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Ten stars for AVR at the Templer 10
AVR scooped ten prizes at the Templer 10, the last event in AVR’s new annual challenge meaning a good turnout as runners tried to secure points from the multi-terrain race organised by Teignbridge Trotters.
The race started and finished at Stover School, Newton Abbott with competitors running through the picturesque Stover Country Park and the fields of Teigngrace enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.
First home to take the crown was AVR’s Joel Seward in 1.00.11 with Duncan Staddon taking second place in 1:01.43, also first M45. With Rich Hardy in fourth in 1:03.37, first M40 and Tim Lenton in sixth, 1:04.53, first M50 it was not surprising that the AVR men also took first prize in the Male team category. Other male prize winners for AVR were Rupert Pady, 20th in 1:12.06, second M50 and Ron Seward, 79th and first M70 in 1:26.52.
On the female side, Eleanor Wood was 11th female in 1:20.22 and first F65; Kerry Board, struggling with a bad cold, 13th female in 1:21.10; Karen Eyre, 16th female and second F50 in 1:23.39 and Adele Girdwood, 44th female and third F55 in 1:38.03. These four taking the second prize for female team.
Other AVR finishers were Lee Moran, 1:10.51; Ian Kinnersley, 1:19.21; Haydn Boehm, 1:19.52; Darrell Farley, 1:32.00; and Katharine Moran, 1:44.31. Almost 200 completed the race which is also part of the In-Step Devon.
England take the win in Chester
Angela Kerr completed the Chester marathon running as part of the England Masters team in her fourth appearance in the England vest finishing seventh F65 in 4:42.05. More than 3000 completed the marathon with the England Masters beating Wales Masters as part of the event.
Balmy Bournemouth
Jacqui Stokes ran the Bournemouth half marathon, part of the Run Bournemouth Running Festival. In very hot conditions she was thrilled to run a PB of 2:00:41 finishing 1037th
At the same festival Cliff Marriott took part in both the 5k on Saturday evening and the 10k on Sunday morning taking in both Boscombe and Bournemouth piers. Cliff also squeezed in Bournemouth parkrun and somehow managed a visit to the pub in between! In the 10k he was 424th, in 56.15 while in the 5k he was 162nd in 27.18.
A Right Royal PB
David Cull ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon which takes in four of the eight Royal parks in the capital; Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.
It was a beautiful sunny day for the near 16000 runners but fortunately not too warm early on with great support on the streets and in the parks. David was very pleased to finish in 1:24:11, 139th place taking a huge three and half minute off his PB.
Pacers day at Seaton parkrun
It was quiet day for AVR at Seaton parkrun although the sun shone and 250+ parkrunners including many visitors enjoyed the event. AVR did provide most of the pacers helping a good few to PBs so big thanks to Keith Agland, Haydn Boehm, Lindsey Freathy, Simon Freathy, Tim Sibley and Vicki Wraight. Well done to Dave Hutton who secured a PB in 23.46.
Tony Smith and Sam Miller continued their Scandi tour with a visit to Tokoinranta parkrun in Helsinki.
Kevin Feeney completed Flatts Lane parkrun on Teeside which, despite its name, is definitely not flat! Jon Day visited Weymouth parkrun.
Due to the ColyTEN next weekend a reminder that there is no Stopline Way Junior parkrun on Sunday 15th October.
World Class in Riga
Tony Smith and Sam Miller travelled to Riga in Latvia for the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships. Due to injury, their son Jake Smith wasn’t competing so it was their turn to take centre stage participating in the mass half marathon race. An impressive 13000 runners took part in the mass race from more than 100 countries, starting just behind the elite race.
The course featured most of Riga’s central landmarks; with the start and finish using the Gate to Old Riga adjacent to the main river Daugava. Criss-crossing the river on a predominantly flat course, the runners returned to Old Riga over Vanšu bridge offering a spectacular panorama of the city.
Tony finished an excellent 390th, 11th M55 in his best time for many years in 1:33.44 whilst Sam was also pleased with her 2:14.48 finish in 563rd, 15th F55.
Mud, mud glorious mud
The Honiton Hippo was once again full of mud, sweat and tears but with lots of fun and opportunities to wash up in the River Otter. Thirteen AVRs joined the 150+runners in the 7 mile multi-terrain run.
Eleanor Wood was first AVR home in 1:09.07, in 28th, fifth female and first F55. Andy West was next AVR in 1:11.51, third M60. Sid Heaslip followed in 57th, 1:18.26 with Dawn Carrah in 1:20.40. Full results are here.
Cardiff half
Vicki Wraight, Susan Wall and Laura Kerr popped over the border to take part in the Cardiff half-marathon in Wales, one of the country’s fastest half marathons; well-organised and with a great atmosphere at start and finish. Despite an ongoing ankle injury Laura finished in an excellent 1:51.43, 697th female. Susan and Vicki ran together finishing in 2:40.24; Susan was 135th F60. More than 20,000 runners completed the 13.1 mile race.
