Press Release (Dated October 2nd 2005)

A fine autumn morning greeted the 164 runners for the Honiton 12k Road Race and Fun Run last Sunday. An enthusiastic crowd cheered off the runners of the main race following the signal from Honiton Mayor Sally Casson. They streamed away from the High Street chasing the lead car driven by main sponsor Alan Crow of Fenny Bridges Garage. The Fun Runners, who were started by Gemini FM Radio, made short shift of their event and were streaming onto the field after only a few minutes to claim their medals and a well deserved drink.

The main race field sprinted away towards Heath Park and on a loop via Iron Bridge to Gittisham and back to Allhallows Field taking in fast stretches of road but also a couple of stiff climbs. In the men's race Royston Green, last years record breaking winner, pushed hard from the start but couldn’t break the elastic between himself and Neil Mytton of Plymouth Harriers and several other runners who were challenging for top spot. However Neil never got the better of the Bristol man and Royston stormed onto the home straight with a slender lead at the tape of only 9 seconds. His time was over a minute slower than last years record run but he was happy just to get to the line in the lead in a time of 41.03. Neil was second in 41.12 followed in third by Lee Robert Turner of South Devon AC in 41.58. The race was well supported by teams from all over the south west region including large teams from Plymouth Harriers and Axe Valley Runners who enthusiastically shouted their runners home. Home club Honiton RC had only two runners in the mens race due to organising commitments. Grant Boyd came home well pleased with his debut in the race in 44th place and a time of 50.57 then swiftly motored off to start a shift at work. Alan Rowe enjoyed his morning excursion on the local lanes and finished in 135th in a time of 65.36.

Honiton were more to the fore in the ladies race where their star runner Heather Foundling-Hawker dominated the field. Heather used the race as a warm down for her European Champs 50k race in Palermo next week but still pushed on hard enough to easily take the course record with a time of 46.20 and there were only 20 men in front of her. The prize money was very welcome as it will help towards her costs in attending the Palermo race as will the £100 grant from Honiton Running Club which they hope will help her to achieve her goal of becoming European 50k champion and springboard her towards the world championship next year in Asia.

Second home in the ladies race was Marilyn Blair of Torrington AC in 49.06, well clear of veteran runner Jenny Mills of Launceston Road Runners who had battled with Stephanie Oliffe of Torrington AC and Eleanor Wood of AVR throughout the race with only 32 seconds separating them at the finish. Jenny came home in a time of 52.29, Stephanie in 52.53 and Eleanor in 53.01. Honiton’s Ceri Oak has been out of circulation on the race scene for a couple of years but is now coming back to fitness and was pleased with her finish time of 58.36. Newcomer Glenda Levy took her debut race for the club in her stride and finished well in 148th in a time of 69.40.

Honiton Running Club would like to thank all sponsors of the event, all helpers on the day, marshalls, Police, St John Ambulance, Mayor Sally Casson, Gemini FM, Honiton Sports Centre Staff and all others that gave up their time to make this a special event. Profits from the race will be donated to Exeter Leukaemia Fund.
 

Mens Result

1. Royston Green, Bristol & West 41.03;

2. Neil Mytton, Plymouth Harriers, 41.12;

3. Lee Turner, South Devon AC, 41.58;

4. Andrew Chambers, Exeter Harriers, 42.31;

5. Martin Pearde, Taunton AC, 42.38;

6. Martin Shapland, SWRR, 42.43;

7. Paul Thomas, SWRR, 43.01;

8. Guy Peterson, Plymouth Harriers, 43.04;

9. John Shapland, North Devon Road Runners, 43.11;

10. Russ Quew, Plymouth Harriers, 43.38.

Ladies Result:

