Parrett Trail Relay Race

Saturday, 11th October

Results available at:http://www.parrettrace.btik.com/p_Home.ikml

Exmouth Harriers took what must have been their biggest squad in any event for many a year to the Parrett Trail Relay, a well-established six leg trail relay from the mouth of the River Parrett on the North Somerset coast, across Somerset to just over the border in Dorset, close to the source of the river at Winyards Gap. The route is approximately 53 miles long.

This year, Exmouth fielded a men’s team, a ladies team and two mixed teams (out of the total of 28 teams), twice the number the club had last year and they again produced some brilliant results.

The ladies team was awesome and they won their category in only 7:03:18, taking 36 minutes less than they took in winning it last year and increasing their margin of victory from 32 seconds last year to over 42 minutes over 2nd placed Honiton this year!

Their victorius team comprised Julie Gellender (leg 1 – 10.5 miles), Emma Dupain (leg 2 – 7.9 miles), Lorraine Croome (leg 3 – 8.5 miles), Dawn Teed (leg 4 – 8.6 miles), Hannah Dupain (leg 5 – 8.6 miles) and Cathy Newman (leg 6 - 8.6 miles). Julie Gellender, Emma Dupain, Lorraine Croome and Cathy Newman all won their legs and Dawn Teed and Hannah Dupain were both second. Well done, Exmouth Ladies, on a fantastic team performance!!

Twelve teams contested the men’s event and Exmouth, while unable to match the ladies, still produced a great performance, coming 2nd in 6:04:46, only 5 ½ minutes behind the victors Yeovil Town (5:59:17) and over 24 minutes ahead of 3rd placed Trull Troggers. Hugh Marsden (leg 1) and Dave Stone (leg 5) both won their legs and Adam Miller (leg 2) was 2nd. The other Exmouth runners were Jamie Pearson (leg 3), Jon Croome (leg 4) and Tony Hatchard (leg 6). Congratulations to the men’s team.

The first of the Exmouth mixed teams to finish were 2nd in the category. It comprised Adrian Kearns, Terry Oldham, Stef French, Jim Pyne, Paul Champion and Camilla Mathison. Their time was 7:00:55 and the category with 10 teams was won by Crewkerne in 6:49:16. Adrian Kearns, Terry Oldham, Jim Pyne, Paul Champion and Camilla Mathison all came 2nd in their legs.

Exmouth’s other mixed team were 4th in the category and they, too, produced a leg winner (Pete McKeown – leg 6) and a 2nd place (Chris Dupain - leg 3). The other runners were Andy Johnson, Nicky Crook, Lorraine Slight and Sue Wilkin.

All in all, it was a great day out for the club. Well done, everyone!!

(LT)