Exmouth Harriers AAC

Bampton to Tiverton 2011

2011-04-26T13:24:00.007+01:00

[The presentations in 1946 - the race has been run ever since]

7 miles 125 yards
Tom Merson - 36:41 - 1st Overall
Andy Johnson - 46:56 - 3rd MV/45
Roger Rowe - 50:48 - 1st MV/65
John Perratt - 56:54 - 1st MV/70
Mick Allen - 60:45 - 2nd MV/70
(RR)

Beginners Jogging Course

2011-04-13T11:28:00.000+01:00

On Monday 4th April 2011 sixteen men and women met at the Withycombe Tennis Centre for the in augural session of the “beginners’ jogging course” arranged by the Harriers. After re-assembling in Phear Park the Club Chairman, Bob Keast, welcomed the group to the first of the eight programmed Monday evenings which will culminate in a measured one mile run along Exmouth’s beach. The workout commenced with a series of stretching exercises led by Nicky Crook before the group were put through their paces, consisting of jogging and walking repetitions around the park. Four other Harriers, namely Steve Merry, Phil Bater, Dave Backway and Bob Woodall, were on hand to supervise the group. Finally Nicky Crook completed the session by taking the group through the same earlier stretching exercises to relax the muscles.

Monday 11th April saw the same sixteen "trainees” return for the second session accompanied by five extra people, including three from the Steve Merry clan. All the attendees seemed to enjoy themselves and we look forward to seeing them all again next week.

It was a good turn out from club members who assisted including Scott Jordon along with the same crew from the previous week.

The Grizzly

2011-03-14T17:44:00.002Z

On 13th March the unique race known as ”The Grizzly” took place around Seaton. In fact some would say it has transcended being a mere running race and should be thought of as a challenge to the mind as much as to the body. Anyway it’s hilly, usually wet and is a very long way.

Dave Stone then would be the Grizzly equivalent of a Zen Master as he strode round in 2:46:40 for 6th overall and 2nd over 40 male veteran. Mike Musgrove covered the course in 2:51:35, good enough for 19th overall and 5th man over 40. The performances of Adam Miller (25th in 2:53;59), Jon Croome (70th in 3:07:29 & 16th man over 45) and Peter McKeown (90th in 3:11:17 & 19th man over 40) meant 5 Harriers were placed in the top 100 of nearly 1700 finishers.

Another 11 from the club would have been pleased to have finished the race, spending the sort of time on their feet that you might put aside for watching ”Gone with the Wind”, and while frankly they would not, for the most part, give a damn about their positions and times they should be recorded for posterity: Terry Oldham (267th in 3:33:57 and 29th man over 50); Hannah Bown (301st in 3:38:01 & 29th woman); Emma Dupain (308th in 3:38:21 & 32nd woman); Lorraine Croome (387th in 3:45:45 & 8th woman over 40); Ben White (396th in 3:46:25), Katie Comer (536th in 3:55:13 & 67th woman) ); Lucy Hodgson 537th in 3:55:15 & 68th woman); Scott Jordan (573rd in 3:58:53); Lyn Curtis 616th in 4:01:52 & 18th woman over 40); Lorraine Gilson (724th in 4:10:03 & 10th woman over 50) and Nicola Crook (1127th in 4:41:31 & 217th woman). Some would say that those taking 4 hours or more faced a bigger challenge than runners at the front of the event – they certainly would not have had an intermission and an ice cream.

(DE)

All the Bath Results

2011-03-09T13:35:00.010Z

[Emma & Hannah after the race]

Adam Miller 1:18:32
Richard Bishop 1:24:42
Chris Dupain 1:28:32
Hannah Bown 1:33:43 (nee Dupain)
Roger Rowe 1:33:44
Emma Dupain 1:33:48
Ben White 1:40:10

Nearly 11,000 runners completed the Bath Half-Marathon on 6th March and the seven Harriers who were there all finished in front of more than 9,000 of them. Adam Miller would have been pleased to chop over 2 minutes off his personal best for the distance in finishing 110th in 78:32. Emma Dupain also notched a Personal Best when she clocked 93:48, finishing 807th overall and 92nd of over 4,000 females. Richard Bishop was 302nd overall in 84:42 and 40th of over 900 male veterans over 40. Chris Dupain was 473rd overall in a time of 88:32.

Roger Rowe broke into the Top Ten with 6th of 154 in the male veterans over 60 class, recording 93:44 which placed him 904th overall, and 1st V/65. Alongside Roger was Hannah Bown, 797th overall and 90th female in 93:43. Finally Ben White just missed out on breaking 100 minutes with 1:40:10 but that still had him comfortably inside the top 25% of the field.

Race Reports

2011-03-07T17:37:00.000Z

All race reports to Dave Eveleigh at daveveleigh@blueyonder.co.uk

Sunday 6th - Races

2011-03-06T18:31:00.014Z

Bath Half Marathon this morning... cold with a biting east wind. Ran reasonably, for a 1:33+ finish (not sure of the finish time). Around 3 minutes slower than anticipated. Problems with the right calf yet again for most of the race. Not exactly an injury, just very sore and very annoying. Not exactly an earth-shattering time, but well up on the UK Rankings. 80.50-odd % for those who understand these things - 1st Vet/65.
Chris Dupain finished in 1:28:32 (chip time), and Emma Dupain in 1:33:48 (chip time)... Hannah was running with Emma but is not on the Provisional results (neither am I).

More to come when the results hit the net...

Barcelona Marathon

Andrew Johnson ran 3:30:44, which was bang-on his 3:30 target. He writes: "I remember now why I have not run a big city marathon for 17 years. Too many people. Way too many people. They get in your way, block your path, slow you down - you have to concentrate all the time. No time to enjoy the environment, like Tresco (Isles of Scilly) or Eden (Project). The drink stations were like a war. The 1st World War, or maybe the Charge of the Light Brigade. Lost time at every drink station trying to grab a drink.

I had hoped to run with the 3:30 pace group. They were easy to find, at the start with their red balloons. But when we were called forward just before the race started, I moved forward 5 metres and the pacemakers disappeared in front. They were at least 10 metres in front of me at the start, so got away about a minute earlier than me. I didn’t catch them up until 18km. I then did my best to stay with them in the congested field, but began to lose touch with them at 30km when I got a stitch. After a couple of kilometres, I rallied and got quite close to them, but they gradually pulled away again and eventually disappeared. I managed to maintain 8 minutes/mile (5 minutes/km) pace until we got to when we turned inland and started climbing. The last 3km were up an incline which felt like a mountain and I slowed considerably".

(RR)

Plymouth Hoe '10'

2011-02-21T19:54:00.012Z

One of the largest races in Devon in the calendar... and the Devon AA 10-mile Championship too... yet I was the lone Harrier there in a field of around 600.

With the Bath Half Marathon coming up on the 6th March, I went into the race determined NOT to run too fast... to treat it as a stepping stone and therefore to run what I call 'tempo pace' (saving it on the hills, and pushing on down them). In any case NOT to damage myself!

In the end it went very well... reasonably fast (for a MV/65 - 70:02) on a difficult (as it turned out) course. The leaders went the wrong way in mile 3, and ran around three-quarters of a mile too far -- that is apart from the actual winner (Kairn Stone - 51:16) himself.

Makes me glad that I had learned the new course from the course maps (as obviously did he). The stewards and signage were at fault... but as they say, learn the course before the race! I ran (for the first time in a race) in training shoes with no watch -- as I did not wish to 'push the envelope', and was rather surprised to run just 2 seconds over 70 minutes. I'd have accepted that before the start!

1st V/65 (by nearly 13 minutes) and 2nd V/60 too. Now for a recovery week before the final Exeter Arena 3k next Monday (28th), and the trip to Bath the Sunday afterwards.

(RR)

Press Report - Fulford '5'

2011-02-08T07:11:00.000Z

Over 200 athletes turned up for the Exmouth Harriers promoted Fulfords Five road race on Sunday. Fortunately the strong wind they faced running down Victoria Road gave them a helping hand along the sea front before they turned back into the relative shelter of the town. Exeter Harriers took the podium positions in the men’s race through Jack Bancroft, James Denne and Oliver Berry, Bancroft’s time being a respectable 26:04. The first three women were Lucy Commander (South West Road Runners) in 30:08, followed by Katherine Humphries (Exeter Harriers) and Helen Dyke (Torbay). Among the veterans Gerry O’Connell and Steve Goss stood out. O’Connell was first over 50 and 7th overall, in 27:55 while Goss was first over 40 and 5th overall in 27:03. Computerisation of the results allows each runner to be given a performance rating adjusted for their age. This showed 53 year-old Karen Cook (SWRR) to have had a fine run to finish 37th overall in 32:23 and be top rated at 86%.

As well as organising the event Exmouth Harriers had a number of runners taking part. Denis Gildea was the first home for the host club in 35th with a time of 32:15. Next was Roger Rowe, fast approaching his best, as a comeback from injury continues; he was 43rd overall and first over 65 - although in fact there was nobody over 52 in front of him. Ray Elston was 86th and first over 70 in 37:40 while John Perratt was 99th in 39:08, and 2nd in the over 70s category. Dave Eveleigh (over 55) was pleased to chop over 3 minutes from his 2010 time to finish 111th in 39:56. Mick Allen then completed an over 70s clean sweep for Exmouth Harriers with 122nd overall (3rd over 70) in 40:52. Thanks are due to the race marshals and for the patience of local motorists.

(Dave Eveleigh)

Fulford '5'

2011-02-06T18:01:00.009Z

Nice photo of the Exe Estuary... Oh, and Ray Elston powering in after an excellent run in the wind. It seemed to me that the wind got the better of any really quick times this morning (?)

Harriers finish times:

Denis Gildea 32:15
Roger Rowe 33:09 (1st V/65)
Ray Elston 37:40 (1st V/70)
John Perratt 39:08 (2nd V/70)
Dave Eveleigh 39:56
Mick Allen 40:42 (3rd V/70)

Photo from Mary R (click on it for the full effect)!

Ironbridge Runner Santa Run 2010...

2010-12-06T16:10:00.001Z

... and a great time was enjoyed by all !

Cathy with the President of Tigray

2010-12-03T08:17:00.002Z

Wukro Devon Running Project

2010-12-03T08:10:00.004Z

This is what we are supporting as a club -- through Peter and Cathy Newman working in northern Ethopia. have a look at the web-page on the Ironbridge site:

http://www.ironbridgerunnerevents.co.uk/wukro/

there are some great photos, plus you can 'click through' to Pete Newman's site which contains loads more photos.

Templar 10 & Westward XC League

2010-11-08T18:09:00.001Z

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)

2010-11-02T10:44:00.002Z

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)

One Day Ultra - and an important notice

2010-10-26T08:40:00.001+01:00

On Sunday 23rd October 2010 a lone intrepid member of the Harriers, Mark Thompson, joined the "Might Contain Nuts" fraternity to participate in the One Day Ultra Series in the Black Mountains. This was the first event of the series that started and finished in Castle Inn, Pengenffordd, in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons. The route of over thirty miles took in just two miles of tarmac surface with over 1840 metres of ascent. Much of the course took place on land over 600 metres in height that on a clear day would provide spectacular views over the area. However on this occasion the weather provided sleet and rain but occasional clear periods to allow the scenery to be enjoyed. Mark seemed to think that this was an enjoyable experience, but everyone to their own opinion. The first runner to complete the course was Luke Moseley who finished in a time of 4 hours, 24 minutes and 33 seconds.

Mark finished in an impressive 11th position in a time of 5-13-05. The first female runners, in overall 19th position, was Julie Gardner in a time of 5-33-10. The last runner home was Steven Marlborough who finished in a time of 9-42-245. Of the one hundred starters sixteen unfortunately, due to injury or other reasons, failed to complete the course.

Not only does industry and commerce suffer in these times of recession but sport and leisure also. It is with much regret and sadness that after many happy and successful years located at Exmouth Rugby Club the Exmouth Harriers are moving their training base to share the facilities with Withycombe Tennis Club, [Leisure East Devon, LED] in Withycombe Village Road, Exmouth. As of Tuesday 2nd November 2010 the Exmouth Harriers will assemble at the Tennis Centre at 6.45pm before setting off at 7.00pm for a run out about the town. It is hoped that the move will also see the enlargement of the club by attracting new members. Any runner will be welcome at any session on either a Tuesday or Thursday to give running a try. There is also a ladies only night, on a Wednesday evening, for those of the fairer gender who feel inhibited to jog/run alongside the opposite sex. It is hoped, though, that in the New Year the club will be hosting a weekly "newcomers" session to encourage members of the public to try running with a club and hopefully derive enough pleasure to ultimately join the club as a member. Everyone will be welcomed to attend and in the first place make contact with either the club Chairman or Secretary. As the saying goes "a change is as good as a rest" so hopefully the club will continue and thrive and expand at the new venue.

(RW)

Cardiff & Dartmoor Vale 13.1 & Abingdon 26.2

2010-10-19T08:19:00.003+01:00

At 9.00am On Sunday 17th October 2010 the running partners of Emma Dupain and Ben White, sporting the colours of Harriers, lined up alongside over eleven thousand eventual finishers of the Cardiff Half Marathon. The route, started and finished in Cardiff Bay, took the runners through beautiful scenery and past historic buildings. The course was flat and fast which allowed runners, who were in peak condition to produce personal best times over a total distance of about 13.2 miles long, or exactly 21.0975 kilometres.

The first runner to complete the race was Edwin Kipkorir in a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 7 seconds and the first female runner, in overall 21st position, was Helen Jemutai who finished in a time of 1-10-49.

For the Harriers Emma Dupain finished in 1369th position in a time of 1-36-00 and Ben White finished in 2050th position in a time of 1-42-20. The last runner to cross the finishing line was in 11078th position and finished in a time of 4-26-48. Once again both Emma and Ben managed to produce their personal best times for the race distance.

A touch of frost awaited the Abingdon Marathon in Oxfordshire on Sunday, with sub zero temperatures for 9am start, but with the sun rising in the sky and with light winds the 707 who completed the course didn't have to wait long for ideal marathon weather. First to finish was Colin Paton in 2:33:48 first woman was Helen Taranowski in 2:53:52. Adrian Kearns from Exmouth Harriers finished 108th in 3:06:24. The last competitor, Katharine Tuite, in the V60 age category, crossed the finishing line in a time of 5-29-06.

Slightly later, at 9.15am, the same day Mick Allen for the Harriers competed in the Dartmoor Vale Half Marathon, which was an undulating 13.1 mile race in the shadow of Dartmoor.

The first runner to complete the course was Lee Turner of Torbay AC who finished in a time of 1 hour and 15 minutes and the first female runner, in overall 29th place, was Rachel Tresidder of Mountbay Harriers who finished in a time of 1-31-47. Mick finished in 232nd position in a time of 1-55-31. He was the only finisher in his V70 age category and completed the race ahead of many runners who were in younger age categories.

(RW)

Parrett Trail Relays

2010-10-18T09:37:00.001+01:00

On Saturday 16th October 2010 the Harriers fielded three teams of runners amongst the twenty one teams competing in the Parrett Trail Relays. The Parrett Trail Relay is a 6 stage trail relay run with varying distances of legs from 5.6 miles to 9.5 miles on permissive and public rights of way following the long distance path from the mouth of the river Parrett on the North Somerset coast. It crosses the country to finish just over the border in Dorset close to the source of the river at Winyards Gap. Not only does the course require stamina and speed but each athlete has to navigate their way along the leg. Although the route starts and finishes at the estuary and head of the river there are many extremely hilly sections to negotiate. All three teams produced excellent results with the Men's 'A' team finishing in first place, the Men's 'B' team finishing in 7th position and the Ladies team finishing in overall 12th position, taking the first Ladies team award. The teams entering the event consisted of all men, all ladies or a mixture, all of whom had to race over the same stages.

The 'A' team completed the course in a total time of 5 hours, 24 minutes and 53 seconds, faster than last years winning team and beating the 'A' teams previous time last year by sixteen minutes. The team consisted of, on 1st leg, Hugh Marsden who completed his section, of 9.1 miles, in a time of 60 minutes and 28 seconds. On 2nd leg Adam Miller who completed his section, of 5.6 miles in a time of 32-48. On 3rd leg was Mike Musgrove who completed his section, of 7.7 miles in a time of 50.15. On 4th leg was Jon Croome who completed his section, of 7.7 miles, in a time of 54-01. On 5th leg was Dave Stone who completed his leg, of 9.5 miles, in a time of 59-16 and lastly was Jamie Pearson who completed his leg, of 8.6 miles, in a time of 68-05.

The winning Ladies team completed the course in a total time of 6-52-37 and consisted of Katie Comer on 1st leg who completed her section in a time of 80 minutes exactly. Alison Fish was on the second leg and finished her section in a time of 48-24. Lorraine Croome was on 3rd leg and completed her section in a time of 61-21. Dawn Teed was on 4th leg and completed her section in a time of 66-02. Hannah Bown was on 5th leg and completed her section in a time of 77-20 and Lucy Hodgeson completed the team and finished the 6th leg in a time of 79-30.

The Men's 'B' team completed the course in a total time of 6-06-28 and consisted of Andy Johnson on 1st leg who completed the section in a time of 1-09-24. On 2nd leg was Scott Jordan who completed the section in a time of 39-06. On 3rd leg was Rory Devine who completed his section in a time of 57-16. On 4th leg was Dave Backway who completed his section in a time of 62 minutes exactly. On 5th leg was Terry Oldham who completed his section in a time of 72-12 and on the last leg was Pete McKeown who completed his section in a time of 66-30.

