The weather was reasonably warm and dry for Axe Valley Runner’s Colyton Fiver multi-terrain race last Sunday. This is the first time this flat two lap race has been partly off road and several Honiton Running Club members gave it a try. Steve Davey was first back for Honiton in 9th place in 32 minutes 39 seconds with Suzanne Spiller next in 15th place in 34:15. She was 1st lady winning a Pudsey Bear. Howard Bidmead followed one place and 12 seconds later with Suzanne’s husband, Simon, coming 22nd in 36:14. New member Mark Dallyn did well in his first race for the club coming 23rd in 36:40 having overtaken John Burgess on the second lap. John was next back in 26th place in 37:16. This was Steve Briggs’ first race back after injury so he was pleased to finish  42nd in 40:31. Clare Melbourne had a good run coming 57th in 44:44 and Val Hales had her usual consistent run finishing in 76th in 52:48. Wendy Williams didn’t have such a great run coming 77th in 54:08. The winner was Tim Lenton in 28:09 and there were 77 finishers.

There was also a fun run and three Honiton juniors took part. Iain Ross was second overall finishing in 16:27 having been overtaken just as he came in the gate for the finish. Harry Whiteley was 5th in 17:41 and Florence Swan was first female back in 7th place overall in 18:20. There were 29 runners and Jacob Clode won the race in 16:16.

Thanks to AVR for organising another great race.

Honiton Running Club seemed to take over the Community College in Minehead when its two full mini buses arrived last Sunday transporting the runners for the Exmoor Stagger and Stumble. There were 31 representatives of the Club taking part. Both races provide a challenging off road course using the steep and varied terrain of the Moor and both usually boast breathtaking views. Unfortunately, although the weather was pretty good for running, it was still very foggy at times and difficult to see a matter of feet let alone across the valleys. The distance of the Stagger is 16 miles with total ascent of 3627 ft. The route takes runners from Minehead to the highest point on Exmoor, Dunkery Beacon and then back to Minehead. Although the Stumble is only 7 miles, this is a race not to be taken lightly as it too has tough climbs and descents.

Ian Stewart is running very well at the moment and led Honiton home in style finishing in 14th place in 2 hours 14 minutes. Graham Reeves much prefers road running and is usually closer to Ian than he was on Sunday but he still managed to lead the next 6 Honiton runners home who all finished within 5 minutes of each other. Steve Davey knocked over 8 minutes of last year’s time and managed to win a trophy for coming 3rd in his age category. Heather Foundling-Hawker was another of this 6 finishing as 3rd lady overall. Fran Bond completed this group winning 2nd in her category. Dennis Costello was tackling this distance for the first time since this year’s London Marathon and John Burgess had upgraded from the Stumble to the Stagger on a whim when he was registering regretting it as soon as he had passed the split for the two races.  Tracey Strawbridge and Wendy Le Masurier decided some time ago that they would bravely tackle the Stagger and becoming resigned to the commitment, they actually quite enjoyed it.

Full Honiton results: 14th Ian Stewart 2:14, 31st Graham Reeves 2:28, 34th Steve Davey 2:29, 37th Richard Harvey 2:30, 41st Bruce Strawbridge 2:31, 43rd Heather Foundling-Hawker 2:31, 45th Fran Bond 2:33, 86th Stephen Boyes 2:48, 90th Howard Bidmead 2:52, 143rd Dennis Costello 3:14, 151st John Burgess 3:18, Tracey Strawbridge and Wendy Le Masurier 4:06. There were about 185 runners.

In the Stumble Rod Inglis led Honiton home coming 10th in 58:03. Roger Saunders has been nursing a bad cold and although he began with a Stagger entry he took the opportunity of changing to the Stumble at the split point. Judy Davey was also entered for the Stagger but sustained a calf injury just before the split and she also took the sensible option of taking the Stumble route. It wasn’t long before she was overtaken by Roger and then Mark Andow much to Mark’s delight until he realised Judy was hobbling. His lead didn’t last long before he managed to turn his ankle which forced him to walk. Judy caught him up only for them both to be overtaken by an even more delighted Nick Thorpe. Although Judy was disappointed she still managed to win her age category which softened the blow. Sandra Thorpe had a good run following a period of injury and it was great to see Alan Nichols take part in the outing after moving to Wales. It was great to see Val Hales running for the first time in a Honiton top smiling as she finished as always. Ian Jeeves coaxed Maggie Dillon along the route to complete the Honiton line up.

Honiton Stumble results: 10th Rod Inglis 58:03, 28th Roger Saunders 1:05, 31st Nick Thorpe 1:07, 32nd Mark Andow 1:07, 33rd Judy Davey 1:07, 45th Nick Bradley-Carter 1:09, 53rd Olivia Higginson 1:12, 58th Sandra Thorpe 1:13, 60th Alan Nichols 1:14, 64th Sam Shute 1:15, 65th Clare Melbourne 1:15, 68th Jo Davey 1:18, 73rd Jennie Sleeman 1:20, 80th Venetia Topham 1:23, 82nd Liz Corney 1:24, 95th Val Hales 1:30, 98th Maggie Dillon & Ian Jeeves 1:42. There were just over 100 runners. 

