Bicton Blister 2009

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)