(RW)

A Marathon... and Cross Country events

2010-10-12T08:33:00.001+01:00

At 10 minutes after 10 on Sunday 10th October 2010 [10:10 on 10-10-10] the Eden Project Marathon got underway. The race featured a multi-terrain route around the Eden Project which followed a challenging course through areas of spectacular mining heritage and beautiful countryside landscapes. Just the one Harrier, Andy Johnson, joined the 750 entrants. For the first half of the course Andy felt comfortable although the course was tough in parts, but in hindsight he realised the first part was easy compared to the second. Just after the half way mark, back through the Eden Project, there was a two mile downhill section which caused Andy some concern before a relentless uphill section from miles 15 to 23.. Although there were occasional downhill sections these went unnoticed. Unfortunately by mile 18 Andy's energy was fading and he suffered from a bout of 'stitch' which force Andy to slow. Andy finished in overall 44th place in a time of 3 hours, 47 minutes and 28 seconds.

The first runner to complete the course was Duncan Oakes of St. Austell Running Club in a time of 2-55-16. The first female runner, in overall 8th position was Naomi Tier of Cornwall AC in a time of 3-12-24.

Later the same morning Ray Elston and Bob Woodall, running in the colours of the Harriers, travelled to South Molton to take part in the South Molton Struggle, a multi-terrained seven mile course over public footpaths, country lanes, fields and highways. The race was started by the local Mayor who inadvertently positioned himself centrally immediately in front of the runners and was almost carried along with the throng as the starting siren sounded. The route started in the Pathfields Industrial Estate before turning left into the South Molton Recreation Ground. At the top corner the route crossed the B3226 and joined the public footpath that continued through a number of undulating fields, actually quite steep hills, and farms. It was at this footpath, having climbed about one mile from the start that the conditions underfoot deteriorated. Even tarmac gave way to rutted, puddles with deep slippery mud before entering fields of long tufted strength sapping grass, with stiles to cross throw in. From miles 3 to 4 the route continued along the relatively flat highway, B3227. A left turn took the course up a long steep incline to Village hill before returning along the outward route through farms and fields. From the 5 mile marker the inclines ceased giving a homeward downhill run to the finish of the centre line of the South Molton Rugby pitch.

Because their advancing ages both Ray and Bob were competing, not with a hope of featuring in the winning runners, but for high positions within their age group categories. Although Ray, age category V70, was giving away a decade to Bob, age category V60, their’s was a friendly rivalry between the two ancient warriors. Bob lead the way over way from Ray at the starting siren up the first incline over tarmac conditions, but once the underfoot conditions deteriorated and the course levelled and ventured downhill, Ray came into his own. Having controlled his started on the steep downhill section Ray, almost 2 miles into the race, closed down the gap and overtook the struggling Bob. Ray continued his relentless efforts and was soon out of sight of Bob. Knowing the hills still to come Bob expected to catch Ray later in the course and up the long incline of Village Hill Ray was again in sight. The gap was closed to with two hundred metres but at the summit again on uneven ground Ray found the strength to lengthen the distance ahead of Bob. At the end Ray finished in 47th position in a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 38 seconds and was awarded the first prize in his V70 age category. His time was only 17 seconds slower than last year but still faster than the winner of this years V65 age category. Bob finished in 54th position in a time of 1-04-54, taking 3rd place in the V60 age category.

The first runner home was Ronnie Richmond of North Devon Road Runners in a time of 47-02. The first female runner was Rosemary Terrible of North Devon Triathletes in a time of 55-57.

Elsewhere on the same day in St. Austell, Cornwall seven Harriers competed in the opening event of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League. On sunny, warm afternoon with light winds the six male athletes, and in the separate race for female the lone female Harrier, started their races around the playing fields of Penrice School and the adjoining farmland. The senior men completed one small loop of the course followed by two large loops and a finishing lap covering a total distance of 8330 metres. The women completed one small loop followed by one large loop and a finishing lap covering a total distance of 5280 metres.

The lone female Harrier in her race, Dawn Teed finished in 62nd position in a time of 29-35. The first runner was A Gummow of Cornwall AC who completed the course in a time of 20-44.

For the senior male Harrier, Tom Merson, finished in first place in a time of 31-08. Dave Stone finished in 16th position in a time of 33-52. Jamie Pearson finished in 27th position in a time of 35-37. Adam Miller finished in 34th position in a time of 36-20. Hugh Marsden finished in 55th position in a time of 38-50. Jim Wyatt finished in 98th position in a time of 48-21. After the first leg of the series the Harrier team, consisting on the first five runners, finished in overall 27th position."

Exeter Arena 3k Series - Race 1

2010-10-05T12:10:00.002+01:00

On Monday evening 4th October 2010 the first round of the Brooks Winter 3k Series 2010/11 commenced at the Exeter track. The event is divided into 6 separate races to reduce the number of runners on the track at one time. The overall winner of the series will be the athlete who scores best in 4 out of the 5 rounds, finishing in March 2011.

On the night in ideal conditions for racing local athlete Tom Merson stormed home to cross the finishing line first in a time of 8 minutes and 45 seconds. Representing the Harriers in the event were Andy Johnson, Roger Rowe, Dave Eveleigh, John Perratt and Les Turner.

Andy Johnson finished in a time of 11-38 with Roger Rowe finishing in a time of 11-46. Dave Eveleigh finished in a time of 13-06 and John Perratt finished in a time of 13-15. Finally, Les Turner finished in a time of 15-15. The first female runner was Felicity Elliot who finished in a time of 11-39.

(RW)

Of Burnham & Teignbridge

2010-10-05T12:06:00.002+01:00

In Somerset Last Sunday, at Burnham on Sea, a total of 344 runners took part in the half marathon event organised by the Burnham Harriers Running Club. Heavy winds and the occasional rain hit the finishing times of the competitors but seemed not to affect the three Exmouth Harrier entrants, Mike Musgrove, Adam Miller and Adrian Kearns. Mike and Adam, despite the weather conditions both managed personal best times for the distance.

The first runner to complete the course was Luke Scott of Taunton Running Club in a time of 1 hour, 12 minutes and 55 seconds.

Mike Musgrove finished in 7th position in a time of 1-21-45 with Adam directly behind in 8th position in a time of 1-22-56. Adrian Kearns finished in 14th position in a time of 1-25-56. The last runner, Natalya Bull completed the course in a time of 2-45-16.

The first female athlete in overall 10th position was Robyn Golding of Westbury Harriers in a time of 1-23-09.

In Christow again the same day the sole Exmouth Harrier in the Teign Valley Toddle was Dave Stone. This was a 10.25 mile course of scenic undulating country lanes starting and finishing at the Teign Valley Community Hall in Christow. Fortunately the strong winds and rain subsided just before the start but in places the course was under several inches of water from the over night deluge. The organisers, Teign Valley Running Club, undertook an early check of the course and had to remove several large tree branches, which had been snapped off overnight, before the race could commence.

Dave Stone notched up another victory by completing the distance in a time of 1 hour and 2 minutes.

Isabelle Baraffe of SWRR was the first female runner finishing in overall 20th position in a time of 1-20-39.

(RW)

BMAF 10 - Oldbury, Gloucestershire.

2010-10-04T07:11:00.012+01:00

[One mile to go, and overtaken by another V65]

'What might have been' again I'm afraid…

No idea of the final time (I forgot to stop my watch) or my position (5th?). But I hit 10 miles on my Garmin watch at 1:06:07 (6:36 pace). I think the course was around 10.05, so what my finish time was I'll have to wait and see. Pretty acceptable however, especially as I had an attack of cramp in my right calf and ham-string from 7.5 to the end.

A couple of weeks ago I reckoned I was capable of 1:07:33 so I am more than pleased with the time. In the V/65 category EVERYONE was there... and I think the first 6 would have beaten the 2010 top ranking time... but we shall see. I was impressed with my 5-mile time of 32:01 - feeling unpressured; and my 10k time under 40 minutes gave me a great surpise.

Dead flat of course down on the banks of the Severn, and the rain had eased although not stopped. The wind was a little troublesome in places, but not too bad. We left immediately as I was getting cold and there were NO facilities at all. I warmed down in a M5 Service area and washed and changed in the gents (why do people stare? Haven't they seen a naked man before)!

More when I get it...
Now for a decent winter to get MUCH fitter than at present…

Roger R.
PS I reckon either John or Ray would have won the V70s... even though the winner ran a new course record.

PPS I know it's name dropping, but really pleased to see old friend Ian Thompson (2:09:12 in the Commonwealth Games marathon in 1974 - STILL a Commonwealth Games Record). One piece of advice from Ian famously quoted at his 1974 peak as saying "I prefer to remain in blissful ignorance of the opposition. That way I'm not frightened by anyone's reputation". Ian's wife Margaret won the LV/55 category. At one time in the 1970s Ian and Margaret both held their respective British Records for the Marathon. THAT's never been done before or since by a married couple. Lovely people...

PPPS Official time 1:06:22, for 5th V/65.

A Marathon, a Half-Marathon... and the SEAA Road Relays (4 x 6k)

2010-09-27T11:51:00.005+01:00

Les bringing home the V50 team at Rushmoor Arena on Sunday.

Last week-end, Sunday 26th September 2010, members of the Harriers travelled far and wide to take part in races. Lyn Curtis travelled to the New Forest to run in a marathon, Andy Johnson travelled to Windsor to run in a half marathon and eight males members trekked to Aldershot to take part in the SEAA Road Relays.

At 10.30 am on Sunday, in a fully subscribed entry, Lyn Curtis lined up amongst 700 hundred runners to compete in the New Forest Marathon, 26.2 gruelling miles within the New Forest. The race started close to the Rydal Inn in Ashley and finished in the same village near to the Old Barn Inn. Lyn battled well and finished in overall 192nd position in a time 3 hour, 54 minutes and 10 seconds. The first competitor to complete the course was Rupert Shute of Reading Road Runners in a time of 2-42-49. The first female runner, in overall 46th position, was Frances Crozier in a time of 3-23-22.

The same day Andy Johnson competed in the Windsor Half Marathon, which by altering the route ran entirely within the Great Park. The course consisted of one small lap of approximately 4 miles and a second lap of approximately 7.5 miles, with the start and finish of 1.5 miles on the Long Walk. The course having changed, although still undulating, eliminated many hilly sections thus producing a faster course. Andy finished in 101st position in a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and 14 seconds. The first runner to complete the course was Scott Overall in a time of 1-03-14 and the first female runner, in overall 9th position, finished in a time of 1-17-50.

Still further east in Aldershot, the Harriers entered two male teams in the SEAA Road Relays, four stage race, one in each of the V50 and V60 age categories. This race consisted of two laps of the course covering a total of 6 kilometres which each member of the team had to complete before handing over to his team mate. In this part of the country the weather was extremely autumnal, grey wall to wall clouds with threatening rain and a cold gusting wind. The course was far from flat with many inclines, twists and turns, with the start and hand over line mid way up such an incline. The initial team member in both teams lined together alongside many other runners in the V40 age category for the start.

In the V50 age category Andy Kennedy took pole position alongside Roger Rowe in the V60 team. For the V50 team Andy finished in a time of 24 minutes and 39 seconds and handed over to Terry Oldham who completed his leg in 25-50. Terry handed over to Hugh Marsden who ran his leg in a time of 22-41. Hugh handed over to the anchor man, Les Turner who completed his leg in a time of 31-50.

In the V60 category Roger Rowe completed his leg in a time of 24 minutes and 9 seconds and handed over to Ray Elston who completed his leg in a time of 26-35. He in turn handed over to Bob Woodall who ran his leg in a time of 27-19. Bob handed over to Richard Selby who completed this last leg in a time of 25-21.

The Harriers V50 team finished in overall 17th position and the V60 team finished in overall 8th.

(RW)

Woodbury 10k Fun Run

2010-09-21T13:45:00.000+01:00

On Sunday 19th September 2010 amongst the one hundred and twenty one starters of the Woodbury 10k Fun Run eleven of the competitors sported the colours of the Exmouth Harriers. Five of those Harriers, including their partners, were from the Dupain family, who are local to the village. For the family members it was quite an eventful event as Emma finished as the first female runner and elder sister Hannah competed for the first time recent birth of her daughter, Niah. Certainly if traditions are upheld Niah Bown is a name to look out for in the future in the world of athletics.

The run was around the pretty Devon village of Woodbury with varied countryside and gradients, certainly more hilly than some runners expected, but staged in ideal weather conditions for racing. The run, organised by Barbara Woolley and her husband Paul, was in aid of the Christian Aid Partnership, raising money for Zimbabwe. Starting at the Woodbury village hall the run took the competitors around Woodbury Salterton and then back to Woodbury to finish back at the village hall.

The first runner to complete the course was Kevin Hawker of the Honiton Running Club in a time of 36 minutes and 23 seconds. For the Exmouth Harriers Mike Musgrove finished in overall second place in a time of 37-03. The other ten Exmouth Harriers followed behind Mike.

Chris Dupain finished in 7th place in a time of 41-32. Andy Kennedy finished in 10th place in a time of 43-34. Emma Dupain, the first female runner, finished in 12th place in a time of 44-35. Ben White finished in 15th place in a time of 45-59. Lee Russell finished in 29th place in a time of 48-45. Hannah Bown finished in 30th place in a time of 49-29. Nigel Dupain finished in 34th place in a time of 50-06. Joan Mason finished in 56th place in a time of 54-23. Les Turner finished in 61st place in a time of 55-27. And finally for the Exmouth Harriers Stan Mason finished in 76th place in a time of 57-45.

(RW)

Two week's results...

2010-09-14T11:49:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 4th September 2010 two Harriers were in action at two different locations, in two very different races. Chris Dupain ran in the Bristol Half Marathon and Les Turner ran in the Saltram 5k Race.

Chris in very wet conditions and despite suffering from blisters to his feet at the eleven mile marker managed to complete the race in an impressive 1 hour, 32 minutes and 22 seconds. This time knocked 90 seconds off his previous best time for the distance.

The first runner to finish the course was Edwin Kipyego in a time of 1-03-08. The first lady was Claire Hallissey of Bristol and West, in overall 35th position in a time of 1-12-02.

The last runner, in 10,964th place, was Ameer Khan, in the MV80 age category, in a time of 4-08-48.

Closer to home in the grounds of Saltram House in Plymouth, Les lined up alongside seventy three others runners to race around the estate over both smooth and rutted paths, amongst the woodlands, where the weather conditions were perfect which matched the scenery. Unfortunately Les felt exhausted before the starting gun but managed to complete the course finishing in 57th place in a time of 27 minutes and 27 seconds.

The winning runner was Afan Humphries of Swansea Road Runners in a time of 15-54. The first lady to finish, Lucy Kelvey of Newquay Road Runners, was 10th overall in a time of 19:27 and the last competitor was Amanda Moxey of Dawlish Coasters finishing in a time of 35-56.

On 8th September 2010 at the Yeovilton 5k [the last of the 2010 series] Roger Rowe, for the Harriers, competed and finished in overall 41st position in a time of 19 minutes and 10 seconds. This effort is a South West Vet's record for a Vet/65 and puts Roger in 4th place in the age category in the UK rankings for 2010.

The first runner to complete the course, on the night, was Dan Cook of Poole AC in a time of 15-22. The first female runner in overall 16th position was Jo Thompson of Team Bath in a time of 17-39.

On Sunday 12th September 2010 three Harriers, Dave Stone, Ray Elston and Kevin Lingard, lined up with the starters for the Ivybridge Beacon Challenge. This is a scenic but challenging multi-terrain race which starts and finishes in Victoria Park, Ivybridge. The course covers around 7.5 miles of woodland and moorland paths and includes the long ascent of Western Beacon with a descent to the finish.

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Dave finished in 5th position in a time of 54-01. Ray finished in 70th position in a time of 1-14-17, and despite his qualifying for the seventy year of age banding, took the 1st place in the V60 age category. Kevin finished in 91st position in a time of 1-21-29.

The first runner home was Lee Turner of Torbay AC in a time of 50-52. The first female runner, in overall 47th position was Bonny Collingborn in a time of 1-07-03 and the last runner, Richard Walters of Plymstock Road Runners, completed the course in a time of 1-46-15.

Also the same day Mike Musgrove and Dave Eveleigh of the Harriers competed in the Force 10k race held in the grounds of Powderham Castle. The event, sponsored by Francis Clark chartered accountants, started in the Castle grounds, meandered along a pathway down to Powderham Road, passed the yacht club and the church. A slight incline took the runners up to Powderham woods through which the route ventured before returning to the Castle and the end of the 10k race.

Mike was the 1st in his age category, MV40, finishing 4th overall in a time of 39-02 but admitted though that Peter Vaughan in the age group above, MV45, actually finished two places ahead of him in overall 2nd place. Also racing on the day was the famous Ron Hill who inspired many a person to take up running. Mike felt honoured to actually meet Ron and chat with the great man. Dave finished in 129th place in a time of 55-03.

The first runner to complete the course was James Wellward in a time of 36-54. The first female runner in overall 8th place was Karen Cook in a time of 44-16. Ron Hill finished in 106th place in a time of 54-08 and the last runner home was Tammy Milner in a time of 1-52-18.

Love? Or Obsession...

2010-09-09T05:54:00.002+01:00

It began, my husband likes to recall, with a quiet epiphany one work-day morning. Entombed in a Circle line carriage in yet another hold-up, he decided he could bear it no longer. “I’m not going to sit trapped underground any more when I could run to work in half the time,” he announced one evening. “I’ll buy a pair of running shoes myself a fortune on fares.” A week later, the shoes arrived, a brightly coloured pair with tiny flashes and a matching laces; nothing to hint at the obsession to come.

