Several Honiton Running Club members took part in the Over the Hill and Farway 10k organised by Farway Primary School last Sunday. The figure of eight loop includes the notorious Warren Hill which has a total climb of 432 feet. This is completed within the first 3k of the race and the first male and female to the top are awarded a very well deserved prize for King and Queen of the Hill. This year these prizes were awarded to the male and female winners of the whole race; Tim Lenton and Amy Greenhalgh both of Axe Valley Runners.

Chris Entwistle was first back for Honiton in a time of 42:46. He finished 4th overall although he was 2nd at the top of the hill. Richard Harvey was next back in 46:28 in 7th place with Steve Davey, as usual, not far behind finishing 24 seconds and 2 places later.

Suzanne Spiller was first Honiton lady home and 2nd lady overall finishing in 12th position in a time of 47:27. Richard Harris whipped up the hill but couldn’t sustain his position and eventually finished 15th in 48:48. Julie Payne has had the best part of a year off running but finished strongly in 17th place in 49:41. Tim Wigram was racing in a Honiton top for the first time and managed to beat his time of last year by about 2 minutes. He was 18th in 50:23 followed by Judy Davey in 50:34 who he had overtaken in the last 200 metres. Mark Andow had managed to keep with Judy until the 6k marker and didn’t finish too far behind in 22nd place in 51.35. John Burgess has had an enforced rest from running for a few weeks and is struggling with his fitness but he finished a very creditable 28th in 54:18. Val Hales has run very little recently but she has run this race before and enjoyed it so she thought she’d give it another go. She finished 47th in 1:10:42. There were 51 runners. Thanks to the marshals, organisers and cake makers for a great event.

Further afield but still in Devon, ten Honiton runners braved the early start time of 9am to do the Torbay Half Marathon. The race starts and finishes on the sea front Eastern Esplanade, Paignton. It is a two lap course with one anti clockwise starting lap around the green before heading to Torquay. Weather conditions at the start were grey and overcast but did improve with the sun coming out by the time the runners got to Torquay on the first lap. First home for Honiton was Vernon Gillard in 1:35.15, next home was Mark Dallyn in 1:45.20, followed by Lesely Crocker in about 1:50:00, Jennie Sleeman 1:55.01, Kathy Layzell 2:09.56, Joanne Davey 2:10.32, Wendy Le Masurier 2:11.01, Clare Melbourne 2:15.20, Kelly Allison who was running her first half marathon in 2:18.42 and Wendy Williams 2:31.08. The race was won by Boniface Kiprop in 1:05.20. There were 1538 runners.

On the same day, Stephen Boyes took part in the Cheltenham Challenge along the Cheltenham Circular Footpath which begins and ends at the Racecourse. Participants can choose to walk or run any or all of the four sections. Of course, Stephen chose to run the whole route making a marathon distance of 26.2 miles completing it in 4 hours 10 minutes. A great effort!

On Sunday, 2nd June, 9 Honiton Running Club members took part in the Run in the Wild 10k race around the grounds of Cricket St Thomas. This is a tough, hilly off road race organised by Chard Running Club. It was a gorgeous summer’s day although a little warm for running but disappointingly there were only 120 runners compared to last year when there were over 200. The beach must have been more appealing for some. Chris Entwistle was wearing his Honiton vest for the first time and he did the club proud coming a fantastic 3rd overall in a time of 48 minutes 31 seconds. Richard Harvey tried his best to keep in front of Steve Davey and he succeeded coming 15th in 50:02. Steve was only 32 seconds behind in 18th position. Suzanne Spiller was next back coming 3rd lady overall in 31st place in 54:22. She also won the 1st senior lady position. As usual, Vernon Gillard’s decision to race was a late one but he was pleased to come 35th in 55:37. He was followed by Judy Davey who had swapped positions with Simon Spiller countless times throughout the race. Judy finished 43rd in 58:04 and was first in her age category. Steve Briggs could see Simon and Judy throughout the race and he managed to overtake Simon within half a mile from the finish. He came 47th in 58:25 with Simon just one place and 10 seconds later. Last but definitely not least as she managed 2nd in her category was Jennie Sleeman. All runners agreed it was a very hard race but a great venue with some fantastic views.