1. Heather Foundling-Hawker, Honiton RC, 46.20 (Course Record);

2. Marilyn Blair, Torrington AC, 49.06

3. Jenny Mills, Launceston Road Runners, 52.29;

4. Stephanie Olliffe, Torrington AC, 52.53;

5. Eleanor Wood, AVR, 53.01;

6. Sue Hewings, Newton Abbot AC, 53.09;

7. Jacqueline Goldsmith, Stopsley Striders, 53.55;

8. Polly Randall-Johnson, D&C Police, 55.11;

9. Pip Hayes, SWRR, 57.08;

10. Joyce Cummings, AVR, 58.27;

A tough extended course for the Musbury Challenge faced Honiton runners on Sunday. Seven and a half miles of grinding uphill and fast descents makes this autumn race as challenging as the Grizzly so its not surprising that only 83 runners took it on. Richard Harvey enjoyed his morning on the hills around Musbury Castle and his consistent training paid off as he led home the Honiton group of six. Vernon Gillard had led for the first climb but Richard overhauled him soon after and steadily built a lead which saw him finish a minute ahead of Vernon in 64.07 and 16th place. Vernon was only three places behind though in 65.10. Club Social Secretary Nick Thorpe must have been quietly putting in the miles as he was next home in 44th place with 74.37. Recently retired Honiton schoolteacher John Burgess  found the hills difficult to negotiate but still came home first in the over 60 category in 52nd place and 78.44 - that's the second award in a week for John who came third in the Devon AAA half marathon at Seaton last week. Sandra Thorpe - editor of the club newsletter -  was the sole representative of Honiton ladies and she had a ding-dong battle with Pete Lyus, she just got the better of him at the finish in 72nd place with 85.31, Pete running through the finish one place back in 86.05.

Two Bridges Challenge 2005 (Dated August 31st 2005)

On Saturday Honiton's star runner Heather Foundling - Hawker continued her
progress in Ultra-marathon running by winning the historic Two Bridges
Challenge - a 35 mile multi terrain race in Scotland. The Scottish race is
twinned with the Dartmouth Discovery 32 mile race that Heather won in June.
Since the Dartmouth race Heather won the UK trial race at Boddington,
Gloucester to become AAA 50k champion and book her place in the European 50k
finals in Palermo, Crete, in October.

The Two Bridges Challenge is an exciting and demanding multi-terrain ultra
race over  approximately 35-miles crossing the Forth Road Bridge twice and
covering beautiful and
stunning scenery along the West Lothian coast through the grounds of
Hopetoun House, Hopetoun Estate and along the Fife Coastal Path. The race starts and finishes at the Civil Service Club in Rosyth.

Heather's winning time of 4hours 17 minutes was a new course record and
placed her 6th overall.. She managed about 6 minutes 45 seconds for each of
the first 28 miles but then slowed as the course became very hilly and her
feet were  suffering due to the wet conditions underfoot in the opening
miles. However she was very happy with her performance and hopes to bounce
back into training quite quickly and be at her best for the European
Championships. Heather is also now thinking of another attempt to run a fast
time at the London Marathon next April but will leave the decision until
after the Palermo race and a long chat with her UK coaches.

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In contrast to the Exeter race the Yeovilton 5k course is as flat as a snooker table, consequently it is a flat out sprint from gun to tape with no let up of pace and nowhere to hide. On a very hot and humid evening four Honiton runners toed the line and after a lung bursting effort by everyone Richard Harvey led the Honiton runners home 58th in 19.38. Paul Davey was just behind in 67th and 20.09 with Alan Nicholls finishing in 89th and 21.38. Then  young Carla Messer sprinted through the tape in an excellent personal best time of 22.39 which placed her 103rd overall but first under 18 finisher. Carla has been joining a weekly session at Exeter track this summer and the speed training is definitely working - she is looking forward to next months race to hopefully trim a few more seconds from her time.

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Rather than dressing up as druids Honiton Running Club celebrated the Midsummer solstice with their 2^nd annual Predict-a-Time Run. On a glorious summer’s evening the route and views around East Hill, Honiton made for a stunning venue.

With a 3.65 mile multi-terrain course to conquer, 23 runners attempted to predict their finishing times, the winner being the closest finisher to their predicted time. Apart from the distance, all other details of the course were a closely guarded secret. The organisers thought that the numerous stiles, two killer hills, a river crossing and two fields full of cattle (one with bull) may have been too much information.

First home was Garry Perrat from Axe Valley who blasted round in under 24 minutes, winning by over 4 minutes. Trouble is that in this race there are no prizes for finishing first.

