Last Thursday evening, several Honiton Running Club members took part in what turned out to be a very eventful race at Forde Abbey. Set in the heart of West Dorset the 10km cross country race rolls through woodlands, meadows and rivers on the stunning Forde Abbey Estate. The route includes mud, rocky tracks, hills, spectacular views, more hills and usually two river crossings near to the end, after some more hills.
The lead up to the evening had been very wet and Thursday itself was an extremely wet day. As competitors travelled to the event it was pouring with rain but luckily although the race began wet, the rain did stop mid run. The weather meant that the first, particularly tough, river crossing was cancelled with the route diverted slightly to take runners over the bridge. The second river crossing did go ahead but runners reported that it was hard to keep your feet and the rope provided by organisers to grab hold of was much needed.
Unfortunately, the arrows marking the route left a lot to be desired at various points which meant that a large middle group of runners took a wrong turn taking an accidental short cut. This group rejoined the correct route later in the race having cut the race short by over half a mile. The trophy was handed to the man who crossed the line first but unfortunately he had not completed the full distance. Times and positions are not available as no-one is really sure who ran the full mileage and who did not. Honiton’s first three runners back; Steve Davey, Gary Phillips and Bruce Strawbridge ran the shorter distance but finished within about a minute of each other. Steve Briggs and Rod Inglis managed the full 10k and were next back and John Burgess also stayed on track. Brent Dicks didn’t have a good race at all as he managed to get his foot stuck in a snare which put him on the floor. He did finish albeit with a very sore foot after freeing the snare. Wendy Williams was the only Honiton lady flying the flag after changing arrangements just so she could take part.
The lead up to the evening had been very wet and Thursday itself was an extremely wet day. As competitors travelled to the event it was pouring with rain but luckily although the race began wet, the rain did stop mid run. The weather meant that the first, particularly tough, river crossing was cancelled with the route diverted slightly to take runners over the bridge. The second river crossing did go ahead but runners reported that it was hard to keep your feet and the rope provided by organisers to grab hold of was much needed.
Unfortunately, the arrows marking the route left a lot to be desired at various points which meant that a large middle group of runners took a wrong turn taking an accidental short cut. This group rejoined the correct route later in the race having cut the race short by over half a mile. The trophy was handed to the man who crossed the line first but unfortunately he had not completed the full distance. Times and positions are not available as no-one is really sure who ran the full mileage and who did not. Honiton’s first three runners back; Steve Davey, Gary Phillips and Bruce Strawbridge ran the shorter distance but finished within about a minute of each other. Steve Briggs and Rod Inglis managed the full 10k and were next back and John Burgess also stayed on track. Brent Dicks didn’t have a good race at all as he managed to get his foot stuck in a snare which put him on the floor. He did finish albeit with a very sore foot after freeing the snare. Wendy Williams was the only Honiton lady flying the flag after changing arrangements just so she could take part.
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