Having worked up a cracking appetite, the Honiton runners treated themselves to slices of cake at the College before stopping off on the way back for a very enjoyable pub meal. Thanks to the organizers of the races and marshals but special thanks to Bruce for organizing the trip.

Honiton Running Club held its own Cotleigh Canters last Sunday. Runners were blessed with good weather. Following a frosty start to the day, the sun soon showed it still had some warmth about it and this made ideal running conditions for competitors. The races were based at Cotleigh Village Hall and runners could choose between a 3k fun run or the road 5k and 10k races all running the quiet country lanes of Cotleigh.

The 5k race was won by Jon Bird in 13.43. If there was a prize for the furthest travelled runner he would have won that too as he came all the way from Cheltenham! HRC’s junior members dominated the first few places in this race starting with Henry Riddle who finished  2nd overall in 20.10 with Iain Ross hot on his heels finishing in 3rd place in 20.28. HRC juniors also had the first and second ladies home; Ruth Squires who finished 8th overall in 21.38 and Anna Lamb 17th  in 25.53. HRC’s president Alan Rowe MBE ran with Wayne Spiller with The Baton finishing in 22nd place in 27.51. There were 32 finishers overall.

Other HRC 5k finishers: 5th Jack Elsom 20.41, 6th Reuben Heeler-Frood 21.18, 7th Arthur Heeler-Frood 21.25, 9th Sam Taylor 22.14, 10th Rowan Westall 22.51, 11th Harry Whiteley 22.55, 13th Thomas Lilley 25.02, 19th Morgan Davy 26.40, 21st Jake Harvey 27.24

The 10k race was two loops of the 5k race and this was won by Robert Orton in the great time of 35 minutes 1 second. HRC’s own Ian Stewart had a great run to come 2nd in 38:12. Graham Reeves was next back finishing 7th in 41:17. Hadleigh Davies made his debut race for the club in style to come 8th in 42:33. The first lady overall was HRC’s Ceri Oak who is well on the way to full fitness after battling an injury for almost a year. She came 16th overall in 46:33.

Other HRC 10k runners: 22nd Nick Bradley-Carter 48:02, 25th Lesley Crocker 48:29, 35th Linda Pike 55:26, 37th Sam Shute 57:20, 40th Kathy Layzell 59:38 and 41st Carol Turnham 61:12. There were 43 finishers.

The first runner across the finishing line in the 3k fun run was Edmond Grierson of Sidmouth Running Club in 13.43. Most of the older HRC juniors had taken part in the 5k but the younger members were well represented with Sasha Davy coming 2nd overall and 1st U13G and James Oak tackling this distance for the first time to come 15th in 17.43. There were an amazing 48 finishers in this race.

Thanks to the people of Cotleigh for supporting the run and providing the car park. Money raised will go to local causes.

Honiton Running Club managed a great turnout for the inaugural running of the Minster Challenge organised and based at Axe Valley Community College last Sunday. This was a 7 ½ mile multi-terrain run with plenty of hills and made especially tough by the amount of rain we have had recently. Once out of Axminster, the race followed country lanes, footpaths, fields and woods before a long down hill stretch of road close to the finish.

Bruce Strawbridge and Steve Davey often have a battle for finish position and this time it was Bruce’s turn to step over the line first. The pair had run almost the entire race neck and neck and Bruce was given a time of one second faster to finish in 57 minutes 40 seconds coming 14th with Steve 15th in 57:41. This was Suzanne Spiller’s first race for Honiton and she stormed home to finish first lady for Honiton and second lady overall in 23rd position in 1:01:07 one place ahead of Howard Bidmead who finished in 1:01:30. Suzanne’s husband Simon was also racing for Honiton for the first time and he did very well to finish in 35th place in 1:05:08 although he found the hills quite tough. John Burgess had overtaken both Simon and Judy Davey early on in the race and he kept a safe distance in front of Judy for the rest of the race finishing 37th in 1:05:37. Judy was next back in 40th place in 1:06:11 having been chased by Mark Andow for much of the race. Mark couldn’t quite catch her and finished three places later in 1:06:59. Nick Bradley-Carter hasn’t run that distance for a while and he’s not too keen on mud so he was pleased to finish 56th in 1:10:04. Lin Pike has spent the last couple of weeks encouraging her club mates to take part in the race and she did well to come 79th in 1:19:37. Kathy Layzell and Carol Turnham thoroughly enjoyed the race finishing together in 1:27:16 and 88th place. Val Hales completed the Honiton line up in 95th place in 1:38:52. The overall race winner was James Denne of Exeter Harriers in 47:06 and the first lady was Emma Hitchens of Haldon Trail Runners in 53:16. There were 97 finishers in the main race.

Thanks to the organisers, marshals and everyone else involved for a very successful race which hopefully will become a regular fixture on the racing calendar.

Meanwhile, Graham Reeves travelled further afield to Burnham on Sea in North Somerset to run the half marathon. After last weeks pb in Bristol, Graham was looking for another quick time and with a nice flat route and some fine weather he wasn’t disappointed. He came in 10th place in a time of 87 minutes 27 seconds knocking another 2 minutes off of last weeks pb.