Other Weekend Races...

Six Exmouth Harriers took part in the sixth and final men’s race in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League which was held at Bicton College. Andy Kennedy was 40th, Lee Russell 51st, Ray Elston 52nd, John Perratt 56th, Jim Wyatt 67th and Les Turner 68th out of the field of 71 runners. Over the whole series, Ray Elston won the award for 2nd vet 60 and Jim Wyatt won the 3rd vet 60 award.

The only Exmouth Harrier in the ladies event at Bicton was Julie Gellender. Dawn Teed had already completed five races and won the award for 3rd lady vet 40 over the series.

Dawn was far away in the Falkland Islands battling against 40 to 45 mph winds, not good when you’re running a marathon with a distance of over 26 miles to cover! Her time of 4.16 was very commendable for the conditions; she ran a great race and was 2nd lady overall. Fellow Harrier Hugh Marsden ran brilliantly, once again, taking 3.10 to win the event and complete his hat trick of Falkland Islands Marathon victories. Well done, Hugh!

Harriers Andy and Denise Kennedy took part in the Teignbridge Ten. Andy came 60th in 1.08.38 and Denise came 195th in 1.34.32. Simon Anderson of Plymouth Harriers won the race in 54.25. There were 224 competitors.

The Bath Half Marathon was won by Shiferaw Tewodros in 1.02.09. Harrier Tony Hatchard had another excellent race, coming 43rd in 1.12.43 with Adrian Kearns in116th (1.19.57) and Nicholas Brown 6,308th in 2.19.29 out of the large field of 8,165 finishers. Perhaps pointing to a sub 2:35 London Marathon for Tony in a few weeks (his first outing at that distance).

Finally, further afield, an even bigger event, the Reading Half Marathon with 9,877 runners, included three of Exmouth Harriers’ Dupain family. Christopher was 2,745th in 1.44.52, Emma was 3,104th and Nigel was 3,105th , both in 1.47.18.
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Athlete of the day? Tony Hatchard for the 72-minute 13.1... certainly 2:35 on the cards in the London marathon - Tony's first outing over the distance.

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(LT)

European Veterans Indoor Championships - John Gets a Silver

{Photo - Rushmoor 2006}

Helsinki - 22-25 March 2007
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Three weeks after winning a gold and a silver medal at the BMAF Indoor Championships in London, Exmouth Harrier John Perratt competed in the European Veterans Indoor Championships in Helsinki. After the disappointment of just missing out on medals by coming fourth in the Vet/70 5k cross country and the 3,000 metres, John ran superbly for second place and the silver medal in the 1,500 metres. All three events were won by the Russian, Leonid Gubenkov. With John’s training partner from Sidmouth, Bob Minting, winning two golds, a silver and a fourth place, it was great to see Exmouth and East Devon so well represented. Another Exmouth Harrier, Roger Rowe, would also have had an excellent chance of medals, but was prevented from competing through not quite recovering sufficiently from his recent knee operation.

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M70 1,500 metres

1 Leonid Gubenkov Russia 5.41,29
2 John Perratt Great Britain & N.I. 5.44,40
3 Roman Tomczak Germany 5.45,09

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M70 5k Cross Country
1 Leonid Gubenkov Russia 20.49
2 Bruno Baggia Italy 20.56
3 Manuel Rosales Spain 20.59
4 John Perratt Great Britain & N.I. 21.51
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M70 3,000 metres
1 Leonid Gubenkov Russia 11.39,54
2 Manuel Rosales Spain 11.42,19
3 Bruno Baggia Italy 11.42,72
4 John Perratt Great Britain & N.I. 11.50,08
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M55 400 metres
1 Vincenzo Felicetti Italy 55,72
2 Bob Minting Great Britain & N.I. 56,20
3 Mauri Lyytikäinen Finland 56,91

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M55 800 metres

1 Bob Minting Great Britain & N.I. 2:08,98

2 Franz Josef Schmidt Germany 2:12,59

3 Yves Levasseur France 2:13,17

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M55 1,500 metres

4 Bob Minting Great Britain & N.I. 4:41,25
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M55 4 x 200 metres

1 Great Britain & N.I. (Including Bob Minting)

(LT & RR)

Winter 3k Series - 4th race and overall results

[Photo - Andy J at the Bampton 10k]

The last in the series of four winter 3K races, which took place at Exeter Arena on Wednesday, 7th March, included five Exmouth Harriers.

Andy Johnson was outstanding, coming 21st in the “A” race in a personal best of 10.49. Lee Russell also ran well to come 20th in the “B” race in 11.31.

The “C” race included Roger Rowe, who was 4th in 11.46, and John Perratt, who was 6th in 11.56. Roger showed that his recovery from knee surgery is progressing extremely well. After taking the first lap very slowly, he found he was able to cruise past runner after runner and finish in a very respectable time.

Jim Wyatt, who ran in the “D” race, produced another good performance to come 10th in 13.22.

Both Roger and John topped their individual categories with maximum points after the final race.

(LT & RR)

PS. Harrier Michael Smyth ran in the Duchy 20 (miles) race held at Redruth in Cornwall. He came 52nd in 2.38.34, out of the field of 222 runners.

BMAF Indoor Championships 2007

Picketts Lock, Enfield

On Saturday and Sunday (3rd & 4th March), Harrier John Perratt took part in the 2007 BMAF Indoor Championships in London.

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After celebrating his 70th birthday on the 2nd March, John travelled in high hopes of some decent performances in his chosen events: the 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres. John has been working on the track this winter seeking to sharpen his speed in readiness both for this Championship, and the European Indoor Championships in Helsinki at the end of the month.

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It is always difficult to 'peak' for two championships in one month, so the BMAF event must be seen as a stepping stone on John's quest for medals in Finland.

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In the 1,500 metres John came up against Len Tew from the Midlands, probably one of the most gifted of 70+ middle-distance athletes competing today. And so it turned out... Len finishing in 5:32.46 to John's 5:44.06... still a silver in your first 70+ competition is not to be sniffed at. (AND remember these men are over 70 -- amazing times for a kilometer-and-a-half, indoors).

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On the second day of the event, John lined up in the 3,000 metres with every expectation of going one better. Notwithstanding the speed work he has been doing, John is pretty lethal over 3k or 5k.

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John's time of 12:15 was just a bit quicker than his 12:24 & 12:26 (Outdoors) this winter, and he was two-and-a-half minutes clear of the second placed athlete.

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So, a gold and a silver on his first outing as a vet/70, and both National Championship medals. Well done John! Roll on Helsinki.

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(RR)

PS. Training partner and friend, Bob Minting, won no less than 3 golds and a bronze in the same championships. Bob and John will travel to Helsinki together at the end of March.

Bideford Half Marathon

Seven Exmouth Harriers were among the field of 718 runners who competed in the Bideford Half Marathon on Sunday 4th March.

The race was won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford AAC in 1.06.04.

Tony Hatchard was the first Exmouth Harrier to finish, after another outstanding performance, in 8th place in 1.15.12. Shaun Lock was 30th in 1.21.07, just two seconds ahead of Adrian Kearns, who was 31st. Dave Stone came 49th in 1.24.05. Steve Price came 72nd in 1.28.13, with Andy Johnson 84th in 1.28.38.

Dawn Teed was 10th lady v40 and 313th overall in 1.44.34.

The Exmouth Harriers senior men’s team of Tony Hatchard, Shaun Lock, Adrian Kearns and Dave Stone were 2nd in their category.

(LT)