On Sunday, 21st April, three Honiton Running Club members joined the 35,000 others to stand on the start line at the London Marathon. Hadleigh Davies who was running for CLIC Sargent was delighted to finish in 3 hours 28 minutes meaning he broke the 3:30 barrier. Judy Davey  was less than 2 minutes behind and was just 14 seconds outside 3:30 having had the 3:30 pace maker overtake her on The Mall within spitting distance of the finish. Nevertheless, she was delighted with her performance coming 25th overall in her age category. Juliet Hall joined the beginners group at the Club last year and, running for The Donkey Sanctuary, she bravely took on the challenge. She had a complete mix of emotions; she laughed, she cried, she smiled and she said thank you a thousand times to the supporting crowd. She ran all the way and managed to find a spring in her step for the last mile – the very proud owner of a London Marathon finishers’ medal. She finished in 4:52 – a great result. She’s now inspired to run Amsterdam Marathon and try to beat her time!

Last Saturday, three Honiton runners headed off to Haldon Hill to do the Haldon Heartbeat. The race starts and finishes at Exeter Racecourse so the cold wind felt even chillier as it whipped over the hill but the runners soon warmed up as they set off on the 8 mile route. The first two miles of the race is a loop on top of the hill close to the racecourse followed by a long descent on forest roads and paths into woods. After a steep muddy climb that most have to walk, the route heads back towards the racecourse with several more climbs before regaining the top of the hill and the final mile to the finish. First in for Honiton was Ian Stewart with a very good 17th place in 56:57; next home was Rod Inglis 60th in 1:03:24 and finally John Burgess, 105th in 1:10:12. John was particularly pleased as he came third in his category having over-taken the 4th placed runner a few yards from the line. The race was won by Lee Turner of Torbay AC in a time of 49:15. There were 193 finishers.

On Sunday four Honiton runners rose early to brave another chilly spring morning
to run the Plymouth Half Marathon which  starts at 9am. Over 3000 runners on
Plymouth Hoe observed a 30-second silence at the start of the race to remember
those killed and injured in Boston. The race was won by Tadele Geremew from
London in 1:09. For the Honiton runners this was the first time Roger Saunders
had run this event and enjoyed the route through the grounds of Saltram House to
finish as 452 runner in a time of 1:41:16. Amazingly his ride share Mark Dallyn
came in 2 seconds immediately behind him to smash his previous PB at 1:51:51 with 1:41:18 so he was overjoyed with his time even if he didn't beat Roger. Steve Briggs also finished not far behind at 664 in 1:45:20 with a good run for him. Graham Reeves also started the race but was seen hobbling off at Saltram obviously with some kind of injury.

 

Howard Bidmead travelled up to Arlington Court in North Devon for a race advertised as one of Devon's most beautiful and tough off road 10k's. Runners were not disappointed with fabulous views and serious climbs but with the sun shining it was perfect running conditions. Howard ran well for the first part of the race but suffered when an injury sustained on the Grizzly forced him to slow down considerably for the last 5k. Despite this Howard still finished in 49mins and took the award for the first male vet O55.

Honiton Running Club’s very own Honiton Hippo took place last Sunday. The terrain was extremely muddy and even though runners waded through the River Otter right at the end of the race giving them a brief wash, they were still plastered almost from head to foot as the field out of the river seemed to be the muddiest part of the whole run. Runners were taken through woods, fields, paths and roads all managing to boast a hill or two. Half way through the race runners are taken down a steep hill before entering the Land Rover Experience just to climb all the way to the top of it again! Runners are then treated to a Land Rover Experience of their own with the ground pre churned by 4 wheel drive vehicles. 

The race was won by local Axe Valley Runner Tim Lenton in a time of 50 minutes 21 seconds and the first lady was Ellie Sutcliffe of Exmouth Harriers in 58:42.

Although many Honiton Running Club members were involved with organisation and marshaling, some did manage to run. First home was Ian Stewart in 58:15 in 10th place. Amazingly the next two in for Honiton were both two of the older juniors with Henry Riddle coming 15th in 1:01:39 and Findlay Fuller 19th in 1:02:05. Suzanne Spiller was the 1st Honiton lady home coming 3rd lady overall in 26th place in 1:04:22. 

