Erme Valley Relays, Charmouth & Launceston

The Harriers had a great turnout when they sent a large squad of athletes to the increasingly popular 4 x 2 ½ mile Erme Valley Road Relays at Ivybridge, and seven of the 73 teams who competed were from Exmouth.

Despite the weather, Exmouth had a very successful evening, taking three of the 16 team awards. They won both the ladies team categories with their “A” team (66:45) of Julie Gellender (16:35), Emma Dupain (17:21), Jo Darwood (15:44) and Hannah Dupain (17:05), and their “B” team (77:20) of Lorraine Croome (17:34), Katie Comer (19:36), Nicky Crook (20:15) and Lorraine Slight (19:55).

Exmouth also won the men’s V60 team award in 67:01 with John Perratt (16:42), Ray Elston (17:38), Roger Rowe (16:15) and Duncan Linklater (16:26). They have now won this category four years in a row, i.e. on every occasion since its introduction.

Exmouth’s other teams were their men’s “A” (56:10) of Shaun Lock (13:35), Hugh Marsden (14:04), Adrian Kearns (14:54) and Dave Stone (13:37), and “B” team (62:37) of Chris Dupain (15:20), A. Miller (14:42), Ben White (18:26) and Shaun Lock (14:09).

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The men’s V40 team (59:02) was Andy Johnson (15:30), Paul Samways (14:34), Pete McKeown (14:33) and Jon Croome (14:25).

Finally, the men’s V50 team (75:24) with Terry Oldham (18:15), Jim Wyatt (19:06), John Perratt (17:44) and Les Turner (20:19).

Congratulations to the overall winners, South West Road Runners men’s “A” team (52:25) and their anchor man, Tom Merson, who ran the fastest leg in 12:21.

Special thanks go to Exmouth team manager / timekeeper Dawn Teed who recorded the times for every one of her club’s runners, together with the team totals. Subsequently, her quick wits and rapid intervention enabled her to ensure that the trophies for the ladies “A” team, which had been incorrectly awarded to Plymouth Harriers, were retrieved and presented to the rightful winners, Exmouth. Well done, Dawn, for an excellent evening’s work!!

The Charmouth Challenge follows a hilly, multi-terrain course of about eight miles through coastal scenery, including an ascent of Golden Cap, the highest point on the South Coast. This year’s event took place in very wet and windy conditions and it was none too pleasant on the high, exposed ground.

There were 242 finishers and the race was won by Tom Fisher in 52:52. The two Exmouth Harriers, Hugh Marsden and Mark Thompson, came 8th in 57:20 and 31st in 62:50, respectively.

The Launceston Half Marathon, which was won by Kevin Heywood of Bideford A A C in 1:10:18, is fondly known as “the Real Beast of Cornwall” and starts and finishes in Coronation Park, Launceston. Exmouth Harrier Trevor Cope came 262nd in 2:11:18 and there were 327 runners.

(LT)