V70 BMAF Gold Medallists ~ National Road Relays, Sutton ParkTuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas everyone.A present? "North Street Grande" from Stackridge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6VoChujccM
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Review of 2009
One of Exmouth Harriers all-time greats, Cathy Newman, won the South West Veterans A C Grand Prix award for ladies for 2008, based on the average age graded performance for her four best performances over the year. Her average of 90.24% is something "The rest of us can only dream of", said World Masters Athletics Championships medallist John Perratt.
Last January, Exmouth Harriers bright young hope, Jamie Pearson, then 17 years old, ran superbly to win the gold medal in the Senior Boys' event at the Devon Schools' Cross Country Championships held in Plymouth.
Also in January, John Perratt was at the megaphone to start the South West Veterans A C Cross Country Championships at Sidmouth and presented the awards to the successful athletes after the event. In between, he decided to win the V70 category! In coming 2nd V65 after an excellent performance, his friend and archrival, fellow Harrier Ray Elston, enjoyed the rare priviledge of beating John - it's not very often that John gets beaten by anyone over the age of 65, not even by someone as outstanding as Ray!
Hugh Marsden won the Falkland Islands Half Marathon for a very impressive fifth consecutive year in February. A month later he came second in the Island's full marathon, but in a new personal best time.
March saw Exmouth based athlete Tom Merson, a good friend of Exmouth Harriers who often trains with us but runs in the colours of South West Road Runners and, more recently, Bristol and West A C, win the fifth and final round of the Ironbridge Runner 3K Series at Exeter Arena, and with it the overall series of five races. The Harriers overall series winners were V60 Roger Rowe, V65 Ray Elston and, of course, V70 John Perratt. Jim Wyatt was 2nd V65.
This month also saw the conclusion of another winter series, the Brooks Westward Cross Country League, with the final event at Redruth. After coming 2nd at the last two rounds at Bideford and Bovey Tracey, U17 Jamie Pearson finally beat both the overall series winner, Tom Gill of Tavistock A C, and the series runner-up, J Waldie of Cornwall A C, for a thoroughly well-deserved 3rd place over the series. Ray Elston did not take part at Redruth, but had already completed the required 5 out of 6 races for 3rd V60 over the series.
Tom Merson came 2nd at the 25th Great West Run Half Marathon at Exeter in May, a mere two seconds behind defending champion Kairn Stone of Newham and Essex Beagles. Jamie Pearson, still only 17, produced another brilliant performance to come 1st U20 and 6th overall. Andy Kennedy was 3rd V50.
May also included a momentous event for Exmouth Harriers at this year's BMAF Road Relays, with Ray Elston, Mick Allen and John Perratt winning the first national relay title ever to grace the club. They won the V70 event, despite Ray being tripped at the start and completing the 1st leg covered in blood! John also won the individual gold for the fastest V70 leg of the day!
The first running of Exmouth Harriers' new event, the 5 1/2 mile Beach Race, took place in June. Although the race only attracted 30 entries, all who ran it said it was a great race so the club are keen to run it again next year, hopefully with a much bigger field. The winner, Jamie Pearson, ran away from the other competitors. This race also saw the dawning of the career of another bright young prospect, Duncan Taylor (son of Adrian) who finished in 3rd place at the tender age of 14! Surely another name to watch out for in the future.
In June, Jamie Pearson came 2nd U20 at the hilly Bampton 10K. Hugh Marsden was 2nd V50 and Roger Rowe came 1st V60.
Dave Stone was 2nd M35 at the Torbay Half Marathon, also in June. Jamie Pearson was 1st U20, with Hugh Marsden 2nd V50.
Two Harriers won all five events they took part in at the South West Veterans' A C Track & Field Championships at Exeter Arena. John Perratt's M70 golds came in the 800m, 1500m and 5,000m. Andy Kennedy achieved his M50 golds in the 10,000m and the 2,000m steeplechase.
