WELCOME TO HONITON RUNNING CLUB

We are based in Honiton, East Devon, Southwest England and spend our lives running through some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.
HRC Events

Blackdown Beast 
25 Jan 2020
Comments and Photos

Honiton Hippo

19 April 2020
Entries now open
Ottery 10K 
10 May 2020
Entries now open
Blackdown Beauty
4 July 2020
Entries open April

Payhembury Duathlon

19 July (TBC)
Parkrun
Report of all HRC runs last Saturday here
Killerton here
Exeter here
​Seaton here
​Exmouth here
Instep Devon Championship
2019 Results
Club Charity
2020
TBD
Honiton Sports Shop
offers members 10% discount upon production of HRC card. Click here 
Latest News:
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Woodbury Night Run
Three Honiton Running Club members drove the short distance to Bicton on Saturday evening for the Wild Night Run on Woodbury Common. With many events being cancelled due to the arrival  of Storm Ciara the organisers managed to beat the impending bad weather with an evening race starting at 7.30pm. Conditions were relatively warm albeit breezy and the event covered two distances, a Half Marathon and a 6.8 miler. Conditions underfoot were good with some mud in places which proved tricky in the darkness. Olivia Killen had entered the half marathon and finished in a great time of 2.29.28. She was 53rd overall and there were 68 finishers in a race that was won by Adam Holland in 1.29.05. Tim Wigram had also entered the half but was running with his dog in the Canicross category. Both Tim and pooch, Silas, finished in 2.06.26. Howard Bidmead had entered the shorter distance which had been advertised as a 10k but turned out to be nearer 11k. Notwithstanding this, Howard had a good run finishing 23rd overall  in a time of 59.41 and winning the Male O60 category. There were 76 finishers in the race which was won by Ben Renshaw in 42.27.
Ottery Puzzle Run Results​
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Blackmore Vale Half Marathon
Three Honiton Running Club ladies took part in the undulating Blackmore Vale Half Marathon last Sunday. The race is run on quiet country roads from Bishops Caundle in Dorset.  Jennie Sleeman was first back in 1 hour 57 minutes in 248th place. She was followed by Olivia Killen who finished in 2:03 coming 272nd  and the trio was completed  by Kathy Layzell in 2:43 and 348th place. The race was won by Adam Holland in 1:14 and there were 354 finishers. 
Blackdown Beauty and South West Vets
Last Saturday, about 250 runners set off to take part in Honiton Running Club’s Blackdown Beast. This run filled up almost as soon as entries came out. It is a social but challenging run boasting many hills and lots of mud to sap the legs. There is a choice of 16 ½ miles or a shorter 10 ½ mile route where runners stop at Upottery and are taken by mini bus back to the headquarters at Highfield Sport and Social Club in Dunkeswell.  Runners come from far and wide and several HRC runners took part. There are several stops on route and the mainly off road run takes runners through the wonderful footpaths on the Blackdown Hills. The weather was very kind although the fog came in and what are usually fantastic views were reduced to less than the other end of a field! The first stop, after 7 ½  miles, was Smeatharpe Village Hall where participants were treated to delicious hot sweet mulled cider and equally delicious warming pasties. Thanks to the ladies of the WI for making and serving this very welcome sustenance. The next stop was the Sidmouth Arms, Upottery. At this point some runners who had signed up for 10 decided to make the commitment and complete the full 16 ½ miles. Others had signed up for 16 ½ and decided enough was enough and took the bus back! For those who resisted the bus, it was on to the Luppitt Inn; one of the smallest pubs in the country! Organisers made sure the family knew runners were coming as opening times are flexible! The shortish last leg then takes runners across private land back to Dunkeswell. For many this was the furthest distance they had ever run and for a few this was by many miles! A fantastic effort by everyone.
 
As always all participants thoroughly enjoyed the day with many looking forward to the summer version; the Blackdown Beauty. This will be in early July and places are likely to go fast for this event too so look out for further information on www.honitonrc.com and to register your interest very soon. It may be a completely different route to previous years. Thanks to everyone who made the event possible including the landowners. Money raised will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.
 