Some of these runners were racing again last Saturday at the Umborne Ug. This is also a tough 10k multi-terrain race with plenty of hills but spectacular views. The day started off a little chilly but this is an evening race and by the time the race and barbecue began the summer evening was perfect for spectators and just a little too warm for the runners. Tim Lenton of Axe Valley Runners came in first with a new course record of 39:29. New Honiton runner Alasdair Moffett was first back for the club in 8th place with a time of 47:45. Richard Harvey and Steve Davey repeated their battle of the previous week with positions changing several times. The result was the same but closer with Richard 11th place in 48:44 and Steve just 3 seconds later. Steve took the male vet 50 prize of a bottle of wine. Young Finlay Fuller certainly gave the adults a run for their money finishing next in 16th place in 50:05. Hot on his heels was Hadleigh Davies in 50:36 and only 2 places later was another youngster, Henry Riddle, in 50:49. Stephen Boyes is more used to racking up marathon miles but he fancied a local run of a shorter length. He finished 28th in 52:48. The next 4 Honiton runners came in one after the other within a minute of each other having switched positions throughout the race. Judy Davey led the group in 35th place in 54:15. She was delighted with her race coming 3rd lady overall winning a bottle of wine. The others were another youngster, Iain Ross and then a little older Simon Spiller and Howard Bidmead. Mark Dallyn only made the start by the skin of his teeth arriving just as racers were listening to the health and safety warnings. Mark struggled with the terrain finishing 41st in 56:01. Completing the group was Steve Briggs in 43rd place in 57:07. There was a great turnout with 90 finishers. Thanks to the organisers but in particular Eleanor Wood and her helpers. A great event, a super atmosphere and wonderful barbecue upon the runners’ return. Money raised went to the upkeep of Umborne Village Hall.

Stephen Boyes took part in the Forces March – 5 marathons in 5 days challenge raising money for the Veterans’ Charity. It started very cold on Wednesday morning, 22nd May so no sun screen was applied! However, although the wind was cold on the back, it got burnt. The first leg was Ilfracombe to Exford, a length of 27.1 mile saw Steve managing it in 4 hours 26 minutes. Runners found a great hill out of Combe Martin and an even better camp site; the 25th best in the country. Next day was Exford to Crowcombe and 26.1 miles. One of the support team physio commented Steve looked ‘rapid’ – he’s never been called that before! He finished in 3 hours 57 so perhaps she was right as there wasn’t much flat on that route. The weather was exceptionally cold for the time of year. The third part was extra long compared to last year because participants ran into Langport to avoid traffic. This made it 5 hours 39 and the distance 32.8 miles! Somerton in Somerset was the camping ground. The 4th leg was Somerton to Maiden Bradley. A short route of 24.1 miles but a great deal of it up hill. Steve finished in 4 hours 2mins. A music festival in the village helped take the pain away. The Final leg was Maiden Bradley to Bulford Camp; a distance of 26 .4 miles. Steve’s time was 4 hours 15 making a total distance of 137.6 miles in five days! Steve will be there next year for the 5th Forces March. A great holiday!

Two Honiton runners travelled to the Forest of Dean on Saturday 25th May for a 10k as part of the Trailblazer series. The weather was sunny but still cool enough to make the forest trail enjoyable and runners were set off in waves according to their predicted finish times. The course was run entirely on the forest trails and the gradual incline from kilometres 3-6 added to the challenge. Clare Melbourne went off too fast, wrongly anticipating a flat course, and paid for it in the second half finishing in 56.24, while Juliet Hall ran a great post-marathon race finishing in 59.23. Runners were rewarded with medals, t-shirt and a goody bag making for a very enjoyable event!