Latest News

Grizzly and Cub fun in the sun

There was a huge turnout at the annual AVR Grizzly and Cub training event on Sunday.  After what has felt like weeks of heavy rain the course was as expected muddy and very slippery in places but the day itself started in glorious sunshine and blue skies.  Although there were a few light showers runners were awarded with a beautiful rainbow over Branscombe as they tackled one of the trickiest parts of the course.

Big thanks go to the run leaders Rob Collier, Carol Austin, Eleanor Wood, Steve Haines, Andy West, Louise Rawlins and Iain Westworth who kept everyone safe and ensured a fun day of training ahead of the big day, Sunday 17 March.

 

 

Fab Four at Exeter Half

The Exeter Half Marathon, organised by the Exeter City Community Trust, took place over Saturday and Sunday with more than 300 finishers each day.  The 13.1 mile two-lap course took in the scenic route along the city’s historic Quayside and around Riverside Valley Park.  Four AVRs opted for the Saturday event with Matt Frost first AVR home in an excellent seventh place finishing in 1:22:06, just short of his PB.

Ann Coston was 188th in 1:54.00, third F55 with Vicki Wraight in 207th finishing in 1:56.49.  Angela Kerr was 249th in 2:05.42, first F65.

Seaton parkrun

More than 250 completed Seaton parkrun on Saturday with Debbie Whiston coming in as first female in 20:24.  There were PBs for Jase Potter in 20:28; Ben Morgan in 24:57; Lee Brooker in 26:35;  and Shirley Goy in 41:33. Viv Blumfield celebrated her 50th milestone.

Out on the road, Jon Day joined the throngs at Southampton parkrun where more than 1100 took park.  Jon finished in an excellent 21:51.  Tony Smith and Sam Miller enjoyed the wide expanses of Hove Promenade parkrun finishing in 20:50 and 27:45 respectively.  Aileen and Pete Heal went to the relatively new Five Arches parkrun in Radstock near Bath.

AVRs tackle the Four Trigs

Organised by Sidmouth Running Club, the Four Trigs is another low-key, challenging multi-terrain race with an obscene amount of climb involved!  Approximately 28km, runners chose their own route that must include the four Trig points at High Point, Beacon Hill, Buckton Hill and Weston Cliff.  This year’s event was started by five-time Olympian and the 2014 European 10,000m champion, Jo Pavey.  The race raises much needed funds for the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The race, which provides ideal preparation for the Grizzly, was won by last year’s winner, Exmouth Harriers’ Sam Kelly.  There was a good turnout of AVRs with Tim Lenton finishing third in 2:30.37 and Patrick Devine-Wright just behind in fourth in 2:32.16.  Kerry Board was third female in an excellent 3:17.04.  Rob Collier came in seventh, improving on last year’s time to finish in 2:41.42.  Others who ran the challenging self-navigated route in pairs, were Ian Kinnersley and Eleanor Wood who finished in 3:33.37; Jeremy Slade and Andy West in 3:48.20; and David and Susi Sadler, who were delighted to reach all four Trigs this year, in 5:36.52.

British Masters Championships & Chichester 10k

Three AVRs travelled to West Sussex for the British Masters 10k Championship which took place at Goodwood Motor Race Circuit near Chichester.  AVRs team of Carol Austin, Ann Coston and Angela Kerr took second team prize in the F55+ category.  First AVR home in 562nd place was Carol Austin in 46:54, sixth F60.  Ann Coston was 704th finishing in 50:11, 18th F55 while Angela Kerr was ninth F65 in 917th place overall in 55:46.   More than 1200 runners completed the fast, flat race with the first five finishers in sub-31 minutes.

 

 Seaton parkrun

There was another bumper turnout at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with the good conditions and pacers helping six AVRs to shiny new PBs.  Tim Sibley came home in 20:18; his marathon training clearly paying off!  Adrian Strawbridge in 21:01; Suzi Blackett in 24:40; Ben Morgan in 25:36; Lee Brooker in 26:54; and Shirley Goy in 42:29 were the others celebrating PBs.

First home was Joel Seward in 16:59 with second finisher Rich Hardy in 17:42. First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 20:20, also second on age-grade with 79%, with Ron Seward third on age-grade with 78% for his 23:37 finish.

Congratulations to Kevin Feeney who completed his 350th parkrun as one of a number of AVRs on pacing duties.  Carol Austin, Saturday’s Run Director, completed her 200th volunteering stint at Seaton parkrun.

On the road, Georgie Ryan smashed her parkrun PB by nearly a minute at the fast Exmouth event finishing in 28:50.  Matt Frost completed Denton Dene parkrun in Newcastle; Alan Sealey Itchen Valley Country Park parkrun while Liz and Jeremy Slade completed Southsea parkrun.

Beastly but Fun

The Blackdown Beast, brilliantly organised by Honiton RC, is a ‘fun’ self-navigated run across 10 or 16 miles of the Blackdown hills starting and finishing in Dunkeswell.  There is a stop for mulled cider, tea and pasties in Smeatharpe to raise money for MacMillan’s as well as the option to call it a day there and take the minibus taxi back to the start.  Otherwise it is another 6 or 7 miles back via Upottery and Luppett.  Challenging, hilly and boggy after all the recent rain, a big turnout of AVRs enjoyed the event describing it as perfect Grizzly preparation!

It is self-timed without results but AVR’s Tim Lennon and Patrick Devine-Wright were the first back at the start.

Seaton parkrun – the one with the hot wind stream

The event started in a wickedly cold wind and, then, as predicted by Saturday’s Run Director, AVR’s Tim Sibley a change of wind direction led to a bizarre warm draught welcomed by volunteers and runners alike.

First home was Joel Seward in 17:12, sporting his sparkly new 100 milestone Tee after joining the 100-club last week.  Second finisher, and first on age-grade in 79%, was Ryan Snell in 17:45.  First female finisher was Debbie Whiston in 21:04 while Carol Austin was second on age-grade in 78% for her 24:59.

There was a PB for Baz Chandra in 26:48 and a special shout-out to Sarah Shepley who finished in 29:48, her first sub-30 since knee surgery following a bike accident in 2020.

Out on the road, Jon Day completed Sharpham Estate parkrun in Totnes  and Tony Smith ran Dinton Pastures parkrun near Wokingham.