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Off to a (Chard) flyer

The Chard Flyer is a road 10k with a wicked climb to the finish after a relatively flat course that takes in the reservoir, starting and finishing at the cricket club in the town.  Organised by Chard Road Runners, 11 AVRs supported the event on New Year’s Day which attracted 174 competitors.

In fourth place and first AVR was Joel Seward in 36:52 with Rich Hardy just behind in fifth and first M40.  In his first race for six months, Terry Emmett was second M40, seventh overall, in 38:07.  Eighth female and third F45 was Karen Eyre in 48:51. Ian Kinnersley took the M60 crown finishing in 47:29.

Other AVRs were David Cull 12th in 41:10; Adrian Strawbridge 51st in 48:06; Richard Jackson 67th in 49:55;  Mark Spraggs 86th in 52:54;  Lee Brooker  151st in 1.04:24  and Jools Elsom 168th in 1.11:43

Christmas and New Year racing

Storm Gerrit and the Christmas festivities didn’t stop AVRs during the last couple of weeks with three parkruns in Seaton, the Bank Holiday 10k Time Trial and the last race of 2023 plus first of the new year.  Alongside these there was a singing tour of care homes on Christmas Eve and a trip to the Great Field parkrun on New Year’s day.

It’s the Final Countdown …

An off-road 10k starting on Sidmouth Esplanade and heading up Peak Hill and into Mutters Moor was the challenging final race of 2023 organised by Winding Paths.  Due to the high winds a slight route change on the day meant it was just under 10k with six AVRs taking part and a few others supporting the race by marshalling.

In second place was AVR’s, James Green in an excellent 41:57 just behind winner, Simon Minting of Exmouth Harriers.  Eleanor Wood was fifth female finisher in 55:36, first F65.  Other AVRs were Andrew Snook, 18th in 50:20; Zoe Harp, 103rd in 1:07.19; Vicki Wraight, 115th in 1:09.00 and Kathryn Thompson in 218th in 1:25.21.  More than 250 runners took part.

Wet, wild and windy

Storm Gerrit meant a 24-hour delay to AVR’s Christmas 10k Time Trial but still the 43 runners faced some horrendous weather.  Biblical rain, gale-force winds and even a hailstorm came their way as they ran along the newly opened path from Colyford to the seafront in Seaton and then along the Axmouth straight and back to finish right into an evil headwind on the Esplanade.

First home was Joel Seward in an impressive time of 37:41 with Rich Hardy second in 39:10 and Debbie Whiston third in 43:51. The race was the first event in the 2024 AVR Club Challenge so all 41 finishers were rewarded with points towards the series.  Full results here.

O Come all Ye Faithful

Twelve AVRs donned their festive attire and took their best singing voices to a number of care and retirement homes in Seaton on Christmas Eve to entertain the residents.  Led by Pam Goddard and Cliff Marriott the group ran between the homes, singing Carols in each venue and finishing with a sing-song and mulled wine on the seafront.

Berkshire Gutbuster

Pam Goddard and Cliff Marriott took part in the very hilly and muddy Berkshire Gutbuster on Saturday with Pam finishing the 10k in 1:12.04 and Cliff choosing the 10 mile option and finishing in 1:41.49.

Bumper Festive parkruns

New Year’s Day is another optional day on the parkrun calendar and with Seaton taking a day off, a group of AVRs joined with the Seaton parkrun core volunteer team to travel to The Great Field parkrun in Poundbury.  Third finisher and first AVR was Matt Orsman in 18:40 with Matt Hewer continuing his return from injury finishing in 19:47. Second female to finish was Lucy Watkinson in 21:41.

There were parkrun events at Seaton on Saturdays 23rd and 30th as well as one on Christmas Day with records aplenty and AVRs doing well at all three.  On Christmas Day there was a record 419 finishers with Innes Fitzgerald first female and second finisher in 16:36 – the time also the third fastest female finisher across all UK parkrun events on both Christmas Day and Saturday 30th.

On 23rd both Claire Warner and Emilie Brock celebrated their 50th volunteering milestones with Keith Agland reaching his 100th on Christmas Day.  As with all events parkrun cannot happen without the wonderful volunteers.

On Saturday 30th Seaton parkrun held its 300th event – it has come a long way since the very first one in November 2015.  Despite the wind, Suzi Blackett and Shirley Goy celebrated PBs in 25:18 and 45:07 respectively.

