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.
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.
RSS Feed