Hannah Bown was the 1st lady in the Killerton Kanter 10K Cross Country Race.
On to July and the 4 x 2 1/2 miles Erme Valley Road Relays at Ivybridge. Exmouth's M60 team (average age 66) of Roger Rowe, Ray Elston, Les Turner and Jim Wyatt won their category for the fifth consecutive year, i.e. on every occasion since its introduction! The M40 team comprising Pete McKeown, Jon Croome, Andy Johnson and Hugh Marsden came third in their category. Roger Rowe, who ran the fastest leg for the M60 team, has not raced again since this event due to a combination of an ongoing foot injury and a serious overload of building and decorating work at his home. He is, however, still capable of winning almost any V60 race in the South West region and we hope to see him again gracing the Harriers' colours in the near future, especially at the national relays.
Hugh Marsden was 1st V50 at the hilly Charmouth Challenge 8 miles multi-terrain course.
In August, the ladies team of Hannah Bown, Emma Dupain, Dawn Teed and Lorraine Gilson won their category at the Totnes 10K off-road race. Dave Stone, Hugh Marsden, Carlos Payan, Adam Miller, Paul Samways and Pete McKeown came 2nd in the men's team event. Hugh Marsden won the individual award for 1st V50, John Perratt was 1st V70 with a new course record and Ray Elston came 2nd V70.
Dave Stone was 3rd at the Sidmouth Festival 10K Run, with Ray Elston 1st V70 and Jim Wyatt 2nd V60.
Lorraine Gilson was 1st FV 50 at the Tywyn Mid-Wales Race the Train 14-mile multi-terrain event first held 25 years ago. Although not winning an award, Hugh Marsden was one of the select band of runners who succeeded in beating the train.
Jamie Pearson was 1st U21 at the challenging Jurassic Coast 10K multi-terrain event at Budleigh Salterton.
Carlos Payan was 2nd M30-34 at the Torbay Regatta 10K and John Perratt was 1st M65.
In September, Tom Merson won the Devon County A A 10,000m Track Race at Exeter Arena by the huge margin of nearly 4 minutes and Dave Stone came 2nd. John Perratt was 1st M70 and Andy Johnson was 2nd M45.
A superb performance saw Dave Stone win the 7 1/2 miles multi-terrain Ivybridge Beacon Challenge.
The first round of the 2009/10 Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3K Series took place in October and was won by Tom Merson. Dave Eveleigh, who has been battling a lengthy illness, made a fantastic effort to produce a time over 2 minutes quicker than his time last season.
Dave Stone took 3rd place in the Eden Project Marathon.
Exmouth Harriers did well at the first South Molton Struggle, a 12K multi-terrain course. Bob Woodall was 1st V60, Ray Elston 1st V70 and Jim Wyatt 3rd V65. Bob, a retired policeofficer, has now won several awards since "breaking into" the V60 category!
John Perratt was 1st South West V70 at the Ten Mile Road Race Championships of the British Masters Athletics Federation in conjunction with the South West Vets A C Championships at the Isle of Portland. Les Turner was 2nd S.W. V65.
Hugh Marsden was 3rd V50 at the first round of this season's Brooks Westward League Cross Country series at Central Park, Plymouth.
Exmouth Harriers produced some great team and individual performances at the Parrett Trail Relays. The men's team of Hugh Marsden, Adam Miller, Mike Musgrove, Joel Morter, Dave Stone and Jamie Pearson were runners-up to Yeovil in a much faster race than last year. Hugh and Jamie both won their stages, Jamie with a new course record for the leg. The mixed team comprising Andy Johnson, Lorraine Gilson, Steph French, Jon Croome, Terry Oldham and Pete McKeown won their category with Jon Croome and Pete McKeown both winning their stages. The Exmouth ladies team of Emma Dupain, Lucy Hodgson, Lorraine Croome, Jenny Timms, Hannah Bown and Camilla Matheson had to settle for 2nd place behind the formidable South West Road Runners team. Emma Dupain won her leg.
