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Saturday nights are made for …running!

Eleven AVRs were ‘out-out’ on Saturday evening competing at the Shave Cross mini marathon, a 5-mile fun run as part of an activity filled charity evening at Kitty’s Farm.

Rob Collier was sixth and Kerry Board was first vet female.

A Family Affair

It was a family affair at the Wessex 10k as four AVRs, the Seward family plus Bob Carter, ventured to Somerton on a windy Saturday evening. The course took place on the Somerset Levels, initially involving dodging large puddles, although these soon became impossibly watery obstacles. This was followed by a 1k climb just before the finish, pay back for the descent earlier in the run.

Ron Seward stormed home in 47.48, first in 70+ category, and faster than all the M60s, 27th overall.  Bob Carter in a season’s best of 58.48 was 84th; Fiona Seward in 1.01.09, third F60 and Shirley Salter in 123rd in 1.11.52, gamely finishing despite picking an injury.  A total of 138 runners finished the event organised by Race Nation .

A run around Exeter

Cory Schultz completed the Green Lantern self-navigated run around the Exeter ring, a just over half-marathon on the Green Circle clockwise around the city, through wooded valleys, meadows, bicycle lanes and the banks of the Exe.

He completed the 14.2 mile race, organised by Wild Running, in 2:12.59 coming in 21st place with 87 finishing the race, run on Saturday evening after the worst of the wind and rain.

Haselbury 10K

Four AVRs travelled to North Perrott in Somerset on Wednesday evening for the annual running of the Haselbury10k trail race organised by Crewkerne Running Club. Starting and finishing at North Perrott Cricket Club, the race uses varied and scenic off-road footpaths and tracks. The recent heavy rain made it heavy going compared to previous years, but thankfully despite rain earlier in the day the weather stayed dry for the race which attracted 134 finishers.

All finishers were rewarded with a bottle of apple juice pressed at a local farm.
Ian Kinnersley finished 30th 50.33; Kerry Board was next AVR in 39th  51.40, first F45.  Andy West was 45th in 53.16 with Richard Matthews in 72nd in 58.37.

Mumbles Centurian

Haydn Boehm completed a three-day triathlon on the lovely Gower Peninsula.  Friday’s 2k swim represented his longest ever, the 50 mile bike ride was during the height of Storm Antoni so very challenging while Sunday’s 20k run was along the beautiful coastline from Oxwich back to the Mumbles in much sunnier conditions.  Haydn finished 49th, a creditable 8th M40.

Seaton parkrun beats Storm Antoni

An early course inspection by weatherman and RD, Tim Sibley and ED, Carol Austin gave the parkrun the go-ahead despite the best efforts of Storm Antoni but it was still rough conditions for the runners, walkers and volunteers.  First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 21:28; Janet Cullum was first on age-grade in 75% for her 30:00 finish and Andy West, followed his good performance in midweek, by taking third age-grade in 74%, 22:29.  It was no surprise that there were no AVR PBs given the tough headwind.

Congratulations to Emma Richardson who celebrated her 100th parkrun running with lots of AVRs, and new member, Baz Chandra who reached his 50 milestone.

Tony Smith and Sam Miller nabbed a Q for the alphabet challenge at a very wet Queen Elizabeth parkrun in Hampshire while Angela and Martin Kerr visiting old haunts took part in Linford Wood in Milton Keynes.

Outstanding at the Outlaw

Simon Davey and Chris Polley  completed The Nottingham Outlaw Ironman on Sunday crossing the line together in a finishing total time of 13:39.26, in 386th and 387th positions from more than 600 finishers.

