Honiton Running Club Press Releases 2025
Budleigh Blister
On Sunday, 19th January, several Honiton Running Club members travelled to Budleigh to take part in the inaugural running of Exmouth Harriers’ Budleigh Blister. This multi-terrain race is just under 10 miles long and its base is at Budleigh Cricket Ground. The race takes runners along the stunning South West Coast Path. The weather was perfect which made for great views; it was a little chilly and dry. The race was won by Tom Merson in 59 minutes 45 seconds and the first HRC runner back was Howard Bidmead, who had an amazing run finishing 41st in 1 hour 21 and winning his age category. Next back was Will Davis who came 51st in 1:22. Lou Bennett led the HRC ladies home coming 52nd in 1:23. Steve Davey followed in 64th place in 1:26. Clare Melbourne had a great run coming 92nd in 1:33 and Graeme Ford’s goal was to come in under 2 hours. He certainly did this in style coming 124th in 1:39. Next came Andrew Palmer in 130th place in 1:41 and Judy Davey’s only goal was to finish the race after being unwell since Christmas. She came 140th in 1:43. Debbie Vinnicombe completed the HRC line-up coming 176th in 2:02. There were 181 finishers. This race had been postponed from November due to one of the named storms and hopefully, will return again this November. All runners agreed it was well organised, a great location and a stunning run, albeit a little hilly!
Axmouth Challenge
On Sunday, 12th January, several Honiton Running Club members travelled the short distance to Axmouth to take part in the multi-terrain Axmouth Challenge. There were several distances on offer and plenty of hills and mud! The weather was perfect being dry and not too cold.
The first race was just over 9 miles and first back for HRC was Ceri Oak who had a great race coming 21st overall and 2nd lady in 1 hour 18 minutes. Howard Bidmead also did really well and followed just one place and 27 seconds later and then came Jo Buxton who finished 25th in 1:19 and 3rd lady. Hannah Brown came 33rd in 1:23 and she was followed by Steve Davey who came 40th in 1:24. Will Davis was next coming 43rd in 1:25, Mike Smith 54th in 1:29 and Martin Killick 64th in 1:34. Jacob Haddon, Darren Boswell-Gallagher and Claire Staniforth all ran together treating it as a training run for the Grizzly in early March. They came 86th in 1:45. There were 92 finishers and the race was won by Wayne Loveridge in 56 minutes.
The 5 mile race was won by Simon Dimmock in 37 minutes and HRC was represented by Bernice Davies who finished 12th in 1 hour 4 minutes. There were 24 finishers. The 3 mile race was won by HRC’s Yossi Maclure in 22 minutes and Yossi’s brother, Rafi, came second in 23 minutes. There were 11 finishers.
There was also a 1 mile race, mainly for the younger children, and HRC was represented by Zac Davies who came 19th in 18 minutes, followed just 3 seconds later by his brother, Will. Their younger sister Olivia, who is only 2 and the youngest runner in the race, completed the line-up finishing in 21 minutes.
Runners were treated to delicious bacon baps and hot soup on their return. As always, it was an extremely well organised race with great support.
On Sunday, 19th January, several Honiton Running Club members travelled to Budleigh to take part in the inaugural running of Exmouth Harriers’ Budleigh Blister. This multi-terrain race is just under 10 miles long and its base is at Budleigh Cricket Ground. The race takes runners along the stunning South West Coast Path. The weather was perfect which made for great views; it was a little chilly and dry. The race was won by Tom Merson in 59 minutes 45 seconds and the first HRC runner back was Howard Bidmead, who had an amazing run finishing 41st in 1 hour 21 and winning his age category. Next back was Will Davis who came 51st in 1:22. Lou Bennett led the HRC ladies home coming 52nd in 1:23. Steve Davey followed in 64th place in 1:26. Clare Melbourne had a great run coming 92nd in 1:33 and Graeme Ford’s goal was to come in under 2 hours. He certainly did this in style coming 124th in 1:39. Next came Andrew Palmer in 130th place in 1:41 and Judy Davey’s only goal was to finish the race after being unwell since Christmas. She came 140th in 1:43. Debbie Vinnicombe completed the HRC line-up coming 176th in 2:02. There were 181 finishers. This race had been postponed from November due to one of the named storms and hopefully, will return again this November. All runners agreed it was well organised, a great location and a stunning run, albeit a little hilly!
Axmouth Challenge
On Sunday, 12th January, several Honiton Running Club members travelled the short distance to Axmouth to take part in the multi-terrain Axmouth Challenge. There were several distances on offer and plenty of hills and mud! The weather was perfect being dry and not too cold.
The first race was just over 9 miles and first back for HRC was Ceri Oak who had a great race coming 21st overall and 2nd lady in 1 hour 18 minutes. Howard Bidmead also did really well and followed just one place and 27 seconds later and then came Jo Buxton who finished 25th in 1:19 and 3rd lady. Hannah Brown came 33rd in 1:23 and she was followed by Steve Davey who came 40th in 1:24. Will Davis was next coming 43rd in 1:25, Mike Smith 54th in 1:29 and Martin Killick 64th in 1:34. Jacob Haddon, Darren Boswell-Gallagher and Claire Staniforth all ran together treating it as a training run for the Grizzly in early March. They came 86th in 1:45. There were 92 finishers and the race was won by Wayne Loveridge in 56 minutes.
The 5 mile race was won by Simon Dimmock in 37 minutes and HRC was represented by Bernice Davies who finished 12th in 1 hour 4 minutes. There were 24 finishers. The 3 mile race was won by HRC’s Yossi Maclure in 22 minutes and Yossi’s brother, Rafi, came second in 23 minutes. There were 11 finishers.
There was also a 1 mile race, mainly for the younger children, and HRC was represented by Zac Davies who came 19th in 18 minutes, followed just 3 seconds later by his brother, Will. Their younger sister Olivia, who is only 2 and the youngest runner in the race, completed the line-up finishing in 21 minutes.
Runners were treated to delicious bacon baps and hot soup on their return. As always, it was an extremely well organised race with great support.