Dave Stone came 2nd in the Dartmoor Vale Marathon at Newton Abbot which also incorporates the Devon County Marathon Championships. However, since he was the first Devon runner to finish he became the Devon Men's Marathon Champion for 2009.
Jon Croome, Pete McKeown, Jim Pyne, Lorraine Croome, Paul Champion and Bob Keast completed the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon), the originator of the 2-day mountain marathon type event that first took place over 40 years ago. A fine achievement by all of them, it was particularly special for Bob Keast, only a year after his hip replacement operation.
By coming 6th at the Luton Marathon, his 7th marathon in the last 12 months, Dave Stone has now accomplished his target of completing 40 marathons before reaching his 40th birthday in February, 2010 - a great achievement!
The saddest moment of the Exmouth Harriers' year came at the end of June, when Sue Wilkin suffered a horrific injury and broke her ankle very badly at the Endurance Life Classic Quarter Coastal Ultra Series in Cornwall. She had to be air-lifted to hospital by the Air Ambulance and was told that she would never be able to run again. She is, however, far too stubborn to accept this advice, so has been working very hard to speed up her recovery as much as possible - and prove the medical experts wrong. So far things are going well, but she must avoid the temptation to push too hard and suffer a setback. All the club wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery and the achievement of her goal of running again, as soon as possible.
On Sunday 20th December 2009 six intrepid Exmouth Harriers, namely, Dave Stone, Ray Elston, Andy Kennedy, Phil Quick, Andy Johnson and Pete McKeown were amongst nearly 200 runners who braved the icy conditions to warm up for the start of the Wellington Monument Race 2009. With only a few minutes to the off, in temperatures as low as minus 3 degrees Celsius, the race was cancelled due to the extremely icy road conditions. The race organisers, in consultation with the Police, decided that there was too much ice on the roads to enable the race to start in anywhere near save conditions. There were grave concerns for both runners falling and collisions likely with motor traffic using the same route. Some runners were understandably disappointed but several runners had already taken tumbles just negotiating their way from the race Headquarters in the local school to the start line in the centre of the village. The organisers took the only safe option in the circumstances. Better wait for next years race than nurse a possible sever injury over the festive period.
And finally a reminder to those ladies who would like to participate in a "WOMENS ONLY" running night in the new year. Lorraine Gilson is holding the initial session on Wednesday 13th January 2010 at 6.15pm at the Exmouth Rugby Club, Imperial Road, Exmouth, EX8 1DG, for a 6.30pm start. Any lady wanting to give it a try please contact Lorraine on the mobile phone number 07977544611. If you do not try running you can not say you do not like it, so give it a try. This will be a gentle introduction into running with an aim for improvement, not an elite squad. More details will be forthcoming so watch out for the flyers and contact details to be displayed around the town.
Anyone else who fancies running come along on a Tuesday or Thursday at 6.45 pm for a 7.00 pm start. Check out the Exmouth Harriers web-site "exmouth-harriers,co,uk".
Annual resume prepared by Les Turner.
Last January, Exmouth Harriers bright young hope, Jamie Pearson, then 17 years old, ran superbly to win the gold medal in the Senior Boys' event at the Devon Schools' Cross Country Championships held in Plymouth.
Also in January, John Perratt was at the megaphone to start the South West Veterans A C Cross Country Championships at Sidmouth and presented the awards to the successful athletes after the event. In between, he decided to win the V70 category! In coming 2nd V65 after an excellent performance, his friend and archrival, fellow Harrier Ray Elston, enjoyed the rare priviledge of beating John - it's not very often that John gets beaten by anyone over the age of 65, not even by someone as outstanding as Ray!
Hugh Marsden won the Falkland Islands Half Marathon for a very impressive fifth consecutive year in February. A month later he came second in the Island's full marathon, but in a new personal best time.