Chris was the stronger swimmer completing the 2.4 mile swim in a lake at the National Watersports Centre in an impressive 1:26.04 with Simon safely avoiding the cut-off with a 1:51.22 swim.  On to the 112 mile bike ride – a fast and flat ride around the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside, with one hill to test the legs at around 50 miles.  Simon took 6:33.43 so was closing in on Chris who finished it in 6:42.30.  Just the small matter of a marathon distance 26.2 mile run which was a multi-lap run around the main regatta lake, along the River Trent and back via the new white water loop.  Simon completed the run in an amazing time of 4:53:53 to complete his first Ironman, catching Chris who finished in 5:15.22 to secure a PB for the Ironman distance.  Congratulations to both on an extraordinary achievement.

 

 

Bumper Seaton parkrun

There was a big turnout at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with a lot of visitors as well as a good number of AVRs amongst the 303 finishers.   Although drier than the week before, there was a tough headwind for the runners but still four impressive shiny new PBs for Aaron Rawlins in 19:39; Dave Hutton with 24:07; Jo Orsman in 26:56 and Georgie Ryan in 30:49.   Luke Reed was second finisher in 18:10 while Debbie Whiston was second female in 19:46, also second on age-grade with 80.35%.

With the holiday season in full swing, several AVRs took in a parkrun on their travels: Cliff Marriott and Pam Goddard did Plym Valley parkrun; Haydn Boehm nabbed a rare ‘U’ at Upton House parkrun near Poole; Bec Davey ran Rushcliffe, Paul Johns took part in Llyn Llech Owain parkrun while John Whittaker completed Fulham Palace parkrun.

We raced the Tram and the Tram won

The annual AVR relay race against the tram took place last Tuesday. Runners turned out to try to beat the tram from Colyton station to Seaton station having first enjoyed a tram ride to Colyton. Yet again the tram took the win this year although only just! Congratulations to Rob Collier’s team who made a tremendous effort and were pipped by less than a minute.

 The other seven teams put up a good fight and enjoyed the lovely evening run as the tram sailed past. There were reports of some dodgy baton passing, of runners getting lost and of a runner completing several legs rather than passing to his team-mates. All providing plenty of entertainment and ammunition for the Chair’s end of year awards.

Thanks to chef, Shaun Vinnicombe and his team of caterers who provided a wonderful barbecue back at the Cricket Club and to the TuTu Crew who sold cakes in aid of MacMillan.  Devon Air Ambulance also received a donation of £200 thanks to AVR and Seaton Tramway. 

Exeter 10k

On Wednesday six AVRs took part in the Exeter 10k organised by City Runs a two-lap traffic free flat route run on paths and tracks around the river Exe, the canal and the Riverside country park. Rob Collier was the first AVR home, 2nd M50 and 28th overall in 38:32; Cory Schultz finished in 49:29; Richard Matthews in 49:45; Carol Austin in 50:44 and 3rd F60; Albert Dlima in 50:44; Craig Tiley in 53:41; and Angela Kerr in 56:54 and 1st F65. There were 214 finishers.

Seaton parkrun

Ritchie Durrant was first finisher this week in 17:48. Debbie Whiston was first woman in 20:29 and she was also second on age grade, 77.54%. Georgie Ryan secured a PB of 31:34, Thom Mincham ran her 100th parkrun while David Sadler undertook his 200th volunteer stint at Seaton.  Simon Freathy celebrated “Tutu” day, 22nd of the month, by finishing in 22:22!

Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley secured their Y for the alphabet challenge at York parkrun while Ron and Fiona Seward took part in Leavesden Country Park parkrun in Watford with Ron coming in top on age grade.

Swansea Half Iron Man

Steve Lewis yet again proved age is no barrier completing the Swansea 70.3 Iron Man last Sunday.  He battled through the biblical monsoon conditions for the swim in Swansea’s Prince of Wales Dock as well as for the first 30 miles of the bike ride around the Gower Peninsular.  Thankfully the sun came out for the run along Swansea Bay for the half marathon to the Mumbles lighthouse. 

Steve was second M70 in an amazing total time of 7hours 56minutes; swim 43minutes;  bike 4hours 21minutes and the run 2hours 33minutes.