Come it did, around six months later, in the form of a bespoke Japanese running shoes – several pairs of which clogged up our hall, transforming my husband’s mild interest into a full-blown love affair; he calls 'them “My Beauties”.

Around the same time, new habits developed, evidence that this was about so much more than just running. The spooky appearance of rubbery latex figure-hugging wear, nestling in the laundry basket. Specialist catalogues selling ''bib shorts’’, ''gilets’’ and Lycra shorts. The endless route planning, poring over maps and note-taking before a ''big’’ trip. Then there are the physical absences each weekend morning; the alarm clock set at an obscenely early hour for a ''quick two-hour run” around Richmond Park. The frenzied training for bigger events – like the London Marathon.

Not to mention the mushrooming pile of ''memoirs’’ by his bedside like ‘Put Me Back In My Shoes’, ‘One More Kilometre And We’re In The Showers’ and Jeff Galloway’s “Running until you’re 100”. So what, from a female perspective, is it about? I guess the clues are in the buzzwords on their covers – ''willpower’’, ''inspiration’’, ''endurance’’, ''pain’’. Running isn’t inherently macho but it does have an element of suffering and purgatorial challenge that appeals to a certain male psyche. It is about escape – freedom from family; seizing time to be solitary, beyond responsibility. Not an easy concept to embrace when you’re the Running widow left to look after small children.

I’ve grown to accept that my husband, although not an extreme case (he hasn’t shaved his legs yet) is touched with Running-Obsession Syndrome, a sorry affliction identified by Matt Seaton, author of The Escape Artist, which charts his love of Running. “I got the bug in my twenties but it can strike at any time. I suspect there is a mid-life crisis element. It is also romantic; getting in touch with that first taste of independence from your parents when you were a kid.”

Seaton agrees, even though an increasing number of women enjoy Running, that it can create friction in a relationship. “My partner can resent my devotion and focus,” says Seaton. “Even though I try to keep a lid on it, it definitely grates with her.” Adjusting to a partner’s sudden new-found love can also be more difficult than accommodating it from the start of a relationship. “I’ve got a friend who’s a born-again runner in middle-age,” he says. “And I get the feeling his partner can hardly bear to look at me because she blames me.”

Seaton says one way forward is Running as a couple. “My husband definitely wants to get me more involved,” shudders one friend whose husband has six pairs of running shoes. “I nearly screamed when he asked if I’d like to have a quiet jog with him. He’s got a stationary frame now with a Running video game so he can train in the garage – alone.” Another Running widow complains that her husband gets up earlier and earlier to go to work: “He takes a detour through Kent before he gets to the City.” They live in Balham.

Not that these are habits you can attempt to alter, especially with the moral high ground on their side. Running is the fastest-growing ‘mode of transport’ in cities. Running is green, civilised and healthy.

So I don’t carp about my dear husband’s passion, the time it takes from other family activities, or the money, not to mention the unsightly appearance of him dressed oddly each weekend morning.

Instead, I have gamely tried to join him. In an attempt to bridge the great divide, I gingerly agreed to run to work with him during the recent Tube strike. He waited patiently while I puffed and wheezed across Hyde Park, and we ran together to Oxford Circus. I sensed it was a triumph for him; another converted soul. I even agreed on a trip to Richmond. Just don’t mention the London Marathon.

Emma Cook (Originally published in the Daily Telegraph – 17-Jun-09)

Ron Hill - 2:09:28

2010-09-03T05:46:00.001+01:00

A pleasant morning pretty well guaranteed I would think...

Trains, and Forests and... Lustleigh.

2010-08-31T16:26:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 21st August 2010, whilst enjoying the countryside of Wales, Hugh Marsden and Dawn Teed, of the Harriers, took part in the annual Race the Train. This takes place alongside, as far as practicable, the route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back, covering some 14 miles. In order to do this all courses use a mixture of public roads, lanes, un-metalled roads, tracks, agricultural land, and rough grazing pastures. The terrain varies all the time and can be very wet & muddy in places. The routes also ascend and descend quite steep terrain and runs on narrow footpaths with little chance of overtaking.

Hugh finished in 30th position in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes and 58 seconds, both beating the train and taking the third place in the MV50 age category.

Dawn completed the course in 470th position in a valiant time of 2-10-23.

The first athlete to complete the course was Gareth Raven of Sale Harriers in a time of 1-20-22.overall winner. The first female to complete the course was Amanda Wright-Smith of Birchfield Harriers, in overall 47th position, in a time of 1-37-08. In all nearly eight hundred runners completed the exhusting course with the last runner crossing the line some 4 hours, 43 minutes and 6 seconds after starting the run.

On Friday evening 27th August 2010 the Dawlish Coasters hosted the Forest Flyer, a race around five miles of forest tracks, paths and fire tracks of Haldon Forest Park. Amongst the starters were, for the Harriers, Mike Musgrove, Les Turner and Dan Morley. The racing conditions were perfect with pleasantly cool air and a reasonably dry, moderately firm course. Unfortunately at this time there are no results available, but the three Harriers were each pleased with their time in which they completed the course. For the Harriers Mike finished first of the trio followed some way behind by Dan and Les. Unfortunately their overall placings and times are still unknown.

Sunday 28th August 2010 saw the start of the Lustleigh Show 10k race which started at the Lustleigh Show ground and continued around a mixed terrain route, split between road, forest trails and footpaths. About one hundred and fifty runners lined up for the start including, for the Harriers, Jon Croom, Lorraine Croom, Andy Kennedy, John Perratt and Mick Allen. After completing the hilly course in warm and sunny conditions the quintet finished in the order Jon, Andy, Lorraine, John and Mick. Once again their overall placings and times are unknown.

Unfortunately due to the week-end being a Bank Holiday no results are available at this time for the latter two events.

(RW)

Dalwood Fayre 10k

2010-08-25T08:54:00.001+01:00

On Wednesday evening 18th August 2010 Mark Thompson, representing the Harriers, competed in the Dalwood Fayre 10k race which was part of the East Devon Community Race Series. The race was multi-terrain and, as the name suggests, was approximately ten kilometres in length along fields, tracks and roads around the village of Dalwood.

The first runner to complete the course was Alex Todd of Axe Valley Runners who finished in a time of 39 minutes and 49 seconds.

Mark finished in 16th position in a time of 45-23.

The first female runner, in overall 13th position, was Caroline Hewitt of Tiverton Harriers in a time of 44-33.

The last runner to cross the finishing line was Marilyn Hughes of Axe Valley Runners in a time of 62-32.

Torbay Regatta 10k

2010-08-23T08:28:00.002+01:00

At 7pm on Sunday 22nd August 2010 a host of runners lined up along side the four Harriers, Andrew Johnson, Roger Rowe, John Perratt and Joan Mason, for the start of the Torbay Royal Regatta 10k Race. The race was full with 650 entrants so the start at the Pavilion Theatre Torquay was very crowded. Unfortunately the weather was far from kind. A drizzle was falling for about an hour before the start but with just twenty minutes to go the heavens opened with a monsoon type deluge. So much rain fell that the drainage system was unable to clear the water so some areas of the race line were flooded, much to the enjoyment of the odd water baby.

After tracking Roger Rowe for the whole race, Andrew Johnson surged past in the last 100 metres to pip his old training partner by just 8 seconds. Andrew finished in overall 75th position in a time of 41-21. Roger Rowe finished in 80th position in a time of 41-29. Roger took the first place in the M65/69 age category, over seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival. John Perratt finished in overall 167th position in a time of 46-34 and was the first in the M70+ age category. Like Roger he also was over 7 minutes ahead of his near age rival. Joan finished in overall 333rd position in a time if 53-01, well up the finishing order in her category, but unfortunately outside the first three places.

The first athlete to cross the finishing line was Kairn Stone of the Newham and Essex Beagles in a time of 31-34.

The first female athlete was Jo Meek of Tavistock AC in overall 20th place in a time of 36-55.

The last competitor was Stanley Lloyd who finished in a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes and 49 seconds, taking the 586th place.

In such adverse weather conditions the organisers performed miraculously to record any finishing times and the camaraderie in the changing rooms was amazing where such appalling conditions brings the best out of all the athletes.

(RW & RR)

Yeovilton 5k, Jurassic Coast 10k & the Sticklepath Horseshoe Fell Race

2010-08-17T10:07:00.003+01:00

On Wednesday evening 12th August 2010 Roger Rowe, competing in his first 5k race for almost two years, was the sole entrant from the Harriers amongst the 181 finishers in the latest round of the Yeovilton Summer 5k Series. In Roger's own words "the course is flat, fast and frenetic".

The start is close to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton in Heathcote Road. The runners head off east before taking the left turn toward Podimore. At the top of this lane at the junction with the A30 the course takes another left turn in Podimore village, where the course heads back to Heathcote Road. Again at Heathcote Road the course take another left before passing the start line and finishes in the grounds of the Recreation Ground off Heathcote Road.

The first competitor to cross the finishing line was Ian Habgood of Bournemouth AC in a time of 15 minutes and 16 seconds.

The first female athlete to complete the course was Laura Parker of Wells City Harriers in a time of 16-59. Laura was in overall 10th position.

Roger Rowe finished in 62nd position in a time of 19-44, taking the first place in the MV60 age category.

On Saturday 14th August 2010 just a lone Harrier, namely Andy Kennedy, took part in the Jurassic Coast 10k and was amongst the 252 eventual finishers.

The run commended on the seafront at Lime Kiln Car Park, in Budleigh Salterton, and joined the footpath heading north along the mouth of River Otter. After 3 kilometres the runners crossed the River Otter at Clamour Foot Bridge and joined the rural path heading east until it reached the coast path at Crab ledge where the course turned south. The undulating Coast Path was followed for a further 5 kilometres. Here, where the river joins the sea, the coast path heads north enabling the runners to recross the River Otter at White Bridge. From here the course followed the footpath south retracing the first stage of the run back to Lime Kiln Car Park.

The first runner to complete the course was Joseph Deveau in a time of 35 minutes and 46 seconds.

The first female runner to pass the finishing line, in overall 16th place, was Katrina Rye in a time of 40-17.

For the Harriers, Andy Kennedy, finished in 33rd place in a time 44-30.

At 1.00pm on the same day the Sticklepath Horseshoe Fell Race, which is 9.6 miles in length and includes 1700 feet of ascent, got underway upon Dartmoor around the Taw Valley. The husband and wife duo of Jon and Lorraine Croome represented the Exmouth Harriers along with eighty two other starters.

The runners started and finished in Sticklepath Village, Devon, in a field on the moor (ie. south) side of the old A30 road (main road through the village), close to the foundry and the Devonshire Inn. Apart from the start/finish there were six manned check points which had to be visited enroute, in a designed sequence. In addition to visiting the check points, there were supplementary mandatory route requirements, pertaining to both the safety of the runners and the satisfaction of landowners.

The route took in Belstone Tor, Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor, Hound Tor and Cosdon, culminating in a frantic descent to the finish in Stikclepath village. For their efforts all finishers were awarded a bottle of cider open which to feast whilst recovering.

The first runner to navigate and complete the course was Andy Vallance in a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. For the Harriers Jom Croome finished in 12th place in a time of 1-27-26 and lorraine finished 43rd in a time of 1-45-20. The first female competitor to cross the line was Sharon Daw in overall 20th place in a time of 1-31-17.

(RW)

Summer 5k & Sidmouth 10k

2010-08-11T10:16:00.004+01:00

On warm balmy evening on Tuesday 3rd August 2010 a trio of Harriers lined up amongst the seventy-four athletes competing in the latest round in the Saucony Summer 5k series, namely, Andy Johnson, Cathy Newman and Jim Wyatt. Both Cathy and Jim had raced just two days earlier in the Totnes 10K where they produced impressive finishing times.

On the night the first athlete to cross the finishing line was Matthew Clarke of the SW Road Runners in a time of 16 minutes and 15 minutes.

The first female athlete to cross the finishing line in overall 11th position was Lucy Commander, also of SWRR in a time of 18-17.

Cathy Newman finished in 17th position in a time of 19-12, taking the first place in the female 45 age category.on the night.

Andy Johnson finished in 23rd position in a time of 19-40 and Jim Wyatt completed the trio in 54th position in a time of 23-59.

The last athlete to complete the course was Louise Crathorne in a time of 32-59.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

On a cooler Sunday 8th August 2010 Sidmouth Running Club hosted the Sidmouth Festival 10k Run with over two hundred runners lined up at the start just above Jacob's Ladder, facing the immediate steep ascent to Peak Hill. At the starting gun the more serious runners sprinted up the hill in an attempt to take the first prize in the one kilometre ascent of the hill to its summit. Beyond the hill lay the relative flat route through Mutters Moor before the course again ascends to Stoney Hill following the footpath and via a dog leg to the summit of Bulverton Hill. Despite the recent long dry period there were muddy stretches and in a couple of places large puddles that needed to be avoided. Along this ascent the great vista of Sidmouth to the east could be experienced. Having reached the top the runners then descended through woods back to Bulverton Bottom and through Graystone Plantations. Finally back at Peak Hill the daunting descent took the runners back to the finishing line at the same place they started some time previous.

The first runner to complete the course was Mateusz Szala of Sidmouth Running Club in a time of 38 minutes and 25 seconds.

The first female runner to complete the course in overall 35th position was Laura Brenton of Southampton RC in a time of 47-26.

The first Harrier to complete the course was Dave Stone in 4th position, taking the second place in the MV40 age category, in a time of 39-35. Although positioning this was one place behind his last years result Dave's time was nearly two minutes faster.

Hugh Marsden finished in 12th position, taking the first prize in the MV50 age category, in a time of 41-39.

Adam Miller finished in 20th position in a time of 43-35. Chris Dupain finished in 37th position in a time of 47-35. Emma Dupain finished in 44th position in a time of 49-20, immediately in ahead of Ben White, in 45th position, who finished in a time of 49-22

Richard Selby finished in 48th position, taking the second place in the MV60 age category, in a time of 49-50.

Terry Oldham finished in 62nd position in a time of 51-12. Andy Kennedy finished in 69th position in a time of 51-43.

Ray Elston finished in 103rd position, taking the first place in the MV70 age category, in a time of 54-38. This time being over two minutes faster than last year.

Lucy Hodgson finished in 115th position in a time of 55-56. Lorraine Gilson finished in 128th position in a time of 57-12. Nigel Dupain finished in 138th position in a time of 58-55. Lee Russell finished in 141st position in a time of 59-39. Les Turner finished in 169th position in a time of 63-29. Nicky Crook finished in 171st position in a time of 64-02.

Mick Allen completed the Exmouth Harrier contingent in 182nd position in a time of 65-56.

The last runner to cross the finishing line was Sean Donner in 204th position in a time of 1 hour, 28 minutes and 28 seconds.

Totnes 10k

2010-08-02T14:16:00.006+01:00

On Sunday 1st August 2010 sixteen members of the Harriers lined up with 531 runners competing in the increasingly popular Totnes 10k race and between them won six separate places in the various age categories, as well as the second place in the male team category.

From the novel starting rocket the athletes set off at a blistering pace to complete the half lap around the sports field before negotiating the tight, twisting exit from Borough Park. The slightly undulating route then follows the course of the River Dart with the underfoot conditions varying from tarmac path to compacted grass tufted soil before, close to the half way point of the race, ascending steeply through woodland. This steep ascent is further complicated by the odd muddy puddle and numerous obstacle tree roots. Once the hill has been ascended a fast downhill section of narrow concrete lay ahead where the pace again picks up. The second water station is reached where much need fluid is provided. Further undulating areas are negotiated before the course re-emerges to the bank of the River Dart. The route then returns along the outward leg of the race and re-enters the Borough Park. With the finishing line in sight many athletes manage to draw upon their last reserves to produce a sprint finish to the line.

The first athlete to complete the course, in a record breaking time of 34 minutes and 57 seconds, was James Baker of Chichester Runners & AC.

The first Harrier home was Dave Stone, in overall 10th position, in a time of 37-58 taking the 2nd place in the MV40 age category.

Hugh Marsden finished in 16th position in a time of 40-05, taking the 1st place in the MV50 age category.

Jamie Pearson finished in 19th position in a time of 40-49.

Cathy Newman finished in 37th position in a time of 43-37, taking the 2nd place in the FV45 age category.

Ed Shutt finished in 60th position in a time of 46-14, taking the 3rd place in the MV55 age category.

Andy Kennedy finished in 74th position in a time of 47-13.

Roger Rowe finished in 76th position in a time of 47-22, taking the 1st place in the MV65 age category.

Ben White finished in 85th position in a time of 48-03.

Emma Dupain finished in 98th position in a time of 48-50.

Bob Woodall finished in 106th position in a time of 49-14.

John Perratt finished in 120th position in a time of 49-47, taking the 1st place in the MV70 age category, beating his previous record in the category which he set last year.

Ray Elston finished in 126th position in a time of 50-32, taking the 2nd place in the MV70 age category.

Ted Bloomfield finished in 157th position in a time of 52-28.

Jim Wyatt finished in 175th position in a time of 53-19.

Dawn Teed finished in 180th position in a time of 53-28.

Nigel Dupain completed the Harrier contingent by finishing in 230th position in a time of 55-56.

The first female runner, in overall 17th position, was Nicola Brookland, representing Bristol and West AC, who completed the course in a time of 40-19.

The last runner to complete the course was Linda Myles of the Women's Running Network in a time of 1 hour 53 minutes and 15 seconds.

(RW)

PS I am informed by the race director that the course is actually 6.4 miles...