March saw Exmouth based athlete Tom Merson, a good friend of Exmouth Harriers who often trains with us but runs in the colours of South West Road Runners and, more recently, Bristol and West A C, win the fifth and final round of the Ironbridge Runner 3K Series at Exeter Arena, and with it the overall series of five races. The Harriers overall series winners were V60 Roger Rowe, V65 Ray Elston and, of course, V70 John Perratt. Jim Wyatt was 2nd V65.
This month also saw the conclusion of another winter series, the Brooks Westward Cross Country League, with the final event at Redruth. After coming 2nd at the last two rounds at Bideford and Bovey Tracey, U17 Jamie Pearson finally beat both the overall series winner, Tom Gill of Tavistock A C, and the series runner-up, J Waldie of Cornwall A C, for a thoroughly well-deserved 3rd place over the series. Ray Elston did not take part at Redruth, but had already completed the required 5 out of 6 races for 3rd V60 over the series.
Tom Merson came 2nd at the 25th Great West Run Half Marathon at Exeter in May, a mere two seconds behind defending champion Kairn Stone of Newham and Essex Beagles. Jamie Pearson, still only 17, produced another brilliant performance to come 1st U20 and 6th overall. Andy Kennedy was 3rd V50.
May also included a momentous event for Exmouth Harriers at this year's BMAF Road Relays, with Ray Elston, Mick Allen and John Perratt winning the first national relay title ever to grace the club. They won the V70 event, despite Ray being tripped at the start and completing the 1st leg covered in blood! John also won the individual gold for the fastest V70 leg of the day!
The first running of Exmouth Harriers' new event, the 5 1/2 mile Beach Race, took place in June. Although the race only attracted 30 entries, all who ran it said it was a great race so the club are keen to run it again next year, hopefully with a much bigger field. The winner, Jamie Pearson, ran away from the other competitors. This race also saw the dawning of the career of another bright young prospect, Duncan Taylor (son of Adrian) who finished in 3rd place at the tender age of 14! Surely another name to watch out for in the future.
In June, Jamie Pearson came 2nd U20 at the hilly Bampton 10K. Hugh Marsden was 2nd V50 and Roger Rowe came 1st V60.
Dave Stone was 2nd M35 at the Torbay Half Marathon, also in June. Jamie Pearson was 1st U20, with Hugh Marsden 2nd V50.
Two Harriers won all five events they took part in at the South West Veterans' A C Track & Field Championships at Exeter Arena. John Perratt's M70 golds came in the 800m, 1500m and 5,000m. Andy Kennedy achieved his M50 golds in the 10,000m and the 2,000m steeplechase.
Hannah Bown was the 1st lady in the Killerton Kanter 10K Cross Country Race.
On to July and the 4 x 2 1/2 miles Erme Valley Road Relays at Ivybridge. Exmouth's M60 team (average age 66) of Roger Rowe, Ray Elston, Les Turner and Jim Wyatt won their category for the fifth consecutive year, i.e. on every occasion since its introduction! The M40 team comprising Pete McKeown, Jon Croome, Andy Johnson and Hugh Marsden came third in their category. Roger Rowe, who ran the fastest leg for the M60 team, has not raced again since this event due to a combination of an ongoing foot injury and a serious overload of building and decorating work at his home. He is, however, still capable of winning almost any V60 race in the South West region and we hope to see him again gracing the Harriers' colours in the near future, especially at the national relays.
Hugh Marsden was 1st V50 at the hilly Charmouth Challenge 8 miles multi-terrain course.
In August, the ladies team of Hannah Bown, Emma Dupain, Dawn Teed and Lorraine Gilson won their category at the Totnes 10K off-road race. Dave Stone, Hugh Marsden, Carlos Payan, Adam Miller, Paul Samways and Pete McKeown came 2nd in the men's team event. Hugh Marsden won the individual award for 1st V50, John Perratt was 1st V70 with a new course record and Ray Elston came 2nd V70.
