The Great West Run

On a cold and extremely windy Sunday 2nd May 2010, two thousand one hundred and twenty-three runners lined up at the Exeter Arena for the start of the Great West Run. This is a half marathon race around the City of Exeter starting on the track of the Arena before exiting for a loop around Beacon Heath before heading into the City. A loop around Southernhay is followed by the return leg back towards the Arena. Along Pinhoe Road a 'U' turn sees the runners returning once again toward the City to complete the same loop. Just after twelve miles from the start the runners feed off into Whipton Village Road and up to the finish on the track at Exeter Arena, after completing some thirteen point one miles from the start.

Local athlete Tom Merson, running under the colours of Bristol and West AC, started strongly and running from the front of the pack ultimately won this years Great West Race in an impressive time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 10 seconds, just three seconds ahead of the second placed runner.

Harrier, Mike Musgrove, produced yet another valiant effort to finish in overall 20th position in a time of 1-22-27, taking the second place in his gender age group.

The other eight Harriers to complete the race were:-
Duncan Parkes finished in overall 304th position in a time of 1-39-40.
Phil Bater, in only his second competitive outing for a couple of years, finished in overall 373rd position in a time of 1-41-34.
Andy Kennedy finished in overall 423rd position in a time of 1-42-33.
Ben White finished in overall 609th position in a time of 1-46-44.
Joan Mason finished in overall 957th in a time of 1-54-30.
Nigel Dupain finished in overall 1118th position in a time of 1-57-51.
Denise Kennedy finished in overall 1875 position in a time of 2-22-57.
Trevor Cope finished in overall 1886 position in a time of 2-23-42.

John Butcher aged in excess of seventy five years was the last runner, 2103rd, to cross the finishing line in a time of 4-33-48. Twenty runners failed to complete the course.

(RW)