(RR)

Tavy, Chudleigh, Saltash & Haytor

2010-07-19T15:45:00.003+01:00

Over the course of the end of last week members of the Harriers competed in no less than 4 races, either as individuals or as part of a relay team. Of particular note were the performances of Jamie Pearson, Adam Miller and Hugh Marsden who were members of the Exmouth Harrier relay team who took third place in the Tavistock Town relays. Jamie and Adam then, the following evening, as individuals took the overall 6th place and 15th place respectively in the Chudleigh Carnival 6 Mile Road Race in an impressive times of 33 minutes and 14 seconds and 34-57. Hugh raced three days later and completed in the Haytor Hellor finishing 8th in an impressive time of 44-59.

On Thursday 15th July 2010 on an evening which saw gale force winds and torrential rain the Tavistock Town Relays were held. Only just as the weather conditions were so atrocious that the organisers were considering abandoning the event. However, battling through, 31 teams of four athletes each of whom completed a 1.1 mile lap participated. The first team to complete the event was from Tavistock AC in a time of 20 minutes and 45 seconds.

The Exmouth Harrier team finished in 3rd place in a time of 22-16. Dave Stone completed the first leg in a time of 5-25, and handed over to Hugh Marsden who completed the leg in 5-45. Adam Miller completed the third leg in a time of 5-37 and Jamie completed the team and their race in a time of 5-29.

The first all female team completed the event in overall 15th place in a time of 27-27.

In the evening of Friday 16th July 2010 four members of the Harriers participated in the Chudleigh Carnival 6 Mile Road Race. The race started at the Bishop Lacy public house before heading out of town around the lanes of Chudleigh before retuning to public house for the finish. This is an extremely hilly course. The first athlete to complete the course was Lee Turner of the Torbay AC in a time of 31-14.

For the Exmouth Harriers contingent Jamie Pearson finished first in overall 6th position in a time 33-14. Mike Musgrove finished in overall 8th position in a time of 33-48. Adam Miller finished in overall 15th position in a time of 34-57. Katie Cromer completed the Harrier quartet finishing in 83rd position in a time of 46-10.

The first female athlete was Joe Meek of the Tavistock AC who finished in 12th position in a time of 34-30. The last competitor was Michelle Emmerson in a time of 74-29.

On Saturday 18th July 2010 just the single athlete from the Harriers competed in the Saltash Magnificent 7. The 7 mile race follows a tough, well marshalled and accurate course through country lanes with good views over the Tamar Estuary. In the words of the organiser, "the course is not easy by any means but you will enjoy it".

The first athlete to complete the course was Peter Ellis of Hayle Runners in a time of 39-42. Andy Kennedy for Exmouth Harriers finished in 84th position in a time of 51-19.

The first female athlete was Emma Stallard in overall 10th position in a time of 44-04.

Finally on Sunday 18th July 2010 four Harriers competed in the Haytor Hellor. This popular, well established, moorland race starts below Haytor Rock and follows a hilly circular route before returning once again to Haytor Rock with a fast downhill finale to the finish opposite the middle car park at Haytor. The approx. 6 mile course is challenging with several steep ascents and descents and is generally run across rugged, open moorland, apart from two sections through woodland; firstly below Hound Tor and secondly below Haytor which includes a stream crossing.

The first athlete to complete the course was James Baker of Chichester Runners AC in a time of 40-09. In 8th position, the first Harrier, was Hugh Marsden in a time of 44-59. Hugh took the first place in the MV50 age category. Jim Wyatt finished in 125th position in a time of 62-21, taking the third place in the MV60 age category.

Dawn Teed finished in 155th position in a time of 65-15. Kevin Lingard completed the Exmouth quartet in 165th position in a time of 66-63.

The first female athlete was Lucy Commander in overall 20th position in a time of 47-11.

Charmouth Challenge & Exe 5k Series & Otter Valley Rail & River Run

2010-07-13T14:00:00.003+01:00

On Saturday, 3rd July, seven Harriers were among the 232 runners who completed the gruelling Charmouth Challenge, the most southerly fell race in England. The 8 mile course goes through some of the finest coastal scenery in the South West and includes an ascent of Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast of England at 191m.

The race was won by Stuart Leaney in 52 minutes and 12 seconds. Hugh Marsden ran superbly to lead the Harriers home as 2nd V50 and 7th overall in 58:26. Mike Musgrove also had a great race to come 1st V40 and 8th overall in 59:08, followed by Adam Miller in 16th place in 1:01:30. Terry Oldham was 77th in 1:13:17, with Andy Kennedy 91st in 1:15:18.

The 1st lady to finish was Lin Lascelles of Maiden Newton Runners, 28th overall in 1:04:59. The Exmouth ladies were Dawn Teed, 178th overall in 1:29:11, followed immediately by Lorraine Gilson, 179th in 1:29:12. The last runner home was Chris Howell in 2:49:08.

Three Harriers competed in Round 2 of The Run Exe Summer 5K Series at Flowerpots, Exwick, on Tuesday 6th July, on a very pleasant evening with a light west wind and good support for the event. The winner was Exmouth runner Tom Merson, running superbly for Bristol & West A C, in a time of 15 minutes and 27 seconds, over a minute faster than the runner-up.

Andy Johnson was the first Harrier to finish, 2nd M45 and 24th overall in 19:41. Jim Wyatt had an excellent race for 1st M65 and 52nd overall in 23:22 and Dave Eveleigh was 53rd in 23:37.

Jo Meek of Tavistock A C was the 1st lady home in 13th place overall in 18:34. The last of the 68 runners to finish was Elizabeth Pugh in 33:09.

The Otter Valley Rail & River Run took place on Saturday, 10th July. This approximately 10K multi terrain race is mostly off-road on tracks, footpaths and fields. The scenic, undulating route starts at Tipton St John Playing Field and heads towards the hamlets of Venn Ottery and Fluxton, and back into Tipton. It then follows the old railway line between Tipton St John and Harpford, returning via the banks of the winding River Otter to finish back on the playing field.

The race was won by John McFarlane of Thames Hare & Hounds in 37:07 and the 1st lady to finish was Eleanor Wood of Axe Valley Runners in 45:09. The 1st of the two Harriers to complete the race was Andy Kennedy, 18th in 45:49. John Perratt was 1st M70 and 41st overall in 50:18. Finally, Harry Moore of Axe Valley Runners was the last to finish, 113th overall in 1:39:13.

(LT)

Beat the Bus... and Erme Valley Relays

2010-07-06T18:12:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone,

While Bob is away sunning himself in Turkey, I've drawn the short straw for producing the press reports.

On Wednesday 30th June, Sidmouth Running Club held a new event, the Beat the Bus Race, which starts at Otterton Green and runs through two fields, crossing a road before ascending the hills to High Peak and down towards Sidmouth, before returning to the Green in Otterton.

95 runners completed the race and 58 of them succeeded in beating the bus. The winner was Graham Hill of Sidmouth Running Club in a time of 39:43. Four Exmouth Harriers competed in the race and the first to finish was Pete McKeown in 8th place in 42:39. Next came Jon Croome, 10th in 43:02, followed by Lorraine Croome, 35th in 50:36. John Perratt was 46th in 54:22, so all four beat the Stagecoach No. 157 bus that took 57:06. The first lady to finish was Angel Felix in 43:44 and the last runner home was Peggy Snell in 1:51:30.

This year, Exmouth Harriers fielded five out of the total of 67 teams who took part in the 4 x 2 ½ miles Erme Valley Road Relays at Ivybridge on Friday, 2nd July. The men’s race was won by Torbay A C ‘A’ in a total time of 52:40 and Torbay also won the ladies event in a team time of 65:01, making it a great night for the club. The Torbay anchor man, Lee Turner, also recorded the fastest leg of the evening with 12:44, making it even better.

The fastest lady was Jo Meek (14:14) in the Tavistock mixed team and the first pub/village was Ugborough with a team time of 69:07.

Exmouth Harriers men’s V40 team (57:34) of Dave Stone (13:19), Hugh Marsden (14:17), Mark Thompson (15:28) and Mike Musgrove (14:30) received the award for the 2nd men’s team. They finished ahead of the Exmouth men’s team (60:09) of Ben White (17:11), Adam Miller (14:09), Chris Dupain (15:04) and Dave Stone (13:45), who were 5th in the category.

Exmouth’s men’s V50 team (67:46) of Terry Oldham (16:51), Richard Selby (16:41), Hugh Marsden (15:11) and John Perratt (19:03) were 4th.

The amazing reign of the Exmouth men’s V60 team finally came to an end, but only just! Having won on all the previous 7 occasions since the category was introduced in 2003, they failed to make it eight out of eight, when they were finally beaten by the excellent but much younger team from South West Road Runners (69:29). The Exmouth supervets’ ages now range from 65 to 73 (average 69!!) and their time was 71:46 (Jim Wyatt 19:04, John Perratt 18:06, Ray Elston 17:53 and Roger Rowe 16:43). If, however, the impending 60th birthday of Richard Selby had been just 3 weeks earlier, his time would have contributed to a V60 team time of 69:23 that would have beaten the victorious South West Road Runners time by 6 seconds!! Just 3 weeks on a total of 276 years!

Last but not least, on to the Exmouth ladies team who were 5th in the category in 74:22 (Emma Dupain 16:52, Lorraine Gilson 19:16, Dawn Teed 19:25 and Katie Comer 18:49).

The last team to finish was the Instinctive Sports men’s V60 team in 94:05.

Best wishes,

Les

SW Vets -- Festival 5 -- Killerton Kanter

2010-06-28T09:54:00.004+01:00

The South West Veterans Track and Field Championships
On Sunday 20th June 2010 four Exmouth Harriers competed in the South West Veterans Track and Field Championships. Each of the club members completed remarkable performances on such a hot and sticky day, between them taking several first and one second place in differing disciplines.

Dave Eveleigh took first place in the 10,000 metre race, M55 age category, in a time of 52 minutes and 34 seconds, going on to complete a total distance of 11 374 metres in a one hour period.

Andy Kennedy took first place in the same distanced race in the M50 age category, in a time of 43 minutes, 15.1 seconds.

Les Turner took second place in the 100 metre race, M65 age category, in a time of 18.6 seconds, just one second behind the winner. He also took first place in the 200 metre race, M65 age category, in a time of 36.7 seconds. Of the field events Les took first place in the long jump event, M65 age category, and second place in the triple jump with a distance of 6.80 metres, just 10mm ahead of his rival in second place.

John Perratt took first place in the 200 metre race, M70 age category, in a time of 35.5 seconds. He also took first place in the 1,500 metre race, M70 age category, in a time of 6 minutes and 31.1 seconds. With energy to spare John went on to win the 5,000 metre race, in his age category, in a time of 22-50.6.

Turning his attention to the field events John Perratt took the first place in the pentathlon, in the V70 age category, after completing the five disciplines, of long jump, javelin, 200 metre race, discus and finally the 1,500 metre race.

Already with next years championships in sight John will train a bit harder and compete in a few more disciplines (!)

Festival 4
"On a warm evening on Wednesday 23rd June 2010 Ironbridge Runners hosted the "Festival 4", a race in aid of Prostrate Cancer. The race, in actual fact just over four miles in length, is a single circuit on the south side of the River Exe starting from the weir below the Keys in Exeter. From the start the route follows the course of the river and heads out toward the coast where at the Swing bridge the athletes immerge onto Bridge Road. Here they turn right for a few metres along the footpath before turning right back along a path. This leads back to the finish roughly parallel to the outward journey. A level course with some tight turns and hazards of pedestrians and cyclists to avoid. After a warning to the runners to be aware of cattle on the course the race started watched and cheered on by many supporters.

Four Exmouth Harriers competed in the event, Andy Johnson, John Perratt, Jim Wyatt and Les Turner.

The eventual winner was a local Exmouth based athlete Tom Merson, running in the colours of Bristol and West, who complete the course in a impressive time of 21 minutes and 50 seconds, finishing over one minute ahead of the second placed runner.

The first female athlete was Lucy Commander of South West Road Runners in a time of 25-56.

Andy Johnson led the Exmouth Harrier contingent home in overall 23rd place in a time of 28-20.

John Perratt was the first, and only runner, in the V70 age category, finishing in overall 55th place in a time of 31-27.

Jim Wyatt finished in overall 81st position, taking the second place in the V65 age category, in a time of 33-54, followed by Les Turner who took the overall 129th position in a time of 39-10. Les took the 3rd place in the V65 age category.

Killerton Kanter
"At 6pm on Saturday 26th June 2010, yet another warm summers evening, over one hundred athletes took part in the Killerton Kanter hosted by Mount Bay Harriers, Triathlon and Running Club. An undulating ten kilometre cross country race around the grounds of Killerton House. The first one and one half kilometres proved very rough under foot with the next, similar distance being very dusty. There after the route proved to rise and fall as it made its way through the shade of the woods. The down hill stretch to the finished followed the course of a twisting path.

This race was attended by four Exmouth Harriers, Mike Musgrove, Adam Miller, Jim Wyatt and Dawn Teed. Unfortunately for Mike Musgrove he set off at a fast pace, along with another runner. Mike looked that he was likely to take the winning spot but somehow managed to take a wrong turn along the course and therefore excluded from the finishing results.

The first place was awarded to Kerry Roberts, from the Tiverton Harriers, who completed the course in a time of exactly 40 minutes.
Adam Miller finished in overall 5th position in a time of 41-13.

The first female athlete to complete the course was Magdalen Miller, in overall 22nd place, of the North Devon Road Runners in a time of 45-36.

Jim Wyatt finished in 68th position in a time of 54-23, he being the 5th in the V60 age category. Dawn Teed completed the Exmouth set finishing in 89th position in a time of 57-40 and being 7th in the FV45 age category.

(RW)

Dave Stone goes on and on...

2010-06-23T07:54:00.002+01:00

On Father's Day, an exceptionally hot day, Sunday 20th June 2010, Dave Stone convinced his family that participating in the Over the Hill and Farway 10k all terrain race took priority in the morning. And well he did, finishing the overall winner, some two and one half minutes ahead of his nearest rival, in an impressive time of 37 minutes and 45 serconds. This is only the second such race organised by the Farway Primary School, abley assisted by Alan Rowe of the Honiton Running Club, and Dave is now the course record holder, having knocked over a minute off the origin race winning time.

The course is basically a figure of eight starting just before the village hall on the outskirts of the village of Farway, between Honiton and Colyton. The route heads off in a westerly direction, increasing in altitiude slightly all the way, passing the War Memorial and Thorn Farm where the route takes a right turn along a farm track toward Netherton Hall.

About one and a half kilometres from the start the course takes a sharp left turn back onto the road way where the incline rises sharply over Culver and Warren Hills. Right at Bucknole Cross and the route follows the road down hill to the T junction south of Northleigh Village. A right turn takes the runners toward Northleigh Farm to Suddon Lane. A left turn takes the runners to Farway Cross, again ascending a steady climb. At the top of the incline a sharp left turn brings them back along Colyton Road to Northleigh. The first left in the village climbs again for a short distance then passes the Church where the course again passes Northleigh Farm.

This time at Suddon Cross the runners turn right and follow the road back to the finish in front of the village hall. A spectator at the event said that "Dave was flying" and Dave himself, that evening, admitted that the race was hard, very hilly and hot."

(RW)

Dave Stone wins Ultimate Marathon

2010-06-08T11:57:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 5th June 2010 Dave Stone, the sole entrant for the Harriers, was again giving a display of his running talents at the Dartmoor Discovery Road Race. This race is an ultra marathon over 32 miles of, as the name suggests, Dartmoor.

On a hot and virtually windless day the race started in Prince Town before heading out toward Two Bridges and then Ashburton. From there the route turned back toward Widecoombe in the Moore and then Post Bridge before finishing as the start at Prince Town. Much of the route was without shade and it was particularly humid so the many water stations provided much needed replenishing fluids.

Dave started well but was concerned as the lead runner opened a large gap early on in the race. Maintaining his discpline Dave ignored this overly fast start and continued at his own pace. Although he was informed that at one stage he was trailing over a mile behind the lead runner Dave raced on ever closing the gap and eventually overtook the front runner. At his own blistering pace Dave eventually finished the race taking first place in a time of 3 hours, 50 minutes and 53 seconds, nine minutes ahead of the second placed runner.

This, his, latest achievement was one minute faster than the last time he won the race, six years ago. Age does not seem to be having an adverse effect on our local athlete.

The first woman to complete the race was Helen Taranoski of the West Four Harriers in a time of 4-18-46.

The last runner home, in 130th position, was Patricia Seabrook of Finch Coasters who finished in a time of 7-57-34.

At mid-day on the same day Axe Valley Runners organised, in co-operation with Talaton Villiage Day, the Talaton Trotter in which four Exmouth Harriers competed. This race is approximately 6.5 miles in length, largely off-road following fields, footpaths, woods and country lanes. The race started from the site of the show field in Talaton between Honiton and Exeter. The race attracked many good quality runners, especially the contingent from Exmouth Harriers.
The first athlete to complete the course was Jake Waldron of the South West Road Runners in a recorded time of 45 minutes and 28 seconds.

The first lady home was Emma Hitchins also of the SWRR in overall 8th position in a recorded time of 50-58.

Andy Johnson led the Exmouth Harriers home in overall 12th position in a recorded time of 53-17, followed by Andy Kennedy in overal 19th position in a recorded time of 55-30.

Emma Dupain finished in overall 39th position in a time of 59-38. John Perratt, actually running in the Sidmouth colours, finished in overall 56th position in a time off 1 hour 6minutes and 1 second, taking the first prize in the V70 age category.

The athlete to complete the course was Jenny Adams of Wells City Harriers in overall 94th position in a recoded time of 1-20-48.

Earlier in the week on Tuesday 1st June 2010 Ironbridge Runners held the first event in "The Run Exe Summer Series". Amongst the eighty competitors were three Exmouth Harriers, Andy Johnson, Dave Eveleigh and Jim Wyatt.