Dave Stone was 3rd at the Sidmouth Festival 10K Run, with Ray Elston 1st V70 and Jim Wyatt 2nd V60.
Lorraine Gilson was 1st FV 50 at the Tywyn Mid-Wales Race the Train 14-mile multi-terrain event first held 25 years ago. Although not winning an award, Hugh Marsden was one of the select band of runners who succeeded in beating the train.
Jamie Pearson was 1st U21 at the challenging Jurassic Coast 10K multi-terrain event at Budleigh Salterton.
Carlos Payan was 2nd M30-34 at the Torbay Regatta 10K and John Perratt was 1st M65.
In September, Tom Merson won the Devon County A A 10,000m Track Race at Exeter Arena by the huge margin of nearly 4 minutes and Dave Stone came 2nd. John Perratt was 1st M70 and Andy Johnson was 2nd M45.
A superb performance saw Dave Stone win the 7 1/2 miles multi-terrain Ivybridge Beacon Challenge.
The first round of the 2009/10 Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3K Series took place in October and was won by Tom Merson. Dave Eveleigh, who has been battling a lengthy illness, made a fantastic effort to produce a time over 2 minutes quicker than his time last season.
Dave Stone took 3rd place in the Eden Project Marathon.
Exmouth Harriers did well at the first South Molton Struggle, a 12K multi-terrain course. Bob Woodall was 1st V60, Ray Elston 1st V70 and Jim Wyatt 3rd V65. Bob, a retired policeofficer, has now won several awards since "breaking into" the V60 category!
John Perratt was 1st South West V70 at the Ten Mile Road Race Championships of the British Masters Athletics Federation in conjunction with the South West Vets A C Championships at the Isle of Portland. Les Turner was 2nd S.W. V65.
Hugh Marsden was 3rd V50 at the first round of this season's Brooks Westward League Cross Country series at Central Park, Plymouth.
Exmouth Harriers produced some great team and individual performances at the Parrett Trail Relays. The men's team of Hugh Marsden, Adam Miller, Mike Musgrove, Joel Morter, Dave Stone and Jamie Pearson were runners-up to Yeovil in a much faster race than last year. Hugh and Jamie both won their stages, Jamie with a new course record for the leg. The mixed team comprising Andy Johnson, Lorraine Gilson, Steph French, Jon Croome, Terry Oldham and Pete McKeown won their category with Jon Croome and Pete McKeown both winning their stages. The Exmouth ladies team of Emma Dupain, Lucy Hodgson, Lorraine Croome, Jenny Timms, Hannah Bown and Camilla Matheson had to settle for 2nd place behind the formidable South West Road Runners team. Emma Dupain won her leg.
Dave Stone came 2nd in the Dartmoor Vale Marathon at Newton Abbot which also incorporates the Devon County Marathon Championships. However, since he was the first Devon runner to finish he became the Devon Men's Marathon Champion for 2009.
Jon Croome, Pete McKeown, Jim Pyne, Lorraine Croome, Paul Champion and Bob Keast completed the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon), the originator of the 2-day mountain marathon type event that first took place over 40 years ago. A fine achievement by all of them, it was particularly special for Bob Keast, only a year after his hip replacement operation.
By coming 6th at the Luton Marathon, his 7th marathon in the last 12 months, Dave Stone has now accomplished his target of completing 40 marathons before reaching his 40th birthday in February, 2010 - a great achievement!
The saddest moment of the Exmouth Harriers' year came at the end of June, when Sue Wilkin suffered a horrific injury and broke her ankle very badly at the Endurance Life Classic Quarter Coastal Ultra Series in Cornwall. She had to be air-lifted to hospital by the Air Ambulance and was told that she would never be able to run again. She is, however, far too stubborn to accept this advice, so has been working very hard to speed up her recovery as much as possible - and prove the medical experts wrong. So far things are going well, but she must avoid the temptation to push too hard and suffer a setback. All the club wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery and the achievement of her goal of running again, as soon as possible.
