28th January races...

Twelve Exmouth Harriers took part in the Broadclyst Bimble, a thirteen mile cross country race, and did really well to achieve four of the first six places. The course was reasonably good this year and drier than usual and 160 runners completed the race.

The winner was Andrew Chambers of Exeter Harriers in 1.21.46, just 21 seconds ahead of Tony Hatchard, the first Exmouth Harrier to finish after an outstanding performance.

Dave Stone was 4th in 1.31.59, with Hugh Marsden 5th after an excellent run in 1.32.25. Shaun Lock was 6th in 1.33.08.

Joe Pascoe came 13th in 1.36.51 and Adrian Kearns 25th in 1.43.57. Paul Champion was 43rd in 1.49.07 and Tim Gent 52nd in 1.54.03.

Both the Exmouth ladies had good runs with Stef French 95th in 2.08.41 and Dawn Teed 100th in 2.10.12.

Diccon Haynes came 104th in 2.11.41 and Trevor Cope 145th in 2.34.24.

The South West Veterans Cross Country Championships were also held on Sunday, at Pinn Farm close to High Peak. The 8 K race was won by Mike Feighan of Exeter Harriers in 30.39.

The 6 K v65 race was won by Chris Barretto of South West Vets A C in 27.58. Two Exmouth Harriers, Ray Elston and John Perratt, took part. Ray had a superb race for 2nd v65 in 30.10 and John was 3rd v65 in 31.15.

(LT)

Last weekend's races

Last week, three Exmouth Harriers took part in the South West Cross Country Championships which were held at Bicton College. The race was won by Rob Whalley of Bristol & West A C in 22.19.

Tony Hatchard was the first Exmouth Harrier to finish and came 30th in 25.17. Jimmy Zaple was 79th in 28.44 and Lee Russell came 115th in 35.24.

This week’s events included the 4th race in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League which was held at Bideford. The 44 runners in the women’s race included two Exmouth Harriers. Cathy Newman ran superbly for 3rd place and Dawn Teed was 29th.

Cathy is one of Exmouth’s most gifted athletes and still holds the course records for the Taunton marathon and half marathon which she set as far back as 1985 and 1989, respectively. On 18th February, she will be representing Devon in the Peninsular Challenge which is incorporated in the Plymouth Hoe '10'. In May, she will be representing Great Britain in the 10k in the European Non-stadia Championships in Regensburg, Germany. We wish her well for both events.

Nine Harriers were among the 94 runners who completed the men’s cross country at Bideford. Dave Stone ran well for 14th and Joe Pascoe was 23rd. Hugh Marsden was 25th and Shaun Lock 29th. Andy Johnson came 39th, Bob Keast 67th and Ray Elston 74th. Jim Wyatt was 86th and Les Turner 92nd.

Oh My Obelisk! is a 10 mile multi terrain race from Dawlish Leisure Centre to the Obelisk monument in Haldon Forest and back, mostly on green lanes, forest tracks and country lanes.

The race was won by Mark Cowen of Exeter Harriers in 1.06.14. There were 350 finishers including three Exmouth Harriers. Paul Champion was 66th in 1.23.29. Diccon Haynes was 180th in 1.36.21 and Sue Wilkin came 287th in 1.52.00.

Last Chance 10k - New Year's Eve

[The start, and Cathy Newman being squashed]

[Cathy in flowing form]

Nine Exmouth Harriers were among the 497 runners who completed the Last Chance 10K at Haven Banks, Exeter on the 31st December.

Just before the start, a short, sharp shower and blustery wind threatened to make life difficult for the runners. However, conditions eased, and were much less unpleasant while the race was in progress, although the strong southerly wind meant running the whole distance with a strong crosswind.

The winner was Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C, who amazed everyone by running a new record time of 30:31. Exmouth’s Cathy Newman ran superbly for 3rd lady and 19th overall in 36:36; a class effort on a difficult day. Adrian Kearns was 28th in 37:32 a few seconds outside his all-time PB.

Roger Rowe, after a troublesome achillies problem and under instructions from his coach to run two minutes slower than his current potential, was still able to come home in 1st place in the Vet 60 category in 39:44. Aiming to run 4-minute-kilometers, he finished 48th overall and several minutes ahead of the next runner in his category.

Hannah Dupain was 72nd in 41:50. John Perratt produced another great performance for 1st Vet 65 and 96th overall in 43:10. John turns 70 in March '07 and will be a real handful for his contemporaries in the Vet 70 division.

Emma and Nigel Dupain were 159th and 160th in 46:31 and 46:37, respectively.

Jim Wyatt ran well to come 216th in 49:46, a long way ahead of Les Turner who was 279th in 53:22.

(LT)