The three prize-winning categories were much more closely fought; Kim Werner was second lady finishing in 44.05 - 16 seconds apart from her predicted time. First prize went to Ceri Oak who was only inaccurate by 8 seconds in her finishing time of 38.08.

Not to be outdone, the men’s prize was won by Alan Nicholls, who finished in 37.03, only 3 seconds off his predicted time. Second place went to John Burgess whose time of 37.40 was 29 seconds adrift.

 Pete Lyus was entitled to think he had won the wooden spoon, finishing in 44.47, faster by 7.13 than he had predicted. But Pete had under-estimated Richard Harvey, who managed to get lost and his time of 36.55 was 7.25 slower than predicted. 

Torbay Half-Marathon

Three Honiton runners had an appointment at Torbay on Sunday morning for a hot and windy half marathon. Heather Foundling Hawker is following an ultra-distance training schedule this summer and duly sprinted around the course in her allotted time of 85 minutes to come home second lady  to England International Alison Soutram who finished in 82.45. Heather took the first veterans prize and came away with a new pair of training shoes. Meanwhile Richard Harvey and Paul Davey renewed their challenge for a sub 90 minute time but the conditions were against them with Paul finishing in 148th place in 96.45 and Richard on 100.37 in 204th place.

Midsummer Dream

A large group of Honiton runners went in search of the uncarved block at AVR's annual midsummer pilgrimage around the East Devon countryside. After six pubs, a cream tea, fish and chips and 22 miles of easy running everyone agreed that it was a very pleasant way to spend a day out. Roll on next year. 

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On the same weekend other Honiton runners were testing themselves on less ultra-distance races. In the Crewkerne 9 mile race on Sunday Vernon Gillard came home 45^th in 65.40 while super vet Peter Ruhen wasn’t far behind in 51^st place with 67.37. Paul Davey and Richard Harvey were in Plymouth last weekend to compete in the half marathon but after starting with the 90 minute pacemaker both found the going tough after a few miles. Paul finished 265^th in 1.32.49 with Richard a few minutes behind him.

Sunday's Great West Run around Exeter attracted over 2000 entries including 11 from Honiton Running Club. The warm weather mixed with a little drizzle made it an excellent running day on the physically demanding  Exeter roads. Paul Davey went off fast trying to get away from the other Honiton runners but slowed at about the ten mile mark to see Jarrod Brown and Richard Harvey cruise past. Jarrod pushed on in the last three miles to finish 135th in 89.35 with Richard 190th in a new personal best of 92.29. Paul came home in 200th place in 93.24.  The next three Honiton runners were all stretching their legs after completing the London Marathon a fortnight ago. Vernon Gillard finished 210th in 94.17 while John Burgess finished in 618th in 107.27 with Pete Ruhen just behind him 637th in 107.56.  Warren Oak jogged around the course in 123.30 finishing in 1263rd place not too far in front of Jennie Sleeman and Sue Jones who ran around together 1332nd in 125.30. Tracey Gracewood has been running well lately and proved her stamina by finishing well in 132.49 in 1520th while Tracey Moyse completed her first half marathon 1926th in 157.57 with 100 runners behind her  .

Pete Ruhen ran through the 10k point in 51 minutes and slowed in each successive 10k but kept going well to finish in 12739^th in a time of 4.13.26. Honiton teacher John Burgess went through 10k in 55 minutes and was pleased with his half marathon split of 1.59. By 18 miles John had also been reduced to very slow jogging but came home smiling at the end of his debut marathon with a finishing time of 4.29.22 in 17157^th place. Bill Garvey another debut runner,  went off steadily from the start and was going well until just before 12 miles when he slipped on a water bottle and cut his leg quite badly. But he got back to his feet and kept going steadily to  finish 22758^th in 4.52.22 raising nearly £3000 for charity. Bill promises to be back again next year with a faster time. Alan Rowe enjoyed his stroll around London and was pleased to back mark for the Honiton team finishing in 28012 place in 5.21.26.

Taunton Marathon & Half Marathon (Dated 04/04/2005)

Honiton Runners took a trip over the Blackdown Hills on Sunday to renew their acquaintance with the rigours of the Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon.