The course was change slightly from previous years to around the River Exe overflow which had to be shared with cyclists, dog walkers and ducks. On a warm, sunny evening with a brisk northerly wind the runners started their 5k race which consisted of two laps of a flat tarmac surface.

The first runner to complete the race was Jack Bancroft of Exeter University AC in a time of 15 minutes and 44 seconds.

The first female athlete in overall 14th position was Lucy Kelvey of Newquay RR in a time of 18-29.

Andy Johnson was the first Exmouth Harrier to cross the finishing line in 26th place in a time of 19-29. Dave Eveleigh finished in 60th place in a time of 24-20 followed immediately behind in 61st place by Jim Wyatt in a time of 24-25.
In last place, in 80th position, was Amy Heywood of Run in England who recorded a finishing time of 35-24.

(RW)

Plymouth Half Marathon

2010-06-01T08:13:00.003+01:00

At 9am, bright and early on Sunday 30th May 2010 three Harriers, Hugh Marsden, Dawn Teed and Trevor Cope lined up with four thousand, seven hundred and twenty eight runners to take part in the Plymouth Half Marathon. Their heads concentrating on the gruelling thirteen point one miles of tarmac ahead of them and the Cornish pasties awaiting them at the finishing line.

The race started on the Hoe, the site of the famous Beatles photograph from the sixties in the shadow of Smeaton's Tower (the lighthouse in the photo for non-Plymothians), with a circuit of the Citadel and harbour area before heading west along the main road through Prince Rock toward the river Plym. Immediately after crossing the river a sharp left turn took the runners along the eastern bank of the river, and just over four miles into the race the long ascent of nearly a mile into Saltram Park started. After exiting the park at the hill's peak the runners took a right turn and descended along Haye Road to the A379 Elburton Road and back toward the city centre. Once again the runners crossed the river Plym and followed the road around Sutton Pool (the most ancient part of Plymouth) via Coxside, passed the Citadel where a right turn took them back to the Hoe. With the tantalising finishing line in sight a final loop around the Hoe was endured before the athletes crossed the finishing line on the Hoe Promenade itself.

The first runner to complete the race was Jean [John] Ndayisenga of the Birchfield Harriers in a recorded time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, forcing local athlete Kairn Stone into second place. The first female runner to cross the finishing line, in overall 23rd place, was Yimenashu Taye, unattached runner, in a time of 1-19- 21.

Hugh Marsden led the Harrier's trio home in overall 33rd place in a recorded time of 1-22-46. His valiant efforts won him the first place in the V50 age category.

Dawn Teed finished in overall 1802nd place in a recorded time of 1-59-35. Trevor Cope finished in overall 3257th place in a recorded time of 2-15-23.

The last runner to complete the course was Priscilla Rowe in a time of 4-19-46. The distance and hot weather conditions forced 37 runners to abandon their attempts to complete the race.

(RW)

Edinburgh & Crediton

2010-05-25T12:18:00.002+01:00

In the morning of Sunday 23rd May 2010 three intrepid members of the Harriers, Ben White, Ben Dupain and Emma Dupain, lined up amongst the 23000 entrants for the Edinburgh Marathon. At the start, just outside Holyrood Park, the temperature was high with even higher temperatures expected before the completion of the 26 miles and 385 yard course. Following the starting gun the runners made there way to the estuary of the Firth of Forth. An easterly direction took them along the embankment to Gosforth House before turning about and finally finishing at the Musselburgh Race Course. All the Harriers completed the course under four hours.

Chris Dupain led the trio, coming home in overal 2395th position in a time of 3 hours and 56 minutes and 54 seconds, a personal best time, followed closely by Ben White, in 2544th position and Emma Dupain, in 2545th position, both of who recorded the same finishing time of 3-58-30. Ben also completed the course in a personal best time.

All runners were very pleased to finish (especially Ben who was celebrating his birthday), as they were running in aid of Amy Claire, a 15 year old girl who represented Wales and GB in disability swimming. Her aim was to go to the paralympics in London 2012. Sadly now Amy has had to go part time into a hospice and may never see 2012. Emma was her main carer in Swansea for a year and the three runners all wanted to raise money to allow Amy to do some of the things she has asked to do in the time she has left. They hope to raise at least £1,000 for her and her hospice in Wales. They are nearly there but any further sponsorship would be greatly appreciated.

The first runner to complete the marathon was Steve Littler in a time of 2-26-30, and the first female runner to complete the course was Sarah Gee in a time of 2-38-14.

Closer to home on the same day, still in very warm conditions, Hugh Marsden, Mike Musgrove, John Perratt and Dawn Teed, of the Harriers, all lined up to start in the Crediton Crunch 10k multi-terrain race. The course started at the Credition Rugby club before meandering around the lanes and through the woods of Crediton. The shade of the woods provided a much needed respite from the heat on the open course.

Hugh Marsden chasing the previous course record on 37 minutes and 53 seconds, finished in overall 4th position in a time of 38-42, less than one minute shy of the record. Hugh took the first prize in the V50 category.

Mike Musgrove came in overall 6th position in a time of 39-04. John Perratt finished in overall 87th position in a time of 53-04. Dawn Teed completed the quartet finishing in 113rd position in a time of 56-09.

The first runner to complete the course was Tom Gill of Tavistock AC in a course record time of 36-58 and the first female runner home was Emma Hitchins of the South West Road Runners in overall 18th position in a time of 42-07. 218 competitors completed the course with the last runner, Gillian Waller of the Womens Running Network finishing in a time of 87-58.

(RW)

Edinburgh Marathon

2010-05-24T08:24:00.000+01:00

Ben White, Emma and Chris Dupain joined about 23,000 other runners in the Edinburgh Marathon. Despite the blistering heat they all finished in under 4 hours.

Chris was 3.56 (PB), Ben (PB) and Emma were 3.58. They were very pleased to finish (especially Ben as it was his birthday), as they were running in aid of Amy Claire, a 15 year old girl who represented Wales and GB in disability swimming. Her aim was to go to the paralympics in London 2012. Sadly now Amy has had to go part time into a hospice and may never see 2012. Emma was her main carer in Swansea for a year and the three runners all wanted to raise money to allow Amy to do some of the things she has asked to do in the time she has left. They hope to raise at least £1,000 for her and her hospice in Wales. They are nearly there but any further sponsorship would be greatly appreciated.

(ND)

V70s @ Sutton Park

2010-05-23T15:26:00.002+01:00

2nd V70 Overall

V60s @ Sutton Park

2010-05-23T15:20:00.003+01:00

21st V60 Overall

Of Sutton Park... and Ivybridge

2010-05-17T20:00:00.005+01:00

BMAF Road Relay Championships
On Saturday 15th May 2010 two teams of three Harriers journeyed to Birmingham to compete in the 23rd National Open Masters Road Relay Championships. The club entered Roger Rowe, Bob Woodall and Jim Wyatt in the over 60's age group and Ray Elston, Mike Allen and John Perratt in the over 70's age group. Les Turner accompanied the two teams as the travelling reserve.

The race consisted of three laps each lap consisted of three miles around the roadway of Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield's green oasis just north of Birmingham. From the start/finish there is a slight decline before the roadway elevates over almost half a mile before levelling out beyond the first sharp bend to the right. There are undulations throughout the length of the course with very little strictly flat lengths. The course declines down to the turning point (180-degree) where the runners, for a couple of hundred yards, go back to the next left turn onto the homeward stretch, plunging down a long hill. At the bottom, after some undulating twists and turns, the course makes a final right hand turn up the final incline to the start/finish.

From the start the sun was shining with only patchy clouds. The temperature was warm but some areas of shade from the trees adjoining the roadway gave some respite from the sun.

This year the relay had eighty-two finishing teams consisting ladies in the 35, 45 and 55 year age group along with the men's 60 and 70 year age groups. The men's team consisted of three runners and the women's teams consisted of four, the team having to completed the extra lap.

The fastest women's team was Dulwich A C, in the 35 year age group, finishing their four laps in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 30 seconds.

The fastest men's team was Barnet A C, in the 60 year age group, finishing in a time of 53 minutes and 19 seconds.

The Harriers V60 team finished in overall 21st position in a time of 1-02-35. Roger Rowe completed his lap in 19-30, Bob Woodall took 20-39 and Jim Wyatt took 22-26.

The Harriers V70 team finished in overall 2nd place taking the silver medals in a time of 1-05-42. Ray Elston completed his lap in 21-29, Mike Allen took 22-54 and John Perratt took 21-19. The first placed V70 team was Bingley AC who completed the race in 1-02-09, with their anchor man, Fred Gibbs, completing his lap in a course record time for his age in 19-55.

The fastest women in the race was Jenny Clague, in the V35 age group, who completed her three mile lap in 16-51 and the fastest man was Desmond Michael in the V60 age group, in a time of 17-18.

Ivybridge 10k
Later on the same evening fo the Harriers, Andy Johnson and Kevin Lingard, competed in the Ivybridge 10k.

The first runner to complete the course was Kairn Stone of Newham and Essex Beagles in a time of 31 minutes and 08 seconds.

The first woman to complete the course was Anne Luke of Tamar Trotters who finished in overall 31st plosition in a time of 38-08.

Andy Johnson finished in overall 62nd position in a time of 40-10. Kevin Lingard finished in overall 343rd position in a time of 50-41.

(RW)

BMAF Relays - Sutton Park

2010-05-15T19:16:00.009+01:00

Saturday, 15th May, 2010

V70 team with their Silver medals (Mel Batty in the background for those who know their International Athletes of the 60s). Bingley were 1st, with a new course record by Fred Gibbs running anchor (19:55) - amazing for a V70+. To give you some idea of just how good that is, he gained over a minute on John Perratt. When did anyone ever do that!

Full report to come...

(RR)

Return of the Black Death Run

2010-05-10T18:55:00.002+01:00

On Sunday 9th May 2010 just a single Harrier lined up amongst the starters for the Return of the Black Death Run. The run is 10 mile off road consisting of mainly steep forest tracks with a total climb of 2,000 feet around Coombe Sydenham Country Park. It is claimed that this run is probably one of Britain's toughest 10 mile races. The starting line up consisted of 350 runners, with only 237 finishers

The first runner to complete the course was Mark Hopkinson of Minehead RC, in a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 24 seconds. Mike Musgrove, for the Harriers, finished in overall 9th place in a time of 1-15-32. This overall position gave Mike the first place in his gender and age category. Mike, sore after his valiant effort, believes this is certainly the hardest race in which he has competed.

The first lady to complete the run in overall 17th position was Ann Mixon of FOD AC in a time of 1-22-27. The last runner to finish was Rob Ley in a time of 2-44-59.

(RW)

The Great West Run

2010-05-04T10:30:00.001+01:00

On a cold and extremely windy Sunday 2nd May 2010, two thousand one hundred and twenty-three runners lined up at the Exeter Arena for the start of the Great West Run. This is a half marathon race around the City of Exeter starting on the track of the Arena before exiting for a loop around Beacon Heath before heading into the City. A loop around Southernhay is followed by the return leg back towards the Arena. Along Pinhoe Road a 'U' turn sees the runners returning once again toward the City to complete the same loop. Just after twelve miles from the start the runners feed off into Whipton Village Road and up to the finish on the track at Exeter Arena, after completing some thirteen point one miles from the start.

Local athlete Tom Merson, running under the colours of Bristol and West AC, started strongly and running from the front of the pack ultimately won this years Great West Race in an impressive time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 10 seconds, just three seconds ahead of the second placed runner.

Harrier, Mike Musgrove, produced yet another valiant effort to finish in overall 20th position in a time of 1-22-27, taking the second place in his gender age group.

The other eight Harriers to complete the race were:-
Duncan Parkes finished in overall 304th position in a time of 1-39-40.
Phil Bater, in only his second competitive outing for a couple of years, finished in overall 373rd position in a time of 1-41-34.
Andy Kennedy finished in overall 423rd position in a time of 1-42-33.
Ben White finished in overall 609th position in a time of 1-46-44.
Joan Mason finished in overall 957th in a time of 1-54-30.
Nigel Dupain finished in overall 1118th position in a time of 1-57-51.
Denise Kennedy finished in overall 1875 position in a time of 2-22-57.
Trevor Cope finished in overall 1886 position in a time of 2-23-42.

John Butcher aged in excess of seventy five years was the last runner, 2103rd, to cross the finishing line in a time of 4-33-48. Twenty runners failed to complete the course.

(RW)

The London Marathon

2010-04-26T08:14:00.003+01:00

Five Harriers ventured to the capital to join the other 35000 runners who were taking part in the Virgin London Marathon for Sunday 25th April 2010. Twenty-six miles and 385 yards of road to pound before taking their medals at the finish.

The event commences at Blackheath after which the runners headed off in an easterly direction toward Woolwich before turning westward, keeping south of the River Thames, toward Rotherhithe. The route continued south of the river before crossing London Bridge and turning easterly following the river course toward Millwall. Through the docklands and back toward the Tower of London and finally to the finishing line at Green Park.

The first athlete to complete the course was Tsegaye Kebede in a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 19 seconds. Only just over 35 minutes ahead of Harrier, Dave Stone. A really impressive performance from our Dave especially considering that the first passed the post is a professional athlete. Neither does the winner have to complete his hours of training in the dark hours, either pre dawn or post sunset, nor undertake full time employment and juggle his time with considerate family members. Dave Stone finished in overall 194th position, just 29th in his age category, in an impressive time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 41 seconds.

Adam Miller finished in overall 454th position, 300th in his age category, in a time of 2-49-57. Another good sub three hour performance meaning that Adam, on average completed each and every mile in less than six and one half minutes.

Joanne Darwood finished in overall 8324th position, 861st in her age category, in a time of 3-50-41.

Shaun Lock finished in overall 8325th position, 3715th in his age category, in a time of 3-50-41.

Trevor Cope completed the Harriers contingent in overall 31731st position, 812th in his age category, in a time of 5-34-17.

Congratulations to all the athletes completing the marathon especially to those local club runners.

Three races...

2010-04-20T17:46:00.002+01:00

At 10 am on Sunday 18th April 2010 a full compliment of athletes lined up for Tavy 13, which is the brand new, officially measured, half marathon race hosted by Tavistock Athletic Club. The Tavy 13 is outstandingly scenic with only one significant hill in the first half and many miles of flat or gently undulating running. The course goes through the historic town along a former main line railway and onto the edge of the Tamar Valley – a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, for those runners able to take in the natural beauty whilst competing in the race. Amongst those starters Mark Thompson was the sole entrant representing the Harriers.

The first runner to complete the race was Peter Freedman, of Tavistock AC in a time of one hour, eleven minutes and twenty-seven seconds. Mark Thompson finished in overall 40th position in a time of 1-31-30.

Elsewhere on the same day 153 runners lined up for the start of the Honiton Hippo 7, a tough multi-terrain race which sees runners scrambling up hills and fording rivers and once again beautiful views over the surrounding countryside. Again only one athlete represented the Harriers in this race, namely, John Parrett. The first runner to complete the course was James Waldie of Cornwall AC in a time of forty-seven minutes and fifty-one seconds. John Parrett for the Harriers finished in overall 70th position in a time of one hour, thirteen minutes and eleven seconds.

Much futher afield Adrian Kearns, yet again the sole entrant for the Harriers, was amongst the numerous finishers that competed in the Lochaber Marathon which started and ended at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. Despite being surrounded by the Grampian mountains with Ben Nevis, the UKs highest mountain just behind the town fortunately the marathon routes highest point was just 60 feet as the route followed the shores of the sea Loch Eil out and back, with great views of the snow covered mountains. Adrian Kearns finished in an impressive time of 3-08-31."

(RW)

Yeovilton Summer 5k

2010-04-16T08:08:00.002+01:00

John Perratt ran 21:26 in the first race of the Yeovil Town RC Summer series at Yeovilton on Wednesday to finish well ahead of his V70 rivals.

Taunton Half Marathon

2010-04-12T21:40:00.001+01:00

On a hot and breezy morning at 10.30am on Sunday 11th April 2010 in excess of twelve hundred runners lined up for the start of the Taunton Half Marathon. Amongst those starters were just two members of the Harriers, Dave Stone and Adrian Kearns.

The course, of one lap, started and finished at the Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton. After leaving the college grounds the competitors ran through the main street of Taunton before heading out into the countryside of Somerset. The route went through the villages of Oake and Bradford on Tone and back via the A38 to the finish at the college. The course was undulating with the main hill at the eleven mile marker.

The first competitor to cross the finish line was Adam Carison of Torbay AC in a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Dave Stone, in overall 5th place, finished in 1-15-16 taking the 1st V40 category prize. This was Dave's fastest time for a half marathon in five years. Adrian Kearns finished in 64th overall position in a time of 1-27-46.

(RW)

Bampton to Tiverton

2010-04-06T16:22:00.000+01:00

On Easter Monday 5th April 2010 the latest meeting in the long running event of the Bampton to Tiverton Road Race took place. The first Bampton to Tiverton Road Race was held on 22 April 1946 with 27 competitors. It was won by John Harvey from Tiverton in a time of 42 minutes 19 seconds. The 7 mile race has been held on Easter Monday virtually every year since then.

The race started at 10.30am in Bampton at the White Horse Inn where the route then followed the mostly downhill country roads, first along the Tiverton Road then the A396 to Bolham. Here the runners climbed the steepest hill of the course, passed the front lodge of Knightshayes Court and then across the bridge over the North Devon Link Road. The race finished in 'Peoples Park' overlooking the Tiverton Football Club.

The weather conditions were favorable to the runners not too warm nor rain, but unfortunately there was a slight head wind along most of the course until the runners took the left turn into Bolham.

