2010 SW Vets XC Championship

Sunday 24th January saw the 2010 South West Veterans Cross Country Championship, in co-operation with Sidmouth Running Club, held with the kind permission of the East Devon District Council for the National Trust, around The Byes at Sidmouth. This is the first time the course has been used as previous races had been held at Muttersmoor, Sidmouth. Although the new course does not appear to be as severe as the Muttersmoor course the new route proved to be just as taxing.

Despite the mindless endeavours of local vandals, who removed some stakes and tape, which had been set out the previous evening marking the course, the valiant efforts of John Perratt and his crew ensured the race started as scheduled.

Twenty-six runners in the under 17, ladies and men V65 plus categories joined the twenty-seven runners in the men up to V60 category to pound their way around the heavy going of the course. The men up to V60 category had to endure 5 laps of the course whilst the other categories completed four laps. After the recent adverse weather conditions the standing water had dried just making the going under foot sticky in places and heavy. With windless skies and efforts by the sun to emerge the race began at 11.15 in the morning.

In the category U17, ladies and men V65 plus the first runner to complete the four laps was Stephen Moss, U17, of Sidmouth Running Club in a time of 28 minutes and 47 seconds. Close on his heels in second place came the first lady, Marilyn Blair for Torrington Running Club in a time of 29-39.

Ray Elston, the first Exmouth Harrier, won the V70 category by finishing in overall 15th position in a time of 34-19. Had Ray been young enough this time would have given him first place in the V65 category. The actual winner of the V65 category was Jim Wyatt, for Exmouth Harriers, who finished directly behind his Exmouth Harrier colleague in 16th position in a time of 35-38. Les Turner completed the Exmouth Harrier trio in these categories by finishing in 24th position in a time of 39-47. The last runner to cross the line in 26th position was Louise Brown, for Sidmouth Running Club, in a time of 44-24.

In the other men's categories, up to V60, saw Richard Drage,V50, running for Tavistock AC, complete the five laps in first place in a time of 32-19. Exmouth Harriers' Lee Russell finished his five laps in 18th place in a time of 43-29. The final runner, in 27th place was David Welsh, for Sidmouth Running Club, in a time of 50-22."

East Devon Way Relay

Sunday 17th January 2010 saw the inaugural "East Devon Way Relay Race" won by a strong team from Exmouth Harriers.

The new race was in the shape of a twelve stage race along a 42 miles route starting at the long term car park at the rear of the railway station in Exmouth and finishing at the "Cobb" in Lyme Regis. Although there were twelve separate stages the teams of consisted only four runners, so each runner had to negotiate several stages. The stages varied in length from 2.1 miles, which included much uphill work, to the longest stage of 5.8 miles, by far the toughest section, which included lengths of flat terrain with both downhill and uphill sections.

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Exmouth Harriers entered two teams, one men only and the second a team of both sexes.

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The men's team consisted of Mike Musgrove, who ran legs 1,6 and 7, Adam Miller who ran legs 2 and 9, Dave Stone, who ran legs 3,4 and 5, and Jamie Pearson, who ran legs 8 and 10. This team finished first in an overall time of 4 hours and 56 minutes some 20 minutes ahead of the team finishing in second place namely the host club Axe Valley Runners.

The mixed team consisting of Emma Dupain, Steve Merry, Lucy Hodgeson and Terry Oldham. This team opted to complete the course by each member completing about ten miles, subject to hand over locations and , finished in 11th position in an overall time of 6 hours and 11 minutes.

As would have been expected following the recent adverse weather experienced the conditions underfoot was very heavy indeed. Parts of the course were awash with water, especially the section between Colyton and Musbury where runners waded through knee deep puddles. However, fortunately, the weather conditions on the day were dry with bright sunny skies. A really great new race and an excellent performance from both Exmouth Harrier's teams.

Unfortunately due to the recent adverse weather conditions the latest round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League to be held on Sunday 17th January 2010 in Bideford was cancelled. The overall results will now be ascertained from the best four results of the five races which are scheduled to be completed in March at Redruth.

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(RW)

Dartmoor train in the 1950s

No races to report, so a train photo taken just a few miles from Princetown from Plymouth (change at Yelverton). Is that South Hessary Tor I can see in the background (on the left)? Certainly looks like it.

Happy New Year

"Exmouth Harriers Kevin Lingard and his daughter, Liz, started the New Year with nearly 200 others, by participating in the 2010 Brown Willy Run. The run started at 11am on Friday 1st January 2010 from the famous Jamaica Inn and followed a route of about 7 miles across moor, through boggy, muddy, icy ground, along paths and up the challenging "Brown Willy", the highest point in Cornwall. On such a cold crisp day as Friday both the south and north Cornwall coasts could be seen from this highest section of the course.

The run was organised by the Truro Running Club. Participants just turned up on the day and signed in. There was no entry fee and entrants made monetary donations, all of which was split between the Cornish Search and Rescue Team and Cornwall Hospice Care.

Liz Lingard completed her run in about 78 minutes and dad, Kevin, finished just two minutes behind in a time of 80 minutes.

The 8th First Chance 10k was hosted by South West Road Runners on Sunday 3rd January 2010. The race was a fast flat course along paths and cycleways by the Exeter Canal and the river Exe. Included in the full complement of 464 runners finishing the race were three Exmouth Harriers, namely, Pete McKeon, Paul Samways and John Perratt. The weather was bright but chilly with little wind making running conditions ideal, although a covering of frost on the ground made going,in some areas, a bit tricky. The race winner was Kevin Hayward of Bideford RC in a time of 30 minutes 44 seconds followed extremely closely by Exmouth local runner Tom Merson just 11 seconds behind.

Of the Exmouth Harriers contingent Pete McKeon finished in overall 25th position in a time of 35-44, the second in the V40 category, ahead of Paul Samways in overall 43rd position in a time of 39-03. John Perratt completed the trio finishing in 142nd position in a time of 46-49, the second in the V65 category.

And finally a reminder to those ladies who would like to participate in a "WOMEN'S 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.

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 http://www.exmouth-harriers.co.uk/ .