Bank Holiday 10K Time Trials

2024 BH Series Results

NAMEDec (23)EasterMayAugust
Joel Seward37:41
Rich Hardy39:10
Debbie Whiston43:51
Tim Sibley44:23
Simon Dimmock44:45
Ian Kinnersley45:15
Haydn Boehm45:58
Chris Johnson46:37
Kerry Board47:01
James Hawker47:37
Paul Johns47:53
Alan Hornibrook47:56
Eleanor Wood48:40
Mark Spraggs48:58
Suzi Blackett49:45
Barry Follett51:00
Ron Seward51:35
Carol Austin52:24
Jacqui Stokes53:04
Alan Morbey53:24
Lindsey Freathy54:42
Rob Harp55:18
Steve Lewis55:26
Zoe Harp55:40
Adrianne Mullins55:48
Adele Girdwood56:04
Louise Harrison56:42
Craig Tiley56:51
Richard Coffey57:05
Jo Orsman57:28
Kelly Giles57:45
Kelly Nickels58:05
Bob Carter59:09
Debbie Williams1.00:39
Helen Holmes1.01:19
Fiona Seward1.03:47
Shuna George1.03:58
Lee Brooker1.04:04
Carolyn Nation1.07:17
Rachel Hiscock1.08:58
Jess Chadwick1.08:59

2023 BH Series Results

NAMECoronation 10KAugust 10kChristmas 10k
Matt Hewer40:1
Matt Frost40:14
Simon Dimmock41:03
Deborah Whiston41:4541:58
Aaron Rawlings42:26
Haydn Boehm42:3448:10
Jason Potter44:24
Mark Spraggs45:4348:25
Eleanor Wood46:30
Carol Austin48:0249:30
Richard Matthews49:0548:52
Jeremy Norcombe49:5849:02
Margaret Pearce50:0049:59
Barry Follett51:09
Steve Lewis52:0753:32
Alan Morbey52:1851:27
Dave Hutton52:20
Lindsey Freathy53:4652:11
Dan Clist54:28
Geoff Rugg54:45
Jo Osman56:1157:08
Mark Day59:0854:38
Emma Ellyn62:03
Janet Cullum64:5962:02
Alison Gould65:2262:04
Sue Chambers66:00
Lesley Adams67:00
Susan Wall67:30
Kathryn Thompson70:0068:30
Sam Halls73:5874:00
Carly Lowe75:0079:00
Matt Clist34:22
Joel Seward37:11
Rob Collier38:16
Richard Hardy38:44
Simon Freathy44:28
Adrian Strawbridge44:20
Tim Sibley44:53
Alan Hornibrook45:16
Karen Eyre46:53
Darrell Farley49:17
Andy West45:29
Paul Johns43:57
Eric Emerson52:09
Ron Seward49:54
Kelly Nickells55:57
Adele Girdwood55:27
Kevin Fenney55:10
Bob Carter57:09
Mandy Harris58:36
John Whittaker62:04
Katharine Moran60:36
Marianne Sweetland61:35
Becky Eastburn60:51
Angela Kerr57:52
Sarah Shepley66:07
Sam Miller62:04
Emma Richardson74:00

2022 BH Series Results

Xmas 2021June 2022August 2022Xmas 2022
Mark Spraggs47.1646.2647.40
Richard Matthews49.2748.5847.1150:57
Angela Kerr58.1554.25
Mandy Harris58.4161.44
Katharine Moran56.5660:02
Kathryn Thompson68.5470.38
Sam Summers83.01
Natalie McNeice83.03
Liz Slade83.2866.3366:45
Simon Dimmock39.2140.4644:02
Haydn Boehm43.4645.0544:52
Ian Kinnersley44.18
Eleanor Wood46.1347:21
Lee Moran46.26
Andy West46.3244.13
Carol Austin52.4856:11
Keith Agland53.2453.1355:58
Louise Rawlins54.37
Kevin Feeney54.4355.00
Mark Day55.4960:00
Vicki Wraight58.5956:46
Jo Orsman59.0858.0858:32
Janette Mack60.0165:15
Janet Cullum68.1564:02
Lesley Adams68.15
Zoe Harp71.1469.31
Diane Newton74.2874.10
Emma Ellynn74.2874.0060:04
Paul Johns45.4947:02
Simon Freathy45.5845:24
Mike Wadsworth48.1747