On Sunday 20th December 2009 six intrepid Exmouth Harriers, namely, Dave Stone, Ray Elston, Andy Kennedy, Phil Quick, Andy Johnson and Pete McKeown were amongst nearly 200 runners who braved the icy conditions to warm up for the start of the Wellington Monument Race 2009. With only a few minutes to the off, in temperatures as low as minus 3 degrees Celsius, the race was cancelled due to the extremely icy road conditions. The race organisers, in consultation with the Police, decided that there was too much ice on the roads to enable the race to start in anywhere near save conditions. There were grave concerns for both runners falling and collisions likely with motor traffic using the same route. Some runners were understandably disappointed but several runners had already taken tumbles just negotiating their way from the race Headquarters in the local school to the start line in the centre of the village. The organisers took the only safe option in the circumstances. Better wait for next years race than nurse a possible sever injury over the festive period.
And finally a reminder to those ladies who would like to participate in a "WOMENS ONLY" running night in the new year. Lorraine Gilson is holding the initial session on Wednesday 13th January 2010 at 6.15pm at the Exmouth Rugby Club, Imperial Road, Exmouth, EX8 1DG, for a 6.30pm start. Any lady wanting to give it a try please contact Lorraine on the mobile phone number 07977544611. If you do not try running you can not say you do not like it, so give it a try. This will be a gentle introduction into running with an aim for improvement, not an elite squad. More details will be forthcoming so watch out for the flyers and contact details to be displayed around the town.
Anyone else who fancies running come along on a Tuesday or Thursday at 6.45 pm for a 7.00 pm start. Check out the Exmouth Harriers web-site "exmouth-harriers,co,uk".
Annual resume prepared by Les Turner.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Last week and weekend...
On Monday 7th December 2009 Round 3 of the Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3K Series of five events took place at Exeter Arena. The weather conditions were particularly foul which could account for the fact that the number of competitors was down from 110 from the previous round a month ago to 89.
Despite the strong wind and the driving rain, which was quite heavy at times, some of the runners managed to produce some excellent times.
This event involved six races and the winner of the A race and overall winner on the night was Exmouth based Tom Merson running in the colours of Bristol & West AC. Tom produced a superb time for the conditions of 8 minutes and 42 seconds, just two seconds slower than his previous best in the series. It was a very hard earned victory because second placed Pete Freedman of Tavistock AC was awarded exactly the same time.
The four Exmouth Harriers who competed were again led home by Andy Johnson, this time recording 11 minutes and 28 seconds.
Lee Russell was next in 12:37, with Jim Wyatt finishing in 14:42. Les Turner completed the quartet in 15:39 and the last runner to finish was Dennis Commissar of South Devon AC in 20:40.
The weather for this year's Reindeer Run 10K at Otterton, which was staged on Sunday 13th December, could not have been more different from the heavy rainfall and very severe flooding that caused last year's course to be changed and shortened to around 8K.
This year, the biggest problem for the runners was being blinded by the dazzling sunlight and sunglasses would have been extremely helpful on the day.
Despite the glorious weather, there was still plenty of mud for the runners to enjoy and wading along the river under the road bridge towards the end of the race with the icy water approaching the top of the thighs was enough to freeze anyone's assets, recession or no recession!
The race was won by Chris Jones in 38 minutes and 5 seconds. Mike Musgrove was the first of the five Exmouth Harriers to finish after an excellent performance, coming 5th in 40:11. Jim Pyne was 8th in 41:34, followed by Alex Hooper who came 22nd in 44:29. Kevin Lingard was 127th in 57:27, with Les Turner 136th in 58:47. 222 runners completed the event and the last runner finished in 1:30:20.