Heather Hawker was defending her 2004 marathon crown after a winter plagued by illness. She had placed third in the Grizzly three weeks ago and had clearance from her doctor to run the marathon this week.  Heather was pleased to be amongst her club mates for the first 13 miles which she passed in about 90 minutes. The second half is much more demanding mentally as most of the runners peel off for the half marathon finish while the marathoners have to do it all again. Nevertheless Heather stuck to her task magnificently and maintained a good rhythm to finish in the lead in about 3 hours 10 minutes  to once again take the winners trophy. She can now put her feet up and watch the London race in a fortnights time dreaming of what could have been an excellent London performance if her illnesses had not halted her training for the Elite race. 

Tim Legg decided to have a go at the full marathon distance this year and went through half way in 85 minutes. Tim plodded round steadily until 15 miles after which it was increasingly hard work. At 19 miles he overtook Kevin Hawker but soon his legs were tightening up  so he succumbed to some walking during the last four miles or so but was still able to jog some of it. Tim came home in an excellent 12^th place  and was pleased to just pip Heather to the post with a time of  3 hours 8 minutes  50 seconds. Meanwhile Heather’s husband Kevin had a difficult race suffering with a leg injury. Kevin has been training like a demon all winter and had hoped to finish in a time of around 2 hours 40 minutes but was very happy to see the finish post in about 3 hours 28 minutes.

Several athletes had a go at the half marathon with Julian Gigg leading the pack all the way to the last mile. Club colleague Paul Davis has been improving rapidly of late and overtook Julian but had to make way as Julian surged past again with a few hundred yards to go to finish in a time of  about 90.15 with Paul some 15 seconds back. Jarrod Brown has had the winter off but has started his summer with a bang. He started slowly but increased his pace throughout the race to pass three or four other Honiton runners before the finish in about 91 minutes. Vernon Gillard has been racing consistently over the winter and paced himself around to a time of  about 92.15 which has left him with two weeks to hone his speed for the London Marathon. Richard Harvey ran the first 7 miles with Heather but found the pace a little too hot so throttled back for a few miles and was then towed in by Vernon to a new personal best time of 92.16. Lisa Maggs has also been training all winter for the London Marathon and this was her last long one before the big one. She tried to hold on to Vernon for the first few miles but decided to save a bit for London but still finished in a very good time of 98 minutes. Pete Ruhen also finished the race but we have no time for him yet.

Honiton Running Club AGM and Presentation Evening

At least fifteen Honiton ladies competed this year in about twenty different races. The ladies seem to have a preference for the long and difficult trail races like the Grizzly, Broadclyst Bimble and Harepath. Seven completed the full Grizzly course last year with a further 5 doing the Cub run. Hopefully next year will see them setting about some more of the road races and setting a sackful of new PB’s. At least twenty different Honiton men competed this year in a range of at least 30 different races ranging from Marathons to 5k’s.

On Sunday Honiton runners put their cross trainers on to have a run out in the Broadclyst Bimble 13 mile multi-terrain race. The main attraction is to see how long you can keep upright in the slippery deep mud which is underfoot for most of this demanding race. One runner who obviously enjoyed the conditions was Paul Davey. Paul has been getting very fit in the last year by running a lot of road races but his debut at this race was definitely his best so far. He ran away from his team-mates from gun to tape leading them home in 1.51.35 and 45th place. Richard Harvey tried to reel  Paul in throughout the race but eventually was happy just to try and keep him in sight on the long straights. Richard finished a minute quicker than last year in 1.52.42 and 55th place. Julian Gigg usually leads the Honiton runners home but couldn't get into top gear this time but still managed to get under 2 hours in 1.59.33 and 72nd place. Nick Thorpe enjoyed his trudge through the mud in this Grizzly trial and finished in 2.24.32 and 156th place. Nick was just in front of Nikki Gigg who took a minute off last years time with 2.25.48 and 159th. Club secretary Pete Lyus was overjoyed to slash 5 minutes off last years time with 2.28.34 and 166th place. Jenny Sleeman found the correct course this year and was happy to finish 174th in 2.31.01 while Sandra Thorpe came home 191st in 2.39.06 looking forward to a nice bath and a cup of tea.