Last weekend's exploits

On Saturday 13th February 2010 Axe Valley Runners hosted the "Nightrun". a mini Grizzly race run at night, a near eight mile course, was raced over country roads and rugged open countryside. The route was mainly off-road with hills, mud and even beach thrown in. The race started at 6.30 pm at the Barrel of Beer Public House in Beer and headed out toward Branscombe where after rounding the village eventually returned to the starting point. Four members of Exmouth Harriers, namely, Mike musgrove, Adam Miller, Jon Croome and Lorraine Croome, took up the challenge and raced the course.

The first runner to reach the finishing line was James Jackson of Dartmmoor Runners in a time of 57 minutes and 53 seconds. Mike Musgrove finished in 8th place in a time 63-22 followed immediately behind in 9th place by Adam Miller in a time of 66-05. Half of the husband and wife due, Jon Croome, finished in 13th place in a time of 67-48 and Lorraine Croome finished in 28th place in a time of 77 minutes. The final runner to complete the course in 98th place in a time of two hours fifteen minutes and three seconds was Nick Edwards of Wells City Harriers.

Meanwhile on Valentines Day, Sunday 14th February 2010, ninety-eight men in the Senior and above categories lined up for the penultimate round in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League at Parke in Bovey Tracey. Included in the line up for the Exmouth Harriers were John Parrett and Bob Woodall.

The course was tough, being three loops covering a total distance of 9.3 kilometres. From the start after an initial circuit of over 500 metres around the flat marsh grass covered field the runners were lead into the first of the three long ascents overlooking the river Bovey. This incline rises over one hundred and fifty metres before at a sharp right angled bend the course descended to the footpath at the side of the river back to the starting loop. Once back at the level area two more loops confront the runners. The weather conditions were ideal on the day with no wind and cool temperatures. Unlike last years event where snow and heavy mud greeted the runners around the whole course, this year the ground underfoot was extremely dry with only three areas of boggy conditions.

From the starting gun John Parrett led the pair of Exmouth Harriers but before the completion of the opening loop Bob Woodall had passed his colleague. Not for long though as once the pair reached the first incline John Parrett showed his leg strength and mounted the ascent, ever increasing his lead over his team mate. For the remainder of the three laps John Parrett continued to open the gap between the pair. At end of the race John Parrett finished in 83rd position in a time of 50 minutes and 14 seconds and Bob Woodall followed behind in 92nd position in a time of 52-10.

The winner of the race, K. Toher of Newquay and Par AC finished in a time of 32-21 and the last runner, M. Lee of Erme Valley Harriers finished in 98th place in time of 65-45.