The South West Vets’ Cross Country Championships took place at Sidford Sports Fields near Sidmouth on Sunday 26th January. The weather was wet and windy and the ground wet, boggy and slippery. This was a 6k course and consisted of three and a half laps of the Sports fields. The championships are for South West based veteran athletes with prizes awarded to the first three in each category between O35’s to the O70’s. Howard Bidmead, of HRC, was competing in the 60 to 64 category and finished second in a time of 29m 59s. The event was won overall by Eddie O’Gorman from City of Salisbury AC in a time of 24m 37s.
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First Chance 10K
​Fifteen Honiton Running Club members braved the icy conditions on Sunday to take part in the popular First Chance 10K which is a fairly flat race along the banks of the river Exe mainly on tarmac. There were many slippery spots so runners had to take care. This race always fills up quickly and there were 559 finishers. The winner was Philip Wylie from Cheltenham in a time of 31:26 and the first lady was Ruth Barnes from Falmouth at 36:20. Mark Jeffreys was first for Honiton in a time of 38:04 followed by Adam Rooke in 40:13 who just escaped being taken out by a slipping runner. There was then a gap back to Jay Sweetman in 45:29. Pippa Westall was first Honiton lady in a time of 46:45 which she was very pleased with as it was a PB. Luke Holway and Rachel Hennessey battled together over the last couple of kilometres with Luke just winning in 47:49 and Rachel with a PB in 47:54. Luke had gained weight over Christmas and so was well pleased with his return to form. Roger Saunders was not far behind in 48:24 but this was well down on his previous time 3 years ago. Katy Lancaster was not too far behind in 49:52. Kate Harding enjoyed her run in 55:05 and young Ashleigh Ford Cosens came home in 56:40. Pip Vanham was back in 57:50, Debbie Vinnicombe in 57:40 and Vanessa Knowles in 58:32. Michelle Selley was running with her daughter in her first 10K and just got in under an hour at 59:50 and Simon Bates completed the Honiton contingent in a time of 61:21. This race is one of the Instep Devon series which should give Honiton some points in the Instep Championship.
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Oh My Obelisk
​It was a bright sunny day on Sunday, 12th January at Dawlish Leisure Centre when 5 Honiton Running Club members tackled the Oh My Obelisk race comprising of a half marathon and a 9 mile distance. Recent heavy rain meant the course was extremely flooded and muddy and with strong winds on the day it made running difficult. Jennie Sleeman  came 147th place in  2 hours 24 minutes in the half marathon and Olivia Killen came 175th place in 2:33 in the same race. There were 196 finishers. In the 9 mile event, Mike Mears managed to grab himself a podium position coming 3rd overall in  1:06. Kate Harding came 73rd in 1:42 and Mandy Ward 86th in 1:45.
Pip's 50th Parkrun at Killerton

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Axmouth Challenge
Last Sunday several Honiton Running Club members took the short journey to Axmouth to take part in the Axmouth Challenge. There are several races of varying lengths on offer including 9.2 miles, 5.3 miles, 3 miles and 1 mile. Most of the HRC contingency took on the 9.2 miles and the first home for the Club was Vernon Gillard who finished 17th in 1 hour 13 minutes and 2 seconds. Next back was Howard Bidmead who came 30th in 1:18:37. Hadleigh Davies had worked his way through from the back of the pack, overtaking club mates as he went, to eventually come 34th in 1:20:17. Judy Davey finished directly behind 14 seconds later with her husband, Steve Davey, hot on her heels 51 seconds after her. There was a short gap of HRC runners then with Roger Saunders coming 41st in 1:24:10. Rebecca Stevens came 42nd in 1:25:12. Martin Killick came 44th in 1:25:41 having enjoyed the race followed by Rachel Hennessey in 48th place in 1:26:14 who didn’t! Luke Holway confessed that he has enjoyed indulging over Christmas but was pleased he completed the race coming 62nd place in 1:33:01. New Honiton runner, Jenny Lidster had a great run coming 74th in 1:39:46. The race is made up of several loops and is predominantly on road although the off road parts were extremely muddy and slippery. The race was won by Robert Mann in 56:08 and there were 85 finishers.
Several Honiton runners took part in the 5 mile race with Alasdair Moffett leading them home to come 4th overall in 46:43. Sean Corbett followed coming 6th in 54:34 and Kate Harding came 9th in 55:41. Mandy Ward completed the HRC line-up to come 14th in 1:00:58. Ross Wayne won the race in 40:50 and there were 19 finishers. The race consists of the 1st loop of the longer race including all of the off-road muddy parts!
Emily and Gabriella Pepper took part in the 1 mile race. Emily, aged 9, finished in 11:36 with her younger sister finishing in 13:14.
Runners were greeted with some warming refreshments upon their return. 
Howard's early new year's breakfast run - thank you Howard and Helen!
Olivia's Race Diary
For 2020 Olivia has provided a race diary which is linked here. It will also appear under the Events Tab for future reference. 

This Week

17/02/2020

Club Calendar

Mon-Wed nights meet at 6:30pm at Honiton Community College room P1 by Gym behind main block unless
​advised otherwise below.  
 Hi Vis/Reflectors are now essential for club runs in the winter.
Monday Night
Olivia's Sidmouth Run - POSTPONED
Meet at Honiton Community College 6.30pm for a town run..CLASSROOM NOT BOOKED. Meet in car park. 
Tuesday Night. 
Juniors meet 
See here for details
Wednesday Night
5K Handicap Run
Meet just off Old Elm Rd at 6:30pm to register. All  pace groups catered for. Start at  6:35pm. Map here but note we now start at finish point.
Thursday
No event
Friday
Friday tempo run. Meet at car park on corner of Silver St/School Lane at 18:30. Suitable for all you run at your own pace or with others.
Saturday ​
​Killerton Parkrun at 9am 
Exeter Parkrun at 9am
​Seaton Parkrun at 9am
Exmouth Parkrun at 9am. 
Haldon Forest Parkrun at 9am
Sunday

Maps and Parking here

Club Kit Page

Order Form for kit here
Page Editors
Judy, Roger