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Super sunny Yeovilton Summer Series

It was one of the hottest evenings of the year for the latest in the summer series of 5k races at RNAS Yeovilton with just four AVRs braving the high temperatures.  The fast, flat course attracts the very speediest the south west has to offer with first male, Andrew Chambers coming home in 15:53 and Exmouth Harriers’ Atsede Gidey, first female in 17:03.

On Wednesday, Carol Austin was second F55 finishing in 23:41.  Matt Hewer was 33rd, seventh M40 in 18:28 with David Cull, 53rd in 19:39 and Matt Chenery 120th in 26:59. Just 144 competed this month with the next event Wednesday 13th August.

 

As I was going to Dalwood Fayre …

On Sunday there was a good turnout of AVRs for the Ruby Red organised, Dalwood Fayre 10k (ish) race; a challenging run around the beautiful Blackdown Hills.  Starting and finishing at Dalwood village hall runners get to experience some of the notorious Dalwood 3 Hills race, which takes place in the winter.  On Sunday a few AVRs experienced a bit more of the course than planned after taking a wrong turning!

AVR scooped second spot in both the men’s and women’s races with Matt Clist in 39:28 and Karen Eyre in 53:33.  Rich Hardy was third and Joel Seward fourth in 41:25 and 41:35 respectively.  Karen Eyre was also first F45 and Matt Clist first M40.  Graham Newton, first M70 completed the age group winners for AVR in a race which is part of the In-Step Devon series and attracted 49 finishers.  Full results.

Seaton parkrun and beyond

On another glorious sunny Saturday AVRs secured the three top spots with Simon Dimmock first male finisher in 19:05; Debbie Whiston first female finisher in 20:15; and Carol Austin, first on age-grade in 80.2% for 24:54.  Big thanks go to Chard Road Runners who had a “takeover day” taking on most of the volunteer roles.

Out on the road there was a mini AVR tour with Jon and Gill Day, Janet Woodward, Paul Johns and James Ashforth all at Mount Edgcumbe parkrun.  Others on their travels included Angela and Martin Kerr at Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge; Craig Tiley at Malahide parkrun in Dublin and Tony Smith and Sam Miller at Vogrie parkrun in Scotland.  Jeremy and Liz Slade enjoyed the hilly but beautiful Llanhydrock parkrun and Anthony and Andrianne Mullins took part in Grangemoor parkrun in Cardiff.  Full list of parkrun tourism is here.

 

And finally …

Look out next Saturday afternoon for Innes Fitzgerald competing in the London Diamond League 5000m in a stacked field.  Watch on BBC1, from 1.15pm.

The Long and the Short of it!

AVRs were out and about at races this weekend with runners involved in everything from a 400m on the track to the very popular Ham and Lyme 50k Ultra showing once again the diversity of the club’s runners.

Ham and Lyme – a beautiful day out

This 50k ultra starts on Ham Hill in Somerset and follows the Liberty Trail – a route taken by six villagers in 1685 to join the Monmouth Rebellion – to finish on the seafront in Lyme Regis. It has become increasingly popular with AVRs during its ten-year history, perhaps attracted by the beautiful colourful ammonite medal and the chance for a day out in the stunning countryside of Somerset and Dorset.  The runners get incredible views of the very best of the South-West scenery especially from the tops of the challenging ascents.  It is primarily self-navigated with some feed stations provided by local running groups and organised extremely well by Albion Running.

On Saturday, with conditions some of the best the race has had over the years, course records were absolutely smashed with the top two men and top three women all going under the previous bests.  Wayne Loveridge of Chard Road Runners was the winner of the men’s race in a phenomenal time of 3:50.11 taking some 13 minutes off the course record.  AVR’s Joel Seward was a brilliant second in 3:55.46; the first two men to ever run it in sub-4 hours.  AVR’s Debbie Whiston was third female, in 4:45, also going inside the previous course record which was annihilated by Saturday’s winner, Holly Stables who finished in 4:18.37.

AVR’s Matt Clist was third with Rob Collier, Max Richardson and Matt Frost within the top ten.  There were many great achievements from AVRs on Saturday including some making their ultra debut, improved times and the joyful camaraderie and support of running the distance with fellow AVRs.  Full results to follow.

Great North 10k

Up in Newcastle, Angela Kerr was representing England Masters in a match against Wales, Northern Ireland and the UK Armed Forces Masters teams.  Using some of the famous Great North Run route runners started and finished in the city centre of Newcastle, including a run over and back on the iconic Tyne Bridge.

Angela finished in an excellent 53:57, 2440th and 12th F65 contributing to victory for the England Masters team.  Around 10000 completed the race.

Beasty Business

Three AVRs travelled to Somerset to the beautiful setting of the National Trust’s Fyne Court Estate for the Quantock Beast, a trail race of 9.8k featuring mud, hills, woodland, fields, country lanes and 250m of elevation.  Runners are rewarded with the stunning Quantock Hills scenery.

Karen Eyre was second female and first F50 finishing in 50:30; Ian Kinnersley finished in 53:52 and Eleanor Wood was first F60 in 54:21. All three secured some good ranking points for the 2025 Somerset Series.

Otter River and Rail 10k

This lovely trail route starts and finishes in Tipton St John with runners hugging the River Otter towpath to Newton Poppleford through gorgeous countryside and then along the old Sidmouth railway line back through the fields to Fluxton before returning to the village to finish.  There is a great community atmosphere with all runners receiving a bottle of Otter beer as a memento.