First was Kevin Heywood of Bideford AC in a course record time (for the 'new' course, now 20+ years old, of 35 minutes and 32 seconds, nearly three minutes ahead of his closest rival.

The first Harrier to cross the finishing line was Roger Rowe in overall 41st place in a time of 50.38, and taking the first place in the V65 category. Bob Woodall finished in overall 44th place in a time of 51.07. Ray Elston completed in overall 56th place in a time of 52.43, taking the first place in the V70 category. Finally, Mick Allen finished in 88th position in a time of 58.42, taking 2nd place in the V70 category.

(RW)

Exe to Axe

2010-04-05T17:56:00.003+01:00

On Sunday 4th April 2010 over one hundred and fifty competitors lined up at the Fox Holes car park adjacent to the new Life Boat Station in Exmouth for the start on the Exe to Axe race. The course, some twenty miles in duration, following the route of the coast path to Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Branscombe and finally finishing at the west end of the promenade in Seaton. This course has a total altitude climb of nearly three miles along the switchback coast path.

Seven members of the Harriers entered and run the entire twenty miles. The first individual runner to complete the course was James Bellwood in a time of 2 hours forty minutes and forty seconds.

For the Harriers Dave Stone took the third position in a time of 2.56.37 followed closely by Mike Musgrove who finished in forth place in 2.57.36.

Jon Croome finished in 19th place in a time of 3.17.55.

Lorraine Croome finished in 69th place in a time of 3.56.56.

The final trio of Harriers finished in a group taking the positions 89,90 and 91. Lucy Hodgeson finished in a time of 4.17.35, Lorraine Gilson finished in a time of 4.17.40 and Terry Oldham finished in a time of 4.17.41.

(RW)

Teignbridge '10'

2010-03-29T13:14:00.000+01:00

On the first official day of British Summer time, Sunday 28th March 2010, the lone Exmouth Harrier, Joan Mason, lined up for the start of the Teignbridge Ten. At 10.30 am prompt the race started on the playing field at Teign School before completing about 1.6 miles around the upper end of Kingsteignton, followed by 2 slightly undulating rural laps through Sandygate, Fosterville, then via Preston Manor and back to Kingsteignton. The ten mile race finished on the field at Teign School.

The first runner to cross the finishing line in a time of 52 minutes and 57 seconds was Pete Freedman of Tavistock AC.

Joan Mason, for the Exmouth Harriers, finished in overall 148th position in a time of 89-01, giving her an average speed, for the ten mile course, of 8.45minutes per mile.

(RW)

GWR Warm Up 10k & Westward League XC

2010-03-22T12:14:00.004Z

At 11 am on Sunday 21st March 2010 the final round of the Great West Run Warm up 10K race started. The weather for the days event was almost perfect for racing. The conditions at the start were calm, sunny and windless and although the wind picked up slightly as the race progressed it was nothing like as strong or as cold as at the previous round on 28th February. Again the course was a fast and flat. James Denne of Exeter Harriers finished in first place in a time of 34 minutes and 10 seconds, taking the first place in the series.

Four members of Harriers competed in this race with Dave Stone taking the second position on the day in a time of 34-46.

Andy Johnson finished in 7th position in a time of 40-47.
Phil Quick finished in 12th position in a time of 43-47.
Les Turner finished in 45th position in a time of 55-31.

Later the same day three intrepid Harriers, Ray Elston, Jim Wyatt and Bob Woodall travelled to Redruth in Cornwall to compete in the final round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country series. At 1.35 pm under a bright and sometimes cloudy sky saw the start of the Senior Mens race get underway. The temperatures were mild with a gusting wind which made for difficult ascents of the short sharp slopes which connected the four separate fields which made up one lap. Five laps of the course each of 1.6 kilometers plus a run in to the finish completed the total distance of 8.1 kilometres. Conditions underfoot were good with just a few wet areas and churned up corneres on the steep corner descents ensuring the runners selected the correct line.

The first runner home in a blistering time of 26 minutes and 36 seconds was Kevin Haywood running under the colours of Bideford AC.

For the Harriers Bob Woodall finished in overall 56th place in a time of 38-51, taking 2nd place in the V60 category for the series.

Ray Elston finished in 63rd place in a time of 41-28, with Jim Wyatt completing the trio in 64th place in a time of 45-21.

(RW)

31st Murcia Half Marathon

2010-03-16T15:13:00.000Z

On Sunday 14th March 2010 Exmouth Harrier, Carlos Payan, lined up with over 1700 runners to compete in the 31st Murcia Half Marathon, in Spain. This particular course was graded as flat and fast. Although the sun was shining the temperature was a lowly 8 to 10 degrees, chilly for the region, but made ideal conditions for racing.

Carlos put in a good performance finishing in overal 29th position in a time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 40 seconds. A personal best for this distance, beating his previous best by over four minutes.

The first runner completed the course in a time of 1-06-26 and last runner in 1714th place finished in a time of 2-32-12, which indicates that there were good quality athletes throughout the field."

(RW)

The Grizzly

2010-03-09T07:32:00.002Z

On Sunday 7th March 2010 Axe Valley Runners hosted their famous "Grizzly" which for this year was called the Beauty and the Beach. The Grizzly is a race over 20 miles of East Devon's beautiful countryside and is complimented by "the Cub" which is just nines miles in length.

Both of the races were hilly and included rough ground, much of it steep, slippery or both, and some of it exposed to the elements. The terrain included roads, tracks (some very stony), paths, shingle beach, fields, woodland, bog and other surfaces. On previous years runners had been up to their waist in mud and water but this year the weather looked more favourably upon the athletes. The Grizzly is likely to take nearly as long as a marathon.

Nearly 1500 runners lined up at the start for this epic race and amongst the number were ten members of the Exmouth Harriers.

The first runner to complete the course was John McFarlane of Thames Hare and Hounds who finished in a time of 2 hours 29 minutes and 36 seconds.

The first Exmouth Harrier to complete the race was Dave Stone who finished in 20th place in a time of 2-46-43.

Mike Musgrove finished in 44th place in a time of 2-52-21.

John Croome finished in 90th place in a time of 3-02-49.

Terry Oldham finished in 357th place in a time of 3-32-36.

Lorraine Croome finished in 381st place in a time of 3-35-05.

Emma Dupain finished in 384th place in the same recorded time.

Lucy Hodgeson finished in 497th place in a time of 3-41-34.

Steve Merry finished in 508th place in a time of 3-43-06.

Ben White finished in 575th place in a time of 3-47-18.

Paul Champion in his first race since suffering a foot injury over six months ago and completing very little training finished in 896th place in a time of 4-11-37.

The last runner to cross the finish line was Chris Stables in a time of 5-51-05.

(RW)

Duchy '20'

2010-03-08T07:34:00.005Z

[Andy in the Duchy Marathon in 2005]

Andrew Johnson's time of 2:34:37 in Sunday's Duchy 20 was a new PB! Ok, so it's his first 20 mile race and it's probably slower than his 20 mile split when he ran the Duchy Marathon in 2005, but it's stilll a PB... isn't it?

Here is Andy's account of the race...

T'was cold and windy and occasionally sunny. The aim was to run around 8 minutes/mile and hope to finish in around 2:45, recognising that the hills would slow me down. I couldn't run that slowly, however, and ran the first 8 miles in an average of 7:38. This was partly because (I later discovered) we had the wind at our backs and partly because I stuck with a group of runners to avoid running on my own.

At 8 miles, we turned off the coast run and smack into a very strong wind. We kept running into the wind - and up all the hills on the course - between 8M and nearly 13M. My average pace between 8M and 12M was 8:12 minutes/mile.

I realised that 17M to the finish was going to be into the wind again, so I decided to push the pace on the sheltered (and flat) part of the second lap, between 13M and 17M, which I did (average pace was 7:28 min/mile). 17M to 19M was really hard work (8:04 and 8:08), but the final mile is mostly downhill.

I was 44th, about 15th in my age category (MV45).

Split times, for 5M, 10M, 15M and 20M - 37:59, 39:19, 38:21 and 38:58. So that's 1:17:18 for the first 19M and 1:17:19 for the second.

(RR & AJ)

Sunday & Monday

2010-03-02T10:19:00.001Z

Sunday 28th February 2010 saw the latest in run series of the Great West "Warm Up" This is a fast 10 kilometre race over a traffic free course around the River Exe and its flood plan in Exeter. Eighty-one runners lined up on a bitterly cold windy morning, which fortunately was without rain. Included in the line-up were three Exmouth Harriers, namely, Dave Stone, Chris Dupain and Les Turner. The runners set off into the wind along the River Exe bank towards Exeter St David before turning and making their way back towards the start line with a following wind. Four laps confronted the runners.

The first runner to cross the finish line was James Denne of the Exeter Harriers in a time of 34 minutes and 092 seconds. For the Exmouth Harriers, Dave Stone finished in overall third place in a time of 35-38. Chris Dupain finished in 9th place in a time of 41-47 with Les Turner completing the trio in 55th place in a time of 56-55. The last runner to finish the race was Vicky Wensley in a time 75-01.

The Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3k Series held at the Exeter Arena Running Track was staged on Monday night 1st March 2010. The weather was ideal for racing of the final stage of the series, a cold clear night but no freezing conditions under foot. Five Exmouth Harriers competed in the last race of the series. On the night Jack Bancroft finished first in the Senior Men category in a time of 08 minutes and 55 seconds. For the Exmouth Harriers Andy Johnson finished in a time of 11-16. Andy Kennedy finished in a time of 12-11. Roger Rowe finished in a time of 12-53. Jim Wyatt finished in a time of 14-14 and Les Turner finished in a time of 15-40.

To qualify to win an award each competitior has to complete four of the five races, and for those completing all five races the four best times are used in assessing their overall positioning. The overall series winner was Jack Bancroft of Wells City who raced in the Senior Men's category.

Exmouth Harriers made a good showing in the age category awards, having members with great ability in the older age categories. Andy Johnson took the first place in the male veteran 45 category. Jim Wyatt took the first place in the male veteran 65 category with Les Turner taking the second place award in the same age group. John Perratt won first place in the male veteran over 70 category."

(RW)

The South Georgia Half Marathon

2010-02-24T07:47:00.004Z

On Sunday morning of 21st February 2010 Hugh Marsden, a senior member of the Exmouth Harriers, was lined up on the start line awaiting the distress flare to explode to start the South Georgia Half Marathon. South Georgia is a small island about 800 miles north of the Antartic Circle and a similar distance east of the Falkland Islands. Hugh is a vetran athlete with 40 years of competitive running but he could never be prepared for what was about to come. Perhaps if he had taken note of the map he would have realised that with about 1.500 feet of ascent over 13 miles, the race was not going to be your average half marathon/fun run.

The race got underway with the usual chit chat associated with the first rush of endorphins. The runners floated along the track to Grytviken but this feeling quickly subsided as the runners ascended the track towards the church and headed towards dreaded football pitch. This is the area of the top bog which masqueraded as the whaling station's "all weather" football pitch. Here a rickety wooden bridge with a tricky 45 degree camber to the left had to be negotiate. The track up to Gull Lake acted as the human separator and it became a two horse race. This soon became a two mule scramble as the two leaders negotiated the scree slope that took them up to the top of Brown Mountain. For those readers who don't know, Brown Mountain is the feature to the south of the base that even the SAS had refused to climb during the recapture of South Georgia from the Argentines.

Unfortunately Hugh took full advantage of the race marshall's infinite generosity at the summit checkpoint and made the mistake of taking that mouthful of South Georgia's finest sparkling mineral water. For that split second of refreshment Hugh was the lone runner, having lost sight of his rival and was faced with a lifeless moonscape of shrapnel sharp scree. The race instruction sheet (that had been so helpfully placed placed on the breakfast table) advised runners to keep right and follow the ridge down. Not being a continental fell runner, Hugh decided to keep to the left and maintain height. That was his first mistake. After about a minute his rival suddenly reappeared below at a 2 o'clock angle some 500 metres ahead and was charging like a hovercraft over the razor sharp scree. This lead was to get even greater as Hugh passed another check point at the lower end of the mountain. The marshall had carefully positioned articles of clothing in key positions to guide competitors off the mountain and down the steep slope. He stood there, almost naked directing runners with the style and efficiency of a sub antarctic traffic warden. During last year's race this position was not marshalled and one unfortunate "non local" runner opted to take the wrong decent and was not seen until 4 hours later. He being an ex military man, he must have appreciated his impromptu battlefield tour of the Operation Paraquat landing site.

Once again Hugh followed his "helpful" breakfast briefing notes and scanned the lower slopes for the remains of the heavily camouflaged Argentine helicopter about a one and a half kilometres in the distance. Eventually he decided it was far safer to look at where gravity was taking him (whilst tobogganing down the slope on his backside) and worry about the helicopter later. Once down, he was on familiar ground and managed to reel in his rival's lead on the way back to the station. Hugh even managed to stay upright on a particularly slippery part of the coast that had caught him out on training runs. Other competitors were not quite as fortunate. The decent into the whaling station was more like a scene in a James Bond movie. A bit like the one where Roger Moore had to escape from the crocodile farm. In place of the crocodiles the South Georgia runners had to dice with death against their very own fur seals (intent on biting ankles off,) enormous elephant seals, swimming pool sized seal wallows, invaisive bitercress, detritus left over from the whaling station and unexploded ordinance.

The second part of the race took the runners along the well commuted trail to Maiviken Hut via the Bore Valley. Yet again Hugh was on familiar ground and managed to close down the gap on his rival all the way to the hut turn round point where another marshall was strategically positioned. Unfortunately the marshall appeared to have "lost the plot" and failed to send the race leader down to Maiviken beach as instructed. On the decent back down the Bore Valley the leader once again appeared to hover over the ground at breakneck speed crossing the finishing line in 1 hr 37 minutes and had comfortably taken 8 minutes of last years unofficial (shortened) record time.

Hugh managed to pull back a few seconds on the track back to base and was delighted to have survived the ordeal in a time of 1hr 39. Hugh took the second place in the race.

A great day was had by all on one of those rare and special South Georgia summer days.

(Our Special Correspondent)

Last weekend's exploits

2010-02-16T10:05:00.001Z

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.

Exwick Fields, late 1960s

2010-02-12T07:34:00.005Z

To someone brought up on Western (GWR) Region engines, there has always been something exotic about Southern Region trains (I think it's the amazing valve gear). Here is one such... wonder the reason for the chalked numbers on the boiler(?)... pulling mixed carriages along Exwick fields heading away from Exeter St. Davids Station towards Dawlish. Any guesses as to the class Ray?

Fulford '5'

2010-02-07T19:15:00.004Z

At 11 o'clock on a cold grey morning on Sunday 7th February 2010 two hundred and sixty runners lined up for the start of the Fulford 5 Road Race. This race is five miles in distance around the town centre of Exmouth, hosted by the towns own running club, the Exmouth Harriers and sponsored by Fulfords Estate agents.

The start of the race was in The Royal Avenue out side the dive centre. The course then went followed along Imperial Road before turning left into Victoria Way to Mamhead and along the Esplanade. At Carlton Hill a left turn saw the course ascend to the roundabout where a sharp left turn took it into Rolle Road and along the decline back towards the shopping centre. Once around the Strand and back into Imperial Road to Victoria Way saw the completion of the first loop of the circuit, some two miles into the race. The route followed the same course but on the second loop instead of turning left into Carlton Hill the circuit continued into Queen's Drive and, after a quick glimpse of the new life boat station, the course took a left turn into Maer Road. Along another, longer, ascent and the course turned left into Douglas Avenue and again into Rolle Road before descending into the town centre for the final time. Around the Strand, along Imperial Way and a right turn into The Royal Avenue saw the finishing post beyond the entrance of the lorry park.

From the sound of the start local runner Tom Merson, sporting the colours of Bristol and West Running club, led the field at a blistering pace, despite recently recovering from a bout of "swine flu". At the end of the first loop Tom Merson was several metres ahead of the field and continued to increase this lead for the duration of the race. A relentless pace set by Tom Merson saw him cross the finishing line in first place in a time of 25 minutes and 11 seconds, some 29 seconds ahead of the second athlete home, and still faster than his last years time.

For the Exmouth Harriers the first member to complete the race was Jamie Pearson who finished in a time of 27-23 in overall 6th position. Just three places behind, in 9th position was Dave Stone who finished in a time of 27-49.

Andy Johnson finished in 36th position in a time of 32-14, again, just three places ahead of fellow member, K. Nicholas, who finished in 39th position in a time of 32-39.

John Perratt finished in overall 73rd position in a time of 35-22, taking the award for the first place in the V70 category. Immediately behind him in overall 74th place was Ray Elston who finished in a time of 35-30, taking the second place in the same category.

Roger Rowe, making his comeback after suffering from a serious injury causing him to suspend his running for 6 months, finished in overall 88th position in a time 36-15 which saw him taking the award for the second place in the V60 category.

Jim Wyatt finished in 124th position in a time of 38-30, taking the third place in the V65 category.

Lyn Curtis, the first female member of the Exmouth Harriers, finished in 139th position in a time of 39-10. This time gave her the third place in the FV40 category.

Dave Eveleigh finished in 174th position in a time of 43-22.

Ian McDonald finished in 198th position in a time of 45-42.

Trevor Cope final member of the Exmouth Harriers to complete the course in overall 247th position in a time of 53-53.

The final athlete to finish the race was Harry Moore, wearing the colours of Axe Valley Runners, another spritely runner in the V70 category, in a time of 64-40.

(RW)

Laat week's races...

