On Sunday Richard Jackson completed the Sid Valley Ring half marathon finishing 25th out of 177 in 2hours 14 min. The course followed the newly created Sid Valley Ring walking route, a joint venture between Sidmouth Town Council and the Sid Vale Association. There were plenty of hills on a fantastically scenic but unusually dry route starting and finishing at Sidmouth via Sidbury and Salcombe Regis. There was a social distanced start to the race with groups of six released at one minute intervals. Then amazingly, Richard completed a 115 mile coast to coast bike ride the following day.  An average cross training weekend!

Eight AVR teams took part in last weekend’s third virtual Ekiden marathon relay organised by City Runs. Three teams won their age group with many more individual success stories as runners competed virtually in distances from 1k to 15k – each team completing the marathon distance of 42.2k between six runners.

With icy conditions across the region the relay was extended to three days to ensure the safety of runners. Times reflected the challenging conditions.

The women’s F50 team of Eleanor Wood, Angela Kerr, Sarah Shepley and Carol Austin beat five other teams to take first F50 place in a total time of 3:35:03 just pipping Torquay AC by a couple of minutes. The men’s 60+ team of David Cooke, Alan Morbey, Ian Clements, Keith Agland, Kevin Feeney and Graham Newton finished in 3:27.37 and saw off a strong challenge from Honiton RC to win their age group. Also finishing first were the F60+ team of Shirley Salter, Maxine Sweetman, Lesley Adams, Janette Mack and Diane Newton.

Molly Adkin and Jack Broom were making their AVR club debuts in the mixed team that finished in a very creditable tenth place overall with Molly running an excellent 33:59 for the 8.2k leg and Jack an impressive 56:04 for the 15k leg. The men’s M40 team just pipped the mixed team into ninth place overall in a finish time of 2:41.47.

AVR age group first places were: Kerry Board (1k), Eleanor Wood (1k), Lee Moran (3k), Angela Kerr (3k and 10k), Sarah Shepley (5k), Rob Collier (8.2k), Carol Austin (8.2k), Keth Agland (8.2k), Lesley Adams (8.2k), Kevin Feeney (10k), Graham Newton (15k) and Diane Newton (15k); with Angela Kerr (3k and10K), Graham Newton (15k) and Eleanor Wood (15k) all achieving magnificent 80+ per cent age grade. Jeremy Slade, Liz Slade and Carolyn Nation all smashed their personal bests in their respective legs. With 88 teams taking part, it was all-in-all a very successful weekend for AVR!

Thanks to City Runs for organising the event which helped many runners have a focus for their training during the current lockdown.

Full results: here

With the Covid restrictions still in place the club was unable to hold an awards evening. However that minor detail wasn’t going to stop us!

Following a record number of nominations for awards the committee made their choices and presentations were then made at various AVR runs during December. These were filmed as best we could in sometimes dark, sometimes near hurricane conditions with Amie and James Sibley – the new film producers extraordinaire – putting together a brilliant video, premiered last week on YouTube. For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to see it yet – view it here.

For the record here are the winners:

• MALE RUNNER OF THE YEAR – joint winners Jeremy Slade and Joel Seward

Jeremy for his incredible comeback from serious illness and his unselfish support for other runners in particular seeking out those who may have lost their mojo.

Joel for his brilliant times during lockdowns and diligence and determination with his training runs.

• FEMALE RUNNER OF THE YEAR – Sue Hayes for being the first female home in the Grizzly and first UK finisher in W45 category at the World Half Marathon
• MOST IMPROVED MALE – Shaun Vinnicombe including completing his first (virtual) London marathon
• MOST IMPROVED FEMALE – Natalie McNeice who has gone from strength to strength following her graduation from the first Couch to 5k last year
• FOUNDER’S TROPHY – Andrew Hartnell who stepped forward to organise the virtual monthly handicap
• PRESIDENT’S SHIELD – David Cooke for his M65 UK top ranking in the 200m.
• TEAM – noted this was the hardest to separate but eventually went to the “Grizzly TuTu Gang” who epitomise everything good about teamwork, the club and the Grizzly by supporting each other through the gruelling race
• CLUB PERSON – Rob Collier for all his support to the club during the Covid crisis enabling us to get running again as well as his individual achievements notably his 2:53.33 virtual London marathon
• CHAIR’s AWARD – Mandy Harris for all she has done to support us through Covid as well as working in an ICU in the thick of it all
• HONORARY LIFE MEMBER – Jake Smith who made his senior debut for GB & NI at the World Half Marathon finishing second European in 60:31 placing him third on the UK all time rankings
• SPECIAL AWARD – Tony Smith for his three years as Race Director of the Grizzly
• HANDICAP –First: Bob Carter  Second: Richard Matthews  Third: Vicki Wraight
• LESLEY’s LEMON – Bec Davey ‘for making the chair laugh out loud with her nomination of Tony Smith and Sam Miller for the team award – for producing Jake!” 

Lesley Adams, chair of AVR added “I’m very proud of what we have achieved this year and more than ever everything we have achieved has been down to a series of networks, relationships and friendships we have with each other. We have managed to look after each other during what has been and still is a very testing time for all of us. Please be proud of what you have done, however small, to keep on running and to encourage those around you to do the same.”