With club challenge points up for grabs, there was a big turnout of AVRs amongst the 264 finishers.  AVR’s Rich Hardy was first in 36:59, also first M45.  Other age group winners for AVR were Melanie Bolden, first F55 in 56:06; Ron Seward first M70 in 49:44 and Graham Newton first M75 in 52:22.  Full results

Lundy Island Race

AVR’s Sue Hayes and Simon Davey were amongst the limited number to run the Island Race, a unique14 mile trail race around the tracks on the beautiful Lundy Island off the North Devon coast. With access only available by a specially chartered boat, the MS Oldenburg, runners are limited to 250.

Sue Hayes had a great race to take the third female spot finishing in 2:13.40, a brilliant 18thoverall with Simon Davey in 25th in 2:19.30. A total of 243 completed the race.

South West Athletics League

David Cooke ran the 400m in the South-West Athletics League at Exeter Arena on Sunday. Results to follow but David is currently ranked fifth in the UK for M70 at 400m.

Seaton parkrun and beyond

It was a quiet parkrun in Seaton on Saturday for AVR with many racing elsewhere although big thanks to those AVRs who held the fort with the volunteering and those who helped and then raced elsewhere.

Out on the road Jon and Gill Day ran Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun, John Whitaker took part in Riverside parkrun in County Durham while Paul and Peter Johns enjoyed the Cycle Route 43 parkrun, Ystalfera.

Full set of AVR tourist runs are here

 And finally …

It was Octogenarian Day at Bushy parkrun on Saturday and Seaton parkrun stalwarts Hilary Bradt and Joyce West went along joining more than 100 other octogenarians – and just two nonagenarians, including Joyce.

Fun in the sun at Forde Abbey

It was a blisteringly hot and humid evening for the Forde Abbey 10k, brilliantly organised by Chard Road Runners and taking place in the picturesque grounds of the historic country house.  With river crossings, rutted, harvested fields and a couple of ascents, it is a challenging but very scenic route.

There was another great turnout for AVR who secured both male and female team prizes as well as first and third male and third female so a good night’s work for the club.  First place went to Rich Hardy who finished in 40:41, also first M40 with Joel Seward taking third position in 42:23.  Karen Eyre was third woman in 51:51 which also placed her second F45. Eleanor Wood was first F65 in 56:04 so scooping the female team prize between them.  The men won first team prize for Rich and Joel’s performance and, also, nailed third men’s team with Rob Collier who finished in 44:36, second M50 and Rupert Pady who finished in 49:47.  There was also an age group category win for Graham Newton, first M70 in 58:51.  There were 240 finishers.

Full results

Heron Half Marathon

This fast and flat half-marathon starts and finishes with a 5k loop at the RNAS Yeovilton base with runners going out into the country lanes surrounding the site in between.   Five AVRs travelled over to Somerset to take part in the event which was won in super fast times by by Shaun Dixon in 1:12.23 and Charlotte Taylor in 1:15.31.

First AVR home was Jason Potter in 57th place in 1:39.23 followed by John Hocking in 1:53.22 in 115th.  Adele Girdwood was an excellent second F55 in 1:57.13 with Angela Kerr, fourth F55 in 2:04.49.  Jo Orsman finished in 2:14.29, 194th with 258 completing the 13.1 mile race.

The Loop

Cathy Brenton took part in The Loop on Sunday, a 20-mile circular route along the South West Coast Path and inland countryside trails from Broadsands beach in Paignton to Kingswear.   The coastal path in that section is very beautiful but with a lot of steep hills providing a particularly challenging first eight miles.  After that runners head through Brixham and back eventually retunring to the coastal path and beaches for more hills before finishing on Broadsands beach.

Coming in in 6:20:34 109th out of 177, Cath said “I was looking forward to the stunning scenery as I went along, and it didn’t disappoint! I went in the sea at about mile 12, much needed as so humid today!”  The race was very well organised by Winding Paths.

The Hourglass – last man standing!

This unusual event is based on a two-mile lap which runners have to complete in descending time limits starting with 30 minutes then 29, 28 and so on with the last runner still going declared the winner!  Pat Kinsella travelled over to the Cornwall County Showground near Wadebridge to take part and review the event for Runners World.  Each lap starts after the time allowed for the previous lap so everyone starts each lap at the same time.

Pat describes it as “a fascinating concept and definitely worth a go – maybe an AVR outing next year!  One of the best things about it is you get the opportunity to see the faster runners finish after you have been eliminated.”  Pat completd a very creditable 12 laps to finish 18th of 60 who took part in the event organised by Mad Hatter Sports Events.  Look out for Pat’s review in a future edition of Runners World.

Seaton parkrun and beyond

It was a misty morning but warm and muggy for the runners at Seaton parkrun where Ritchie Durrant was second to cross the finish line! Debbie Whiston was first woman in 20.08.  AVR’s Eleanor Wood and Ron Seward were one and two on age-grade with 90.8% for 23:43 and 81.1% for 22:57 respectively.  There were PBs for Eddie Prior in 24:07 and James Childe in 27:33.

Congratulations to Shirley Goy who celebrated her 100th milestone and Clare Winter who celebrated her 50th volunteer milestone.  And a big shout-out to Kevin Feeney for running his 400th parkrun.

Once again there were also AVRs at many parkrun events across the country including Jon and Gill Day grabbing a Y at Y Promenâd parkrun, Aberhonddu; James Ashforth celebrating his birthday at Woolacombe Dunes parkrun and Tom Parsons at Bethlem Royal Hospital parkrun in London.

A full list can be found here