2010-02-02T10:10:00.003Z

At 09.30 hours on Sunday 31st January seventy six runners lined up for the start of the Great West Run Warm-up Race Series. The first in the series was 5k in distance over a flat traffic free course around the River Exe and the flood relief system. Andy Johnson was the sole Exmouth Harrier participating.

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Kairn Stone of Newham and Essex Beagles finished in first place in a time of 15 minutes and 21 seconds. Andy Johnson, representing Exmouth Harriers, finished in 14th place in a time of 20-13, taking the 2nd V45 award.

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On Monday 01-01-2010 the fourth round of the Puma Ironbridge Winter 3k series commenced at the athletics track in Exeter. A total of 84 runners, including for Exmouth Harriers, Andy Johnson, John Parrett, Lee Russell, Jim Wyatt and Les Turner, competed in four heats. The overall winner and in the A race was Jack Bancroft representing Wells City who completed the seven and one half laps of the arena in a time of 8 minutes and 48 seconds.
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In the B race Andy Johnson finished in 15th place in a time of 11-37.

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In the D race John Perratt finished in 3rd place in a time of 12-49 immediately ahead of Lee Russell who finished in 4th place in a time of 12-52. Jim Wyatt finished in 17th place in a time of 14-29.

In the E race Les Turner finished in 6th place in a time of 15-18.

(RW)

2010 SW Vets XC Championship

2010-01-26T15:55:00.001Z

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

2010-01-18T16:10:00.004Z

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.

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

.
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.

(RW)

Dartmoor train in the 1950s

2010-01-08T12:45:00.006Z

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

2010-01-04T11:14:00.002Z

"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/ .

2009 Team of the Year

2009-12-29T08:15:00.004Z

V70 BMAF Gold Medallists ~ National Road Relays, Sutton Park

Happy Christmas

2009-12-26T08:45:00.002Z

Happy Christmas everyone.
A present? "North Street Grande" from Stackridge...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6VoChujccM

Review of 2009

2009-12-22T10:21:00.000Z

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 week and weekend...

2009-12-14T16:43:00.001Z

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)

Weekend Races...

2009-12-07T12:14:00.001Z

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)

Another train...

2009-12-04T07:43:00.001Z

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.

Bicton Blister 2009

2009-11-29T18:33:00.005Z

The 2009 Bicton Blister results may be found here:
http://www.bictonblister.co.uk/

Sunday 29th November 2009 saw the Exmouth Harriers host the Bicton "Blister" and its baby brother the Bicton "Lite".

The "Blister" challenges runners to undertake, this year, a nine point seven-five mile course, over the testing terrain of Bicton Common, Woodbury Common and Dalditch. The "Lite" follows the same course for the first few miles before returning to Bicton College after covering a distance of five miles.

The event started between the buildings of the Bicton College,in light rain, and exited the grounds towards Blackberry Farm along the tarmac roadway heading towards Crook Plantation where the route went off-road with a vengeance. The rain abated quite quickly but within the first

mile of the start the runners experienced deep puddles forcing all to take an early cold foot bath.

Throughout the next seven or so miles off-road runners experienced severe descents and ascents along river pebble based tracks, soft sand and clinging mud, which attempted to suck the shoes from the feet. Waterlogged tracks under more than 300 millimetres, 12 inches, of muddy water loomed ahead with no alternative to avoid another cold footbath. One stretch of the course ascending to the area known to the Marines as the 'sheep dip' is actually the bed of a flowing stream. The only consolation being that the running water washed the oozing mud from the shoes. More deep puddles through which to charge and more clinging mud to run through before the course emerged back on the tarmac at Crooks plantation. Just the last mile or so of undulating road before the finish at Bicton College after careering through the last two puddles.

In all 16 Exmouth Harriers entered and completed the events, 12 in the "Blister" and 4 in the "Lite".

In the Blister race a resident of Exmouth,Tom Merson sporting the colours of South West Road Runners, crossed the finishing line in first in an impressive time of 61 minutes and 31 seconds.

Just two minutes later and only one second behind the second finisher, Dave Stone, for Exmouth Harriers, finished in third overall place in a time of 63mins 33seconds, followed closely in 5th position by Jamie Pearson, again for the Exmouth Harriers in a time of 65mins 40secs.

The remaining runners for Exmouth Harriers finished valiantly as follows:-

Jon Croome finished in 28th position in a time of 71mins 30secs,
Mike Musgrove finished in 31st position in a time of 71min 34secs.
These first four Exmouth Harriers took the first place in the race team event.
Adam Miller finished in 36th position in a time of 72mins 26secs,
Joel Morter finished in 74mins 19secs,
Alex Hooper finished in 52nd position in a time of 75mins 10secs,
Bob Woodall finished in 116th position in a time of 83mins 32secs, giving him the third prize in the V60 category,
Lorraine Croome finished in 160th position in a time of 87mins 29secs,
Lorraine Gilson finished in 230th position in a time of 95mins 50secs,
Jim Wyatt finished in 237th position in a time of 97mins 3secs,
Completing the Harriers contingent Stan Mason finished in 281st position in a time of 103mins 59secs.

The final competitor to cross the finishing line was Angela Murray, an unattached runner, in 356th position in a time of 136mins 9secs.

In the "Lite" race Mark Shobbrock of Instinctive Sport, finished in first place in a time of 33mins 34secs,
Andy Kennedy for Exmouth Harriers finished in overall 3rd position in a time of 35min 38secs,
John Perratt for Exmouth Harriers finished in 14th position in a time of 39min 46secs, taking the first place award in the V70 category,
Corinna Stephens for Exmouth Harriers finished in 24th position in a time of 42mins 55secs,
Les Turner completed the Exmouth contingent in 32nd position in a time of 44mins 59secs.

The final competitor to complete the "Lite" was Mark Waddicor of South West Road Runners in 78th position in a time of 105mins 38secs..

(RW)

Colyton Fiver

2009-11-23T19:56:00.003Z

Sunday 22nd November 2009 saw six members of the Exmouth Harriers running club take part in the Colyton Fiver, a five mile road race to raise funds for the Children in Need Appeal. Barring for the first male and female runner to complete the course there were no awards presented at the end of the race as all proceeds were donated to the fund.

Throughout the duration of the race the weather conditions were mainly dry and sunny although one of the lanes was under 225 millimetres of water, (9 nine inches) following the recent heavy rainfalls.

The overall winner was Peter Monaghan of Torbay ACC in a time of 28 minutes and 18 seconds.

.
The first Exmouth Harrier to cross the line was Paul Samways in a time of 31.34. Andy Kennedy finished in 32nd position in a time of 35.08. Phillip Quick finished in 36th position in a time of 35.49. Lee Russell finished in 47th position in a time of 37.28. John Perratt finished in 51st position in a time of 38.19. Les Turner finished in 102nd position in a time of 44.49. The final runner to cross the finish line was Harry Moore from the Axe Valley Runners in a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 46 seconds.

(RW)

Sunday 15th November

2009-11-16T12:36:00.003Z

On Sunday 15th, members of Exmouth Harriers were entered in several separate race events, namely the Cornish Marathon, the Drogo 10, and the Brooks Westward Cross Country League held at St Austell.

Dave Stone was the lone member of the Exmouth Harriers to enter the Cornish Marathon. From the mouths of competitors this is an extremely hard, hilly course, possibly one of the hardest marathons in Europe. Dave continued in the vein of his previous entries to this marathon and finished in an impressive 4th position in a time of 2hrs, 59mins, 40 seconds.

---oOo---

Eleven members of the Exmouth Harriers entered the Drogo 10, which is a 10 mile off road event staged around the slopes of Castle Drogo.

An impressive 517 runners completed the greulling course with the first home Mark HOPKINSON, of Taunton AC, in a time of 1hr, 02mins and 13 secs. The last runner completed the course in 2hrs, 32mins and 08secs. The event starts at the Castle Drogo and makes its way along the main drive, slightly uphill, before taking a sharp right turn down onto the infamous Hunters Path, which descends sharply to the river. After this the course is at its most demanding with wet, muddy, slippy and uneven surfaces. Most of the route being along a switchback through woodlands and forestry tracks or by the side of the river on waterlogged tracks. Going was made even more interesting by the recent heavy rains which had caused the streams flowing across the track to swell to varing depths. At Fingle Bridge, when energy levels are at a low, a sharp left turn brings the final steep ascent, back toward the finish, into view. Many competitors at this stage are reduced to walking the steep incline before the final stretch of course along the edge of the hill back to the finsh line at the castle.

For Exmouth Harriers Pete McKEOWN finished in 21st position in a time of 1hr, 13mins and 15secs. Pete was the 2nd to finish in his MV45 category. Adam MILLER finished in 34th position in a time of 1-15-38. Mike MUSGROVE finished in 38th position in a time of 1-16-13. Alex HOOPER finished in 62nd position in a time of 1-19-13. Duncan PARKES finished in 96th position in a time of 1-22-50. Emma DUPAIN finished in 145th position in a time of 1-26-46. Terry OLDHAM finished in 148th position in a time of 1-27-07. John PERRATT finished in 232nd position in a time of 1-34-22. John was the first in his V65+ category. Lucy HODGSON finished in 233rd position in a time of 1-34-29. Lorraine SLIGHT finished in 250th position in a time of 1-36-35. Dawn TEED completed the Harriers contingent in 275th position in a time of 1-38-16.

---oOo---

Bob Woodall and Ray Elston competed in the Brooks Westward League Cross Country race at Penrice School in St. Austell. The atmospheric conditions were ideal for the multi lap 9.5 kilometre course around the school playing fields but the conditions underfoot were extremely heavy after the recent downpours experienced building up to the day of the race. As the senior men's race was started after various other categories the ground was seriously cut up and the tight bends resembled quagmires. There were many 180 degree turns and twists and several short severe ascents with equally severe descents. The senior men's race was won convincingly by Tom Merson in an impressive time in the colours of South West Road Runners. Bob Woodall finished in 93rd place in a time of 44mins 37secs and Ray Elston, first in the v70 category, finished in 108th place some three minutes later.

(RW)

Winter 3K Series

2009-11-10T19:39:00.001Z

Round 2 of the Ironbridge Runner Puma Winter 3K Series of five events took place at Exeter Arena last Monday. 110 runners completed the event including five Exmouth Harriers.

Altogether, six races were held and the winner of the A race and overall event was Jack Bancroft of Wells City in 8:47.

The first Harrier to finish was Andy Johnson in 11:08. Lee Russell was next in 12:30 with John Perratt recording 12:46.

Dave Eveleigh came home in 13:50, just ahead of Jim Wyatt who took 13:54.

2009-11-10T12:40:00.002Z

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has taken up jogging. By pure chance I've had sight of a copy of his training diary.......

Day One
I have decided to take up jogging in order to eliminate the excess weight I have inherited from my predecessor. This morning I attended Hyde Park in the company of my friend Comrade Personal Trainer Smith. I can report here that he wanted me to jog for one mile without stop and that I wanted to jog no more than half a mile without stop and that we were therefore in complete agreement that I would not jog two miles without stop. Negotiations having been concluded to my satisfaction I then jogged one mile without stop. The following discussion then took place:

Comrade Personal Trainer Smith: “What I want you to do now is to run as hard as you can from here to that tree. By the time you arrive at the tree I want you to have worked so hard that you are actually in oxygen deficit.”

Comrade Me: “I can predict now and with confidence that any oxygen deficit I incur will be eliminated by the first quarter of 2015. Myself and the Chancellor have put in place prudent measures which will ensure that I emerge from oxygen deficit well before that old man over there by the bandstand.”

Comrade Personal Trainer: “No you misunderstand me. What I mean is that by the time you reach the tree you must be physically spent.”

Comrade Me: “I will not be physically spent but I will have invested physically to a greater degree than the Tories. If David Cameron were to sprint to that tree and still have some breath left then we will know that he intends to axe the jobs of thousands of nurses and teachers. I will sprint for the many and not the few.”

Comrade Personal Trainer: “Let me put it another way. I want you to go for bust.”

Comrade Me: “But I have abolished bust.”

Comrade Personal Trainer: “You have abolished going for bust?”

Comrade Me: “I never said that. I’m just getting on with the jog”

Day Two
Today during my morning training session I hit the wall. It was not my fault. I’m not sure who put the wall there but the bricks probably emerged in the American sub-prime market and the emergence of the wall overall could not have been predicted by anyone.

Day Three
Today I entered my first 10K race. At the registration desk I noticed a slim runner with a lawyerly presence who looked like he had done this sort of thing before. I therefore approached him and made the following suggestion: “I think it would be best for the running community overall if we agreed now that you take the lead for the first half of the race and then drop out and allow me to lead thereafter. Whilst you are leading I will try and stay on your shoulder and constantly snipe at you in a constructive way. I might even attempt to trip you up as a gesture of my complete support. Do we have a deal?”. The man looked at me, spat on the floor, turned around and walked off in a gesture of complete agreement. Nothing can go wrong now. I have been running for a week so it must be my turn to win.

OMM & Templer '10'

2009-11-03T17:26:00.000Z

Six Exmouth Harriers were among this year’s competitors in the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon). This event first took place over 40 years ago and was the originator of the 2-day mountain marathon type event. Teams of two competitors carry all their clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bags and food, navigating their own route and including an overnight camp.

Teams are totally self-supporting and no GPS or outside support is allowed. It is against the rules to reconnoitre before the event.

This is the premier UK event for testing teamwork, self-reliance, endurance, outdoor and navigational skills. Its reputation is worldwide, with entrants from 12 to 14 countries every year.

There are two different types of course split into seven different classes. The “Line” type (check points in a pre-designated order) with the Elite, A, B and C classes. And the “Score” type (Long, Medium and Short) which need higher levels of navigation skills to optimise points scored and ensure completion within the time allowed.

All the Harriers opted for the toughest Long Score class. There were 29 control points and a time limit of 7 hours for the Saturday, with 30 controls and a 6-hour limit for Sunday. Both days carried a penalty of 2 points per minute late.

The first Harrier to finish was Jon Croome and his partner in 8th place with 645 points. Pete McKeown and Jim Pyne were 29th with 575 points. Lorraine Croome and her partner came 144th with 330 points and Paul Champion and Bob Keast were 155th with 295 points. 179 teams completed this class.

Last Sunday, ten Exmouth Harriers were among the field of 207 runners who completed the Templer Ten (9.5 mile) multi-terrain race that starts and finishes at the Passage House Inn, Kingsteignton.

The course follows approximately two miles of road, then five miles of fields and paths around Stover Park, returning across the fields. It then goes back on the road for two miles or so, finishing with half a mile on off-road paths, returning along the riverbank to the finish.

The race was won by Neil Mytton of Plymouth Harriers in 55:10.

Jamie Pearson was the first Exmouth Harrier home in 5th place in 57:50. Adam Miller was 19th in 1:02:04 and Paul Samways was 27th in 1:03:50.

Joel Morter came 45th in 1:07:37 with Duncan Parkes 52nd in 1:09:05. Terry Oldham was 65th in 1:11:12 and Emma Dupain 72nd in 1:13:10.

Lorraine Gilson was 92nd in 1:17:27, Dawn Teed 110th in 1:21:03 and Kelly Woodgate 181st in 1:36:16.

Of Honiton... and the Great South Run

2009-10-27T21:47:00.000Z

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.

2009-10-22T17:59:00.000+01:00

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

2009-10-18T21:07:00.001+01:00

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

2009-10-13T14:17:00.000+01:00

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

2009-10-06T17:40:00.001+01:00

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)

Four very different events

2009-09-22T15:23:00.002+01:00

Harriers were involved in four very different events last Sunday.

Five of them featured in the tough multi-terrain Musbury Castle Challenge that was extended from the normal distance of just under eight miles to ten miles for the tenth anniversary of the event. The winner was Adam Stobbs of Exeter Harriers in 1:17:02 and 77 runners completed the race.

Hugh Marsden was 1st vet man and 2nd overall in 1:17:29. Jamie Pearson came 4th in 1:23:31, with Mike Musgrove 9th in 1:27:13 in his first event for the club. Congratulations to Hugh on his individual award and also to Jamie and Mike who won the men’s team award with him. Dawn Teed was 44th in 1:52:24, with John Perratt 54th in 2:00:43.

At the other end of the scale, more than 50,000 runners completed the Great North Run Half Marathon that was won by the Kenyan, Martin Lel in 59:32. Slightly further back in the field but well above half way were Harriers' Stan Mason, 20,557th in 2:15:39 and wife Joan, 20,567th in 2:15:40.

Next, Harrier Julie Gellender was among the 7060 finishers in the ladies event at the famous Berlin Marathon. The winner was Atsede Habtamu Besuye of Ethiopia in 2:24:47 and Julie came 424th in 3:35:46.

The Newton Abbot Ladies 10K was won by Revis Crowle of East Cornwall Harriers in 39:38. Harrier Corinna Stephens came 128th in 58:19 and 286 runners completed the race.

(LT)

Devon 10,000 metres & Ivybridge Challenge

2009-09-15T12:58:00.001+01:00

Wednesday, 9th September, saw Exmouth based runner Tom Merson, of Bristol & West A C, win the Devon County A A 10,000m Track Race at Exeter Arena in 30:41, a huge margin of nearly 4 minutes! Well done, Tom!

Three of the four Exmouth Harriers who competed also came away with one gold and two silver medals between them. Congratulations to John Perratt, 1st M70 and 27th overall in 46:35, Dave Stone, who came 2nd in 34:33 and Andy Johnson, 2nd M45 and 10th overall in 39:52!

In between, Carlos Payan also ran well to come 7th in 36:56, but just missed an award by 2 places. The event was split into two races with a total field of 31 runners.