The New Year, 2010, sees the Exmouth Harriers commencing a "ladies only" section on a Wednesday night, starting from their base at the Exmouth Rugby Club. It will a chance for all those ladies to back up their New Year's Eve resolution and put their idea into practice to commence to run and keep fit. Lorraine Gilson will be pleased to see all the ladies keen to take up the challenge. This will not be an elite squad, those faster athletes are welcome at club at any time, but a gentle introduction into running with an aim for improvement. More details will be forthcoming so watch out for the flyers and contact details to be displayed around the town.
(RW & LT)
Despite the strong wind and the driving rain, which was quite heavy at times, some of the runners managed to produce some excellent times.
This event involved six races and the winner of the A race and overall winner on the night was Exmouth based Tom Merson running in the colours of Bristol & West AC. Tom produced a superb time for the conditions of 8 minutes and 42 seconds, just two seconds slower than his previous best in the series. It was a very hard earned victory because second placed Pete Freedman of Tavistock AC was awarded exactly the same time.
The four Exmouth Harriers who competed were again led home by Andy Johnson, this time recording 11 minutes and 28 seconds.
Lee Russell was next in 12:37, with Jim Wyatt finishing in 14:42. Les Turner completed the quartet in 15:39 and the last runner to finish was Dennis Commissar of South Devon AC in 20:40.
The weather for this year's Reindeer Run 10K at Otterton, which was staged on Sunday 13th December, could not have been more different from the heavy rainfall and very severe flooding that caused last year's course to be changed and shortened to around 8K.
This year, the biggest problem for the runners was being blinded by the dazzling sunlight and sunglasses would have been extremely helpful on the day.
Despite the glorious weather, there was still plenty of mud for the runners to enjoy and wading along the river under the road bridge towards the end of the race with the icy water approaching the top of the thighs was enough to freeze anyone's assets, recession or no recession!
The race was won by Chris Jones in 38 minutes and 5 seconds. Mike Musgrove was the first of the five Exmouth Harriers to finish after an excellent performance, coming 5th in 40:11. Jim Pyne was 8th in 41:34, followed by Alex Hooper who came 22nd in 44:29. Kevin Lingard was 127th in 57:27, with Les Turner 136th in 58:47. 222 runners completed the event and the last runner finished in 1:30:20.
The New Year, 2010, sees the Exmouth Harriers commencing a "ladies only" section on a Wednesday night, starting from their base at the Exmouth Rugby Club. It will a chance for all those ladies to back up their New Year's Eve resolution and put their idea into practice to commence to run and keep fit. Lorraine Gilson will be pleased to see all the ladies keen to take up the challenge. This will not be an elite squad, those faster athletes are welcome at club at any time, but a gentle introduction into running with an aim for improvement. More details will be forthcoming so watch out for the flyers and contact details to be displayed around the town.
(RW & LT)
Monday, December 07, 2009
Weekend Races...
On Sunday 29th November 2009 Exmouth Harrier, Carlos Payan, took part in the San Sebastian Marathon in Spain. The weather conditions were cold for the location and windy, but ideal for running the very flat fast course. There were a total of 2615 entrants of which 2,394 crossed the finishing line.
The first runner completed the course in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 29 seconds with Carlos Payan finishing in 315th place in a time of 2hr 57min and 29 secs.. The final competitor crossed the finishing line in 4hr 40min and 20secs. There was a good quality of entrants for this event as can be seen from the fact that 450 runners completed the course in under three hours.
Friday 4th December 2009 Exmouth Harriers finished their running year with a festive meal and disco at the Exmouth Rugby Club. A superb meal was provided by JoniBoy Bamsey's own enterprise "jono's catering". Before the jitterbugging commenced the club awards were announced and the female athlete of the year went to Lorraine Gilson and the male athlete of the year went to Jamie Pearson. Paul Champion was rewarded by his years endeavours for the club with the Chairman's trophy. The late night, alcohol and hearty meal were anything but conducive to running so all activities were put on hold for Sunday.