Green success for Innes
Congratulations to Innes Fitzgerald who has won the BBC Young Athlete of the Year at the Green Sports Awards 2023. Details here
50 not out!
SLW celebrates their birthday and other parkrun news
Stopline Way Junior parkrun celebrated its 50th run and first birthday in style at Axminster Town FC last Sunday.
Runners, their families, and volunteers enjoyed a fabulous postrun Stopline Way Junior parkrun celebration cake made by Kristina West (Knapp Cottage Cakes) and delicious vegan treats made by volunteer Wendy le Masurier.
Since the start a year ago the event has welcomed 197 junior parkrunners who have completed 857 Stopline Way Junior parkruns between them. The core team comprises about 20 volunteers, many of whom are AVR members, with 82 people having volunteered in total.
Here’s to the next 50!
At Seaton parkrun on Saturday Kerry Board was first female finisher in 22.23. Both Matt Clist, second finisher and Ritchie Durrant, in third, nabbed PBs in 16.37 and 16.41, respectively with Matt also first on age-grade in 84%.
There were PBs too for Paul Johns in 21.21, Baz Chandra in 27.07 and Georgie Ryan in 30.14.
Congratulations to Viv Blumfield who celebrated her 50th volunteer milestone.
In Cardiff it was wonderful to see Jake Smith on the comeback trail with a 14.44 first finisher placing! Also in Wales, Carolyn Nation secured her D at Dolgellau parkrun. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the good conditions in Exmouth, Carol Austin secured her best ever age-grade of 83% for her 23.09 while Stuart Olliver finished in 29.19.
And finally… over on the darkside!
It was a fantastic performance for Emilie Brock at the Thruxton Duathlon on Sunday where she secured a GB Age Group Team Qualifier position with second place in the F40 and tenth overall in the Run-Bike-Run event.
Luke Reed is on tenter hooks to see if his fourth place is enough to qualify but a week after representing GB in this year’s European triathlon it is very impressive.
Not content with running Berlin marathon last week, Haydn Boehm also took part finishing 18th in his age category. Like running the strength is in depth at tri and duathlon age groups events gets stronger every year.
Triple AVR success in Berlin
Three AVRs were successful in securing places at the prestigious BMW Berlin marathon this year and all put in tremendous performances. The race, known for its fast and flat course, saw Ethiopia’s Tigsy Assefa smash the women’s marathon world record in a brilliant 2:11.53 and the double Olympic champion, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race for a record fifth time in 2:02.42. British Olympic hopeful, Charlotte Purdue leapt to second in the UK all-time rankings with her ninth place, 2:22.17
For the AVRs first home was Rob Collier in a very impressive 2:53.14, 1803rd male overall and 84th M50. Haydn Boehm had his taper interrupted battling a virus but still finished with a shiny marathon PB in 3:43.05, male 11206th . Meanwhile Angela Kerr was running an incredible 50th marathon finishing 8681st, female an excellent 46th F65 in 4:42.27.
More than 40,000 completed the race which also saw former AVR, Graham Newton run a very impressive 3:50.03 to take tenth M70 place.
Exmouth 10k
Bob Carter took the short trip to Exmouth for the Bradley’s 10k, a fast and flat two-lap race on the Esplanade. He was pleased with his 58.25 finish 152nd place given the wild and windy conditions on Sunday. More than 250 took part this year.
Marazion 10k
Cliff Marriott, Derek Blumfield, John Hocking and Iain Westworth ran the Marazion 10k in Cornwall on Sunday afternoon. It is a flattish course, described by the organisers wonderfully as a “one loop, left turn race with 131m of elevation, which is basically Cornish flat with a bit of hill near the finish.”
Clearly the route suited Iain who nabbed a PB finishing in 54.06, 125th. First AVR home was John in 104th place in 52.40; Cliff was 141st in 55.41; and Derek, back after a long injury lay-off, was 270th in 1:07.22. More than 300 took part on Sunday. Sadly Viv Blumfield was a DNS due to a knee injury.
Seaton parkrun
It was another successful parkrun for AVR at Seaton with Matt Clist, enjoying his first ever parkrun, coming in first finisher in 16.50 pipping Joel Seward who was second in 17.05. Debbie Whiston was first female in 19.51 and it was a clean sweep for AVR on the age-graded top three with Eleanor Wood with an amazing 90% for her 23.12 followed by Matt Clist, 83% and Debbie Whiston, 80%.
Conditions were excellent on Saturday and Mark Day, 24.14; Andy Broom, 25.11 and Jo Orsman, 26.44 all made the most of it with shiny new PBs.
Co-event director, Carol Austin reached her 250th volunteer milestone.
On the tourism front, Tony Smith and Sam Miller ran Poznan parkrun in Poland while Kristian Mears took part in Farfelle parkrun in Italy. Tim Sibley completed Maesteg in Wales with David and Paula Cooke taking the crown for furthest parkrun this week running Okanagan parkrun in Canada. Other AVRs on the road can be found here: