did not appear to be as scenic to the runners on the way back up!

The winner was Steven Way of Bournemouth AC in 54:54. Congratulations to Exmouth Harrier John Perratt, who was 1st South West V70 and 61st overall in 1:18:31. Les Turner was 2nd S.W. V65 and 80th overall in 1:31:12 and 89 runners completed the race.

Finally, the first of this season’s Brooks Westward League Cross Country series of six events took place at a new venue at Central Park, Plymouth and included two Exmouth Harriers.

The senior men’s event was won by K.Toher of Newquay/Par AC in 25:51. Exmouth’s Hugh Marsden came 3rd V50 and 48th overall in 31:16 and there were 130 finishers.

The winner of the ladies’ event was A.Gummow of Cornwall AC in 19:07. Dawn Teed was 63rd in 26:22 out of the field of 88 runners.

(LT)

Sunday 27th September

On Sunday, 27th September, Harrier Andy Johnson competed in the Windsor Half Marathon that is now run entirely within the Windsor Great Park. The race was won by Scott Overall of Blackheath &.Bromley in 1:06:11. Andy came 126th in 1:32:56 and 4630 runners completed the event.

Last Sunday, the Churston Flyer 5 mile Road Race was won by James Bellward of South West Road Runners in 27:26. Amongst the field of 125 runners was Harrier John Perratt. John came 3rd V60+ and 44th overall in 36:57.

Monday evening saw the first round of the 2009/10 Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3K Series of five events at Exeter Arena and five Harriers competed. Altogether, six races were held and the A race and overall event were won by Exmouth runner Tom Merson of Bristol & West A C, who won the overall series last year. Congratulations to Tom, who managed to complete the race in 8:40, knocking an amazing 16 seconds off his best time last year!!

Andy Johnson, the first Harrier to finish, recorded 11:13. John Perratt finished in 12:44 with Dave Eveleigh next in 13:49, over 2 minutes quicker than his time last season! Special congratulations go to Dave, who has been battling a lengthy illness and made a fantastic effort to produce this remarkable performance!!

Jim Wyatt came home in 14:02, followed by Les Turner in 15:13.

(LT)