On Sunday a brace of Exmouth Harriers, namely Dave Stone and Adrian Kearns, made the long trek to the south Midlands to take part in the ninth Luton Marathon and Three Stage Relay. Unlike last year when the event was cancelled due to extreme icy conditions which caused a vehicle to block part of the course the weather was more favourable to the runners. After a heavy down pour just hour before the race and much rain preceding this the race started at 11.00am in dry but windy conditions. Leaving the sport centre at Brammingham Wood, the race HQ, the route headed out toward the main A1082 road toward Bedford before turning left through the small village of Streatley and back toward Luton via the village of Lower Sundon. Although the course was mainly flat with slight undulations a strong head wind was experienced after leaving Streatley for about three miles before entering Luton at Sundon Park. Running through the built up areas the competitors were given a respite from the wind as they made their toward the Purley Centre and the completion of the first of three laps of the course.
Bearing in mind the three lap course this meant that the runners were facing nearly one third of the twenty seven plus miles into a strong head wind. Dave Stone made his intentions of a quick race from the start staying within striking distance of the leaders. By the completion of what would have been a half marathon Dave had clocked up an impressive time of 1 hour and 22 minutes which spurred him on. Dave Stone finally completed the race in overall 6th position in a time of 2 hours 44 minutes and 34 seconds. Adrian Kearns followed finishing in 57th position in a time of 3 hours 12 minutes and 52 seconds. Dave has now completed forty marathon races before reaching the grand old age of 40 years in February 2010. A great achievement of which he was particularly pleased as his finishing time was just quicker than his own anticipated time.
At a more leisurely pace and closer to home six members of the Exmouth Harriers competed in the Brooks Westward League Cross Country race staged at the Exeter Race Arena. The exceptionally prolonged rain of late had caused the whole course to be extremely waterlogged with the many twists and turns being deep sticky mud especially for the last race of the day, the senior men's event. Most of the course had seen six earlier events in the afternoon race around some of the course making going very heavy and extremely rutted. The weather on the day was kind to the competitors with little light rain and when the Exmouth Harriers all lined up for the senior men's event at 2.15 pm the skies were cloudless with the sun making temperature spring like but with a brisk wind. The initial start was an uphill run with several ninety degree turns. Before nearing the crest of the hill a long straight downhill section brought the runners back to beyond the start where a tight, near, one hundred and eighty turn around a tree saw the runners racing back along an incline into a head wind back towards the top of the course. Sections of this uphill climb, along the top bank of a local stream, were particularly boggy with soles of running wear sinking deep into the tufted grass so that ankles were covered with deep liquid mud. Two more one hundred and eighty degree turns were negotiated before the runners reached the top of the hill and the descent back toward the starting point.
After three and a half more laps the finish was in sight with the runners having completed nearly nine kilometres around the overall course.
The race winner was K. Haywood of Bideford AC in an impressive time of 29 minutes and 17 seconds.
Jamie Pearson lead the Exmouth Harriers contingent home in 34th position in a time of 35 minutes and 12 seconds.
Bob Woodall followed in 91st position, being in second place in the V60 category, in a time of 42 min 29 sec..
Andy Kennedy finished in 101st position in a time of 42 min 53 sec..
Phil [Twinkle] Quick in his first cross country event for several years, finished on the heels of Andy in 102nd position in a time of 42 min 54 sec..
Lee Russell finished in 116th position in a time of 46 min 15 sec..
John Perratt finished 120th position in a time of 48 min 30 seconds.
The final runner to complete the race, in 130th position in a time of 61 min 24 sec. was M. Lee from Erme Valley Harriers.
(RW)
Friday, December 04, 2009
Another train...
Long time since I published an old photo from the Budleigh Salterton/Exmouth line... so here's one of an engine in Tipton St. Johns (sic) station, just a few yards from the Golden Lion pub (bit pricey these days). Houses, of course, are now built on the old line/sidings, but the old route can be easily seen.
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