Other Honiton runners’ results: 21st Jarrod Brown 1:02:05, 34th Richard Harris 1:06:43, 45th Tom Dunn 1:09:05, 46th Vernon Gillard 1:09:21, 47th Simon Spiller 1:09:45, 72nd Helen Davy 1:16:42, 75th Pippa Westall 1:17:04, 77th Sarah Warren 1:17:55, 87th Esme Wilson 1:20:11, 105 Hayden Adamson 1:25:04, 107 Pete Lyus 1:25:11, 110th Jo Jo Davey 1:26:49, 117th Carol Turnham 1:28:55, 130th Wendy Le Masurier 1:34:44, 138th Wendy Williams 1:39:43. There were 171 finishers.

The Hippo Calf, which is mainly aimed at juniors aged 9 and over, took place at the same time. It is approximately 3K and starts with the same route as the beginning of the main race. Much to the disappointment of many juniors, organisers decided the river was too swollen to risk taking the youngsters across this year. This did mean that finishing times were much quicker. The race was won by Sam Pyne in a time of 12:07. First back for Honiton was Jack Elsom in 12:49 in 4th place overall making him 2nd U16 boy. Arthur Heeler-Frood was 5th overall and 2nd U11 boy in a time of 13:22. Harry Whiteley also gained a prize for 3rd U16 boy finishing 7th overall in 13:33. Honiton girls did very well too with Sasha Davy winning her U13 girl category coming 19th overall in 14:27. Honiton girls took all 3 top spots in the U16 group with Florence Swan coming 1st in 13:48, Isabel Helston 2nd in 14:22 and Morgan Davy 3rd in 14:25.There were 54 finishers. The primary school team cup was awarded to Redstart Primary School, Chard for the first time. 

There were plenty of other Honiton junior members achieving some very creditable results including: 6th Aidan Harrison 13:31, 10th Olly Talbot 13:54, 11th Max Helston 13:56, 12th Harry Boswell 13:58, 16th Iain Ross 14:19, 21st Thomas Lilley 14:34, 24th Sam Taylor 14:49, 29th Josh Rowe 15:28, 40th Hannah Land 18:28, 41st James Oak 18:47, 44th Verity Fuller 19:03, 45th Ella Harvey 19:06, 46th Megan Burton 19:28 There were 54 finishers.

Thanks to the many people who supported and assisted in any way and especially the landowners for allowing hundreds of muddy feet to cross their land. 

Meanwhile, a little further afield, Stephen Boyes took part in the Brighton Marathon. Despite the strong winds and not feeling quite as fit as he would like, he managed to finish in a time of 3 hours 39 minutes.

On Easter Monday, in the perishing cold, four Honiton Running Club members took part in The Easter Bunny 10k based around Yeovilton. It is a fast course with the last 5k being a loop of Yeovilton airbase and almost pancake flat. Steve Briggs finished in 47 minutes, John Burgess 49 and Clare Melbourne 54. Jo Jo Davey’s ambition was to finish under the hour which she did in fine style, smashing her personal best time for the distance to finish in 57 minutes.

 Last Sunday, Graham Reeves took part in the Paris Marathon after following a rigid training regime. The weather was in his favour with sun and cool temperatures and just a slight breeze. The Marathon went really well for him and helped by the cheering crowds, he surpassed his expectations finishing in 3 hours 8 minutes. He smashed his previous personal best time and hopes to have secured a place in next year’s London Marathon gaining a ‘Good for Age’ place. 

Back in England it was very cold and windy on the seafront at Exmouth for the start of Sidmouth Running Club’s Exe to Axe race. Three Honiton runners took part in this 21 mile race which follows the coastal path from Exmouth to Seaton going through Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Branscombe and Beer. The weather did feel warmer for the runners as they climbed the many cliffs. Steve Davey was first back for Honiton finishing 32nd in 3 hours 41 with Bruce Strawbridge following shortly after in 39th place in 3:44. Mark Dallyn completed the race for the first time and understandably found it very tough but was pleased to finish in 93rd place in 4:08. There were 184 finishers, almost double that of last year and the winner was local Axe Valley Runner Tim Lenton in 2:46.

On the same day several Honiton runners took advantage of the fairly flat Taunton Half Marathon. Jennie Sleeman led the group home completing a pb run to finish in 1 hour 50 minutes. She was followed just 34 seconds later by Nick Thorpe with John Burgess not far behind in 1:51. Lin Pike is running extremely well at the moment and also managed a pb just missing out on a sub 2 hour finish by 12 seconds. Other Honiton runners with their finishing times were: Sandra Thorpe 2:01, Jo Jo Davey 2:06, Wendy Le Masurier 2:14, Kathy Layzell 2:16 and Wendy Williams 2:55.