Templar 10 & Westward XC League

On Sunday 7th November 2010 at 10.00 am, a fine dry day for racing, Adrian Kearns, the lone Harrier entrant, lined up amongst the other 218 eventual finishers for the start of the Templer Ten. The race which is always well organised by the Teignbridge Trotters is actually 9.5 miles in length, started at the Passage House Inn at Kingsteignton and returned along the river bank to finish. The course was multi-terrain and followed approximately two miles of road, five miles of fields and paths around Stover Park, and returned across the fields. The route then went back on the road for two miles or so and finished with half a mile on off-road paths. There were also a number of stiles along the course that had to be negotiated and gates that were obligingly opened by marshals.

The eventual winner was Lee Turner of Torbay Athletic Club in a time of 53 minutes and 35 seconds. The first female to complete the course, in overall 16th position, was Caroline Hewitt of the Tiverton Harriers in a time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 11 seconds. Adrian Kearns finished in 25th position in an impressive time of 1-04-49.

Later the same day five Harriers took part in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League at the Plymouth venue. For these Senior Males the course was 9 kilometres in length and consisted of three loops of Central Park Plymouth alongside the Plymouth Argyle Football Stadium, with conditions underfoot, in places, suitable wet and muddy for a cross country race.

The first male runner, M. Jenkins of Bideford AC, completed the course in a time of 30 minutes and 10 seconds.

For Harriers Dave Stone finished in 7th position in a time of 31-35 followed by Jamie Pearson who finished in 43rd position in a time of 35-01. Just two places behind in 45th position was Adam Miller in a time of 35-17. Dave Backway finished in 101st place in a time of 41-27 with Jim Wyatt completing the team in 126th place in a time of 46-38.

With these five results Exmouth Harriers are currently standing in 6th position in the league rankings.

(RW)

Exeter Arena 3k (race 2)

Monday evening 1st November 2010 saw the second round in the Ironbridge Winter 3k Series held at the Exeter Arena Athletic Track. The Harriers fielded a squad of six runners across the varies races, namely, Andy Johnson, Lee Russell, Dave Eveleigh, John Parrett, Jim Wyatt and Les Turner. Of the six running on the night four of those athletes took part in the first round. On a night ideal for racing Dave Eveleigh, John Parrett and Les Turner all clipped several seconds off their first round times.

The Harriers contingent faired well with Andy Johnson finishing in a time of 11-42. Lee Russell finished in a time of 12.46. Dave Eveleigh finished in a time of 12-52. John Perratt finished in a time 13-02. Jim Wyatt finished in a time of 14-26 and Les Turner completed the Harriers squad in a time of 15-02.

The first runner to finish the distance was James Denne running for Exeter Harriers in a time of 8 minutes and 57 seconds, but some 7 seconds slower than our own Tom Merson's first round time. Unfortunately Tom was unable to compete in the second race.

The first female athlete was Charlotte Davies, running for Exeter University, who finished in a time of 10-33.

The third round of the series is to be staged on Monday 6th December at the same venue.

(RW)