On  Sunday 18th May Honiton runners travelled to Cotley to take part in the inaugural running of Chard Running Club’s Wambrook Waddle. This was a challenging multi-terrain 10 run around the fields and woods with a hill or two for added interest as well as plenty of stinging nettles. It was a perfect summer’s day at a great venue with a well marked and marshalled course. Ben Stone was first back for Honiton coming 3rd overall in 46 minutes 11 seconds  and winning his age category. He was followed by Rod Inglis who once again had an amazing run on the back of last week’s efforts at Beer. For the second race running, he was followed by Steve Davey who didn’t feel he had a great run. Rod was 11th in 52:30 and Steve 14th in 54:36. Next back was Bruce Strawbridge who on his comeback race following injury was flabbergasted to find out he had won a trophy for his age category. He came 16th in 56:15. Hot on his heels as he had been for most of the race was Vernon Gillard who finished 18th in 56:27 and only one place behind Vernon was Judy Davey who finished in 57:25 after following both Bruce and Vernon for the entire race. Judy was the sole Honiton lady and was pleased to be 3rd lady overall and also winning a prize for her age category. Next back was Tony Peek who enjoyed the run but had not quite got over a cold. He came 25th in 1:02:24. The Honiton line-up was completed by John Burgess who taking a photograph as he crossed the finish line came 28th in 1:05:25.

There was also the option of a 1k or 2k fun run. Jasmine Stone took part in the 2k run and was first over the finish line. She won a trophy to match her dad’s. All runners concluded that it was a great event and vowed to return next year.

Elsewhere on the same day, Honiton runner Howard Bidmead took advantage of a honeymoon in Guernsey to compete in the  RG Falla Guernsey Quarter Marathon being a 6.5 mile road race which takes place on the West coast of the Island at Vazon Bay. With a 10.30 start the temperature had already reached 20c. The course is an out and back along the seafront which was reasonably flat and making for a fast race. With over 150 runners Howard was pleased to finish in the top 20 with a time of 47m 46s.

The bank holiday sunshine on Monday, 5th May brought out several Honiton Runners to brave the Killerton 10K and Half Marathon races organised by Relish Running Races which specialise in Hills! So it wasn’t a surprise that the routes seem to find as many different ways as possible to climb the wooded hill behind Killerton House. The Half Marathon course was twice around the 10K route. Howard Bidmead and Tony Peek had both pre-entered for the Half Marathon course and they managed to persuade Louise Crisp to join them. It was a wise move as Louise did a great time overtaking Howard at the start of the second loop and finishing in 24th place in 2 hours 3 minutes. Howard finished just behind in 2:07 and surprisingly he found the hills on the second loop much easier. Tony Peek came steaming in at 2:12 to finish 38th but regretting the drinks at the Honiton Sausage and Cider fest the day before. There were 72 finishers. The Half Marathon was won by Milan Goc from Sidmouth an ex Honiton Runner. The 10K runners followed the Half Marathon folks around but thankfully only had to do one loop of the hills. Rod Inglis came in at 50:06 in good form enjoying the route complete with bluebells. He was followed by Roger Saunders who hasn’t been racing for several months due to injury so this was his come-back run. His time was 55:59 which managed to win a prize as first in category. Joe Daly has done a few races recently and came in at 61:01. Finally Roger’s daughter Helen made this her first race after graduating from the beginners group at the club and finished looking very fresh in 64:17.  She wants to do a flat race next though so she can keep running. 195 runners completed the race.

Last Sunday saw a few more Honiton members out taking part in Beer Primary School’s Beer Blazer 10k and 5k starting and finishing at Pecorama. The 10k course covers some of The Grizzly’s toughest terrain including The Stairway to Heaven and a fair chunk of Branscombe Beach. The run was varied including fields, tracks, the Undercliff, cliff tops and open common. Having struggled to the top of the cliffs runners were treated to some breathtaking views of the Jurassic Coast. The race was won by local Axe Valley Runner Tim Lenton in the impressive time of 43:35. First Honiton runner home was Ben Stone in 50:04 and 7th place. Chris Entwistle was next back coming 10th in 53:18 with Richard Harvey closely following coming 13th in 53:52. Richard was a little concerned that Rod Inglis may overtake him as he had an incredible run to finish one place later in 54:20. Rod had overtaken Steve Davey for the first time ever in a race and Steve had to be content to come 18th in 54:55. Richard Harris was next back coming 22nd in 56:04. Howard Bidmead had only been married 2 days but marriage obviously suits him as he had a great run to finish 31st in 56:57 just holding off Honiton’s first lady, Ceri Oak who finished 32nd in 57:18. Simon Spiller struggles with race demons and this race was no exception and he said no-one had told him about the hills! He finished 42nd in 1 hour 17 seconds. Judy Davey had followed him for about 3 miles at a distance and she eventually finished 3 places and 10 seconds later. John Burgess was next coming 89th in 1:11:24 and completing the 10k line up for Honiton was Kathy Layzell who came 101st in 1:14:31. There were 131 finishers. Pippa Westall had also begun the race and having completed the hardest parts (the beach and The Stairway to Heaven), she was running so fast she fell over and ended up being given a lift back and receiving emergency first aid to a nasty gash in her arm.

The 5k distance enticed 3 Honiton juniors out and Iain Ross had a great run to finish 3rd overall in 25:12. Jack Elsom was just 2 places later in 27:02 and Florence Swan came 2nd girl finishing 11th overall in 29:06. Iain and Flo both picking up a medal for their efforts. Also on offer was the mile long fun run which saw junior Jasmine Stone and her younger brother Harrison taking part