Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Trains, and Forests and... Lustleigh.

On Saturday 21st August 2010, whilst enjoying the countryside of Wales, Hugh Marsden and Dawn Teed, of the Harriers, took part in the annual Race the Train. This takes place alongside, as far as practicable, the route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on its journey to Abergynolwyn and back, covering some 14 miles. In order to do this all courses use a mixture of public roads, lanes, un-metalled roads, tracks, agricultural land, and rough grazing pastures. The terrain varies all the time and can be very wet & muddy in places. The routes also ascend and descend quite steep terrain and runs on narrow footpaths with little chance of overtaking.

Hugh finished in 30th position in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes and 58 seconds, both beating the train and taking the third place in the MV50 age category.

Dawn completed the course in 470th position in a valiant time of 2-10-23.

The first athlete to complete the course was Gareth Raven of Sale Harriers in a time of 1-20-22.overall winner. The first female to complete the course was Amanda Wright-Smith of Birchfield Harriers, in overall 47th position, in a time of 1-37-08. In all nearly eight hundred runners completed the exhusting course with the last runner crossing the line some 4 hours, 43 minutes and 6 seconds after starting the run.

On Friday evening 27th August 2010 the Dawlish Coasters hosted the Forest Flyer, a race around five miles of forest tracks, paths and fire tracks of Haldon Forest Park. Amongst the starters were, for the Harriers, Mike Musgrove, Les Turner and Dan Morley. The racing conditions were perfect with pleasantly cool air and a reasonably dry, moderately firm course. Unfortunately at this time there are no results available, but the three Harriers were each pleased with their time in which they completed the course. For the Harriers Mike finished first of the trio followed some way behind by Dan and Les. Unfortunately their overall placings and times are still unknown.

Sunday 28th August 2010 saw the start of the Lustleigh Show 10k race which started at the Lustleigh Show ground and continued around a mixed terrain route, split between road, forest trails and footpaths. About one hundred and fifty runners lined up for the start including, for the Harriers, Jon Croom, Lorraine Croom, Andy Kennedy, John Perratt and Mick Allen. After completing the hilly course in warm and sunny conditions the quintet finished in the order Jon, Andy, Lorraine, John and Mick. Once again their overall placings and times are unknown.

Unfortunately due to the week-end being a Bank Holiday no results are available at this time for the latter two events.

(RW)

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