Last Sunday, Harrier Dave Stone felt really strong in the Ivybridge Beacon Challenge. This scenic, but challenging, multi-terrain race starts and finishes in Victoria Park, Ivybridge. The course covers around 7.5 miles of woodland and moorland paths and includes the ascent of Western Beacon.

Congratulations to Dave, who ran superbly to win the event in 52:52. He was among the front group of four runners throughout the race and was in second place behind Jon Parkinson of Torbay A C when they reached the top of the Beacon. Using his superior speed and technique, however, he was able to overtake his rival on the rough ground down the hill to the finish at the school playing fields, arriving over a minute ahead of the runner-up. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed runners were separated by less than half a minute and 137 runners completed the race.

(LT)

Races... home and away

2009-09-08T16:06:00.002+01:00

Over the last few years, some intrepid Harriers have tackled the mighty Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc. This year, there were three optional routes of 61, 66 or 104 miles for individual runners to choose from and a single team route.

This year it was the turn of Harrier Mark Thompson and he opted for the 66-mile “Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie” (TDS) race. With 6,700m of ascent to overcome, the event has a maximum completion time of 31 hours!

The race started in the centre of Chamonix at 5:00 am. The route then passed through Les Houches, Saint-Gervais and Saint-Nicolas de Véroce. The runners then left the gentleness of the Savoyard villages for a rough and magnificent course into the heart of the mountains which took them to Mont-Joly, incomparable balcony opposite Mont Blanc right up to Bourg Saint Maurice passing along some of the most beautiful paths and passes of Beaufortain and of Tarentese. Having savoured the warm welcome from the volunteers of Bourg Saint-Maurice and its neighbour Séez, the long ascent towards the Petit Saint-Bernard Pass, along the Roman Road began.

The runners then entered the Valle d’Aosta and reached the villages of La Thuile and Pré Saint-Didier where, opposite Mont-Blanc, they arrived at the centre of Courmayeur for a triumphant Finish. And how deserving after this great journey around the roof of Europe!

480 runners completed the race that was won by Patrick Bohard of France in 14:01:48. Congratulations to Mark, who came 251st in 24:09:01, on a wonderful achievement!!

Tuesday, 1st September, saw the fourth round of the Exe Summer 5K Series at Exwick won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C in 14:58. Exmouth runner Tom Merson of Bristol & West A C came 2nd in 15:02.

Three Harriers competed in the event and the first to finish was Carlos Payan who came 16th in 17:42. Andy Johnson was 24th in 19:06 and Dave Eveleigh was 54th in 24:05, out of the 70 runners who completed the race.

Over 10,800 runners took part in the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday and the winner was Ezekie Cherop in 1:03:26. Tom Merson was 18th in 1:08:54.

The first of the four Harriers to finish was Paul Samways, 264th in 1:25:58. Chris Dupain was 1253rd in 1:38:19 and Kevin Lingard 3395th in 1:50:36. Lissie Lingard came 6395th in 2:04:31.

The Bideford 10 Mile Race was won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C in 50:47 and the field of 197 runners included three Harriers. Adrian Kearns was the first home, 21st in 1:04:57 and John Perratt was 1st V70 and 79th overall in 1:18:31. Well done, John! Les Turner was 2nd V65 and 135th overall in 1:27:38.

(LT)

Forest Flyer & Dartmouth Regatta

2009-09-01T15:31:00.003+01:00

Last Friday, six Harriers took part in the Forest Flyer Five (miles) Race on forest tracks, paths and fire roads in the beautiful Haldon Forest Park.

The winner was James Bellard of South West Road Runners in 30:52 and 159 runners completed the race.

The first Harrier to finish was Adam Miller in 6th place in 33:49, followed by Paul Samways, 13th in 35:06. Duncan Parkes was 32nd in 38:42. Hannah Bown came 48th in 39:56, with Emma Dupain 54th in 40:42. Les Turner was 90th in 46:32.

On Saturday, Exmouth Harriers Hugh Marsden and Dawn Teed competed in the extremely tough 5.1 miles Dartmouth Regatta Road Race and both performed superbly.

Congratulations to Hugh, who was 1st V50 and 12th overall in 31:53 and Dawn, who was 2nd LV45 in 41:08.

(LT)

Kathy... and last week's races

2009-08-25T09:35:00.002+01:00

One of the Harriers all-time greats, Cathy Newman, won the South West Veterans A C Grand Prix award for ladies for 2008. This award is based on the average age graded percentage of an athlete’s four best performances over the year.

Cathy’s best performances were 36:49 (89.84%) for the Bideford 10K, 60:07 (90.12%) for the Teignbridge 10 (mile), 80:01 (91.17%) for the Bath Half Marathon and 81:11 (89.86%) for the Great West Half Marathon.

The average age graded percentage was 90.24%. According to fellow Harrier John Perratt, “The rest of us can only dream of those percentages!” Praise indeed, coming as it does from a fellow athlete who has himself won medals on the world stage at the World Masters Athletics Championships.

---oOo---

Last Saturday, 253 runners completed the Jurassic Coast 10K, a challenging multi-terrain event that takes place along the seafront, cliff paths, river and rural lanes at Budleigh Salterton.

The race was won by James McMullan in 33:18. Congratulations to Harrier Jamie Pearson who was 1st U21 and 8th overall in 37:34.

On Sunday, four Harriers were among the 555 finishers at the Torbay Regatta 10K. Thomas Payn of Winchester & District A C won the race in 31:05 with Exmouth runner Tom Merson of Bristol & West A C 2nd in 31:44.

The first Exmouth Harrier to finish was Carlos Payan, 2nd M30-34 and 20th overall in 37:30. Adrian Kearns came 49th in 40:20.

Congratulations to John Perratt, 1st M65 and 157th overall in 46:22. Stan Mason was 320th in 53:57.

(LT)

Race the Train

2009-08-18T12:36:00.004+01:00

Last Saturday, six Harriers travelled to Wales to compete in the Tywyn Mid-Wales Race the Train 14-mile multi-terrain event that was first held 25 years ago. This year the weather was wet and misty.

Race the Train takes place alongside as far as practicable the route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back. The terrain varies all the time and was very wet & muddy in places. The route also ascends and descends quite steep terrain and runs on narrow footpaths with little chance of overtaking. Often the train track is just over the fence so if your family friends are on the train, they can shout encouragement to you at several places.

The classic start to the race is on the crest of the main railway line bridge adjacent to the Talyllyn Railway station. Both the runners and the train are started by the train whistle ordered by the timekeeper.

The course, which is on public roads for just over a mile, runs through the town before heading for Brynglas. At this point the course turns up a farm drive to cross the railway and follow it all the way to Rhyd-yr-Onnen. After the farm drive there is a mixture of tracks and fields. At Rhyd-yr-Onnen you leave the railway and run up a tarmac lane for 1/3 mile, turning on to an un-metalled track running through a ford. From here you return to run alongside the railway over fields, rough pasture, and farm tracks to reach Brynglas.

After climbing up a short stretch of farm road you cross the railway to run the next section with the railway on your right. The first 1.5 miles of this section is over fields and rough pasture to Dolgoch where you cross the car park before ascending across a field to run through trees before dropping down a tricky slope on to fields again. A short run down an unmade track turns back on to well-cultivated pasture all the way to the turn point at 7 miles. After a short run through the field the course leaves for uncultivated sloping hillside, crosses a stream and runs under the railway to climb very steeply. It then runs across the face of the hillside on narrow sheep tracks for over a mile, when it climbs to join the road to return to Tywyn and the finish.

The first Harrier to finish was Hugh Marsden, 28th in 1 hour 36 minutes and 15 seconds. Hugh beat the train by just over 13 minutes !

Jenny Timms came 242nd in 1:55:43 and Terry Oldham was 367th in 2:2:26.

Congratulations to Lorraine Slight who was 1st FV50 and 459th overall in 2:7:48. Dawn Teed and Phil Bater came 583rd and 584th in the same time of 2:15:57.

(LT)

You're a runner if...

2009-08-15T06:31:00.001+01:00

... your friends think they need to train more before they can run with you
... Every time you see a runner when you're driving you feel like you too should be running, even if you ran 15 miles earlier in the day
... You shower about 20 times a week
... your toenails are black.
... you feel lost without your water-bottle.
... you have running withdrawal symptoms if you don't run everyday.
... you consider work as just a break between runs.
... your room smells ‘interesting’.
... you can count all your ribs
.
(end)

Last week's races...

2009-08-11T13:11:00.001+01:00

Tuesday, 4th August, saw Round 3 of the Run Exe Summer 5K Series at Exwick won by Exmouth runner Tom Merson, running for Bristol and West A C, in 15:12.

Two Harriers, Carlos Payan and Andy Johnson, were among the field of 59 runners who completed the event. Carlos came 13th in 18:00 and Andy was 21st in 19:26.

Last Sunday, five Harriers lined up amongst the 184 ultimate finishers of the Sidmouth Festival Run over a distance of 10 kilometres.

The starting line was in the blazing sun on the western slope of the Sid valley with an immediate steep climb ascending the cliff for almost one kilometre. At the top of the first steep hill a restrictive gate gave the runners a much-needed early breather with over nine kilometres still to cover. Twists, turns and stairs saw the competitors rise higher and higher up the cliff top before turning inland across moor like conditions.

Despite the recent mini heat wave there were still many wet and muddy areas to negotiate. Once across the golf course at the ninth hole, the route took yet another incline, which graduated to the peak almost five kilometres into the race. Here amongst the woodland splendid views were attained across the Sid valley by those runners able to enjoy the view whilst also keeping a sharp eye on the ground for exposed tree roots and potholes.

With over half the event completed, the course began to descend back to the finish. Burning muscles were stretched out as the ground dropped back towards Sidmouth and the finish line, and the runners completed the race with a sprint due more to the steep decline than the power of the legs.

As with the start, the race was completed in glorious sunshine allowing all competitors to cool down under the sun's rays.

The race was won by Carl Prewer of the Lowestoft Road Runners in a time of 41 minutes and 16 seconds. Well done Dave Stone, who led the Exmouth Harriers home in 3rd place in an excellent time of 41:27, only 11 seconds behind the winner. Bob Woodall finished in 48th place in 52:38.

Congratulations to Ray Elston, who took the award for the 1st V70 and was 70th overall in 56:48. Jim Wyatt, second V60 and 86th overall in 58:44, was unlucky to miss the 1st V60 award by one place and just 5 seconds.

Les Turner completed the Exmouth Harrier contingent in 106th place in 61:04. The last competitor crossed the finishing line in a time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 44 seconds.

As the organisers advertised in their literature, the race was not one for personal best times, but one to enjoy and I can confirm that some of the views were truly breathtaking.

(LT)

You're a runner if...

2009-08-07T18:24:00.001+01:00

... you have hundreds of safety pins scattered around your house
... you love running in the rain
… you can say “runner’s nipple” in mixed company
... you carry a water-bottle everywhere
... you double knot all your shoes out of habit
... you have a watch tan that never goes away
... you feel naked without your stopwatch on
... you pack a separate bag for your running clothes
... pasta is the only food you'll eat for two nights before a race
... you try to convince people to run a 5k because it's "only 3 miles”

Totnes 10k

2009-08-04T19:52:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday, an exceptionally large contingent of seventeen Harriers was among the 448 runners who completed the Totnes 10k off-road race. All finished the course in good individual times and returned with a nice collection of trophies between them to show for their efforts.

The start of the race around the cricket pitch is quite hectic with runners jostling for positions before the first of two ninety degree bends sees the route meander along the course of the river bend. This is the widest section of the course enabling runners to overtake. Despite heavy recent rain the conditions for the first three and a half kilometres was reasonably dry.

Shortly after the first water station the route entered the woods and conditions underfoot deteriorated. The course now turning away from the river started to incline. Two series of muddy steps interspersed with long inclines saw the foot conditions worsen and sticky mud and puddles were encountered. The incline seems to rise for over two kilometres before reaching the summit and a fast concrete path led the runners back to the last drink station. From here the course levels out to almost flat conditions allowing the faster runners to drop a gear and increase speed for the home run. By now the packs were thinly spread and the finishing order was nearly depicted with three kilometres to run.

The last two ninety degree bends before the lush green of the cricket pitch allowed the final negotiating for places. Entering the park and the perimeter of the cricket pitch with the finish line in view saw attempts at the last sprint finishes. Some runners lost finishing places, being overtaken in the home straight, but the competitors lower down in the field were more than glad to be home and across the finish line.

This gruelling race, which started at 11.00 am in warm, humid conditions, was won by James Baker of the Chichester Runners & AC in a time of 35:35, a blistering average speed of 5:43.5 per mile. The last competitor finished in 122:30.

Congratulations to the ladies team of Hannah Dupain (103rd in 49:01), Emma Dupain (115th in 50:32), Dawn Teed (168th in 53:50) and Lorraine Slight (175th in 54:10) who won the ladies team event.

Exmouth came second in the men’s team event with Dave Stone (13th in 39:23), Hugh Marsden (19th in 40:44), Carlos Payan (24th in 41:40), Adam Miller (28th in 42:13), Paul Samways (29th in 42:15) and Pete McKeown (42nd in 43:45).

Congratulations to Hugh Marsden who won the individual award for the 1st V50. Also, to John Perratt who was 1st V70 and 136th overall in a new course record of 51:53 with Ray Elston 2nd V70 and 156th overall in 52:51.

Chris Dupain was 91st in 48:13 with Bob Woodall 95th in 48:32. Terry Oldham finished 123rd in 51:08 and Nigel Dupain was 185th in 54:48. Jim Wyatt came 207th in 56:27.

(LT)

You're a runner if...

2009-08-01T09:29:00.006+01:00

... there's nothing like intervals to start the week off fresh!!
... you talk to your training partner more than your parents
... you run when you feel like it, be it 6am or midnight
... you do anything to try to heal an injury except go to a doctor because you know he will just tell you to "stop running."
... you wear a black, plastic sports watch with your dress clothes
... you can remember a time from a race 4 years ago, but you can't remember your friend's birthdays
... your heart rate is below 50 and you are not dying
... you know how many grams of carbs there are in a banana.
... you can name a person from Namibia, Djibouti and Zimbabwe

... you are not embarrassed to show someone of the opposite sex where your hamstring "really" hurts.
... girls: you are embarrassed to wear a bikini because of your shorts/bra/tank-top/t-shirt tan lines

You're a runner if...

2009-07-25T20:21:00.003+01:00

... you keep shoes and running clothes in your car so that if you're ever on a trip and drive by a place thinking "it'd be great to run here..." you can get out and go for a run
... you sleep in your running shorts because they're more comfortable than pyjamas, not to mention you don't need to change for your morning training session
... you can correctly pronounce names like "Hicham El Guerrouj" "Kennesia Bekele" and "Haile Gebresilassie"
... you've found yourself running around an airport departure hall thinking, "if I can just get in three more miles, I'll meet my mileage target this week"
... you wear sandals despite having the ugliest feet in the world, along with several black toe nails
... you get upset and impatient when results from the race you ran aren't posted on-line by the time you get home
... you find a magnifying glass to see your name in the paper.
... you have chafing in strange places.

... you spend more on training clothes than working clothes.

(tbc)

You're a runner if...

2009-07-23T05:29:00.010+01:00

... you get hit by a car and you don't bother to get the number plate of the person who hit you because you still have 6 miles left to go
... your cabin-luggage is a spike bag
... You say things like "long and hard" to your female friends and it is not a sexual innuendo
... you are used to the sound of a gun
... you make hundreds of left turns each week
... you and your clubmates have meaningless debates about training, running, and coaching, especially when you're drinking (or running)
... you have running shoes in varying degrees of decomposition: used, well-worn, spent but still good, and useless "but-I-still-wear-them-because-they-still-feel-good"
.

(tbc)

Tavistock & Haytor & Saltash

2009-07-21T10:02:00.000+01:00

A team of four Harriers braved the atrocious weather last Thursday and travelled to West Devon to take part in the 4 x 1.1 mile Tavistock Town Relays.

27 teams competed in the event that was won by Tamar Trotters with a total time of 21:17, but only after Exmouth had pushed them all the way to finish in second place, just 29 seconds behind the victors, in 21:46.

Exmouth’s team comprised Dave Stone (5:17), Carlos Payan (5:44), Hugh Marsden (5:40) and anchor Jamie Pearson (5:05). Jamie’s superb time was the 2nd fastest individual leg, a mere 4 seconds slower than the 5:01 recorded by the Tamar Trotters anchor, Mike Wilsmore.

Last Sunday, seven Harriers were among the field of 146 runners who completed a 6-mile cross country race, the Haytor Heller, near Bovey Tracey on Dartmoor.

The race was won by James Baker of Chichester Runners & A C in 40:53 and the first Harrier to finish was Hugh Marsden, 2nd V50 and 9th overall in 47:02.

Paul Samways came 13th in 47:43, with Adam Miller 25th in 50:37. Carlos Payan was 27th in 50:56 and Pete McKeown came 29th in 51:57. Duncan Parkes was 36th in 53:08, with Dawn Teed 94th in 64:51.

The Magnificent 7 (mile) Road Race at Saltash, Cornwall, was won by Dave Buzza of Cornwall AC in 39:14. Les Turner was 245th in 65:23 and there were 364 finishers.

(LT)

You're a runner if...

2009-07-20T21:10:00.003+01:00

...Ibuprofen is your recreational drug of choice

...you think in terms of metres not yards

...you can look at a grass field and guess its circumference almost exactly

...you have 10% body fat yet you don't live in Somalia

...you consider a 15 mile run a good cure for a hangover

... if you are a man, you eat all the junk food that there is and still weigh 140 pounds

... you don’t care when you hug a sweaty girl in a public place

... you have recorded a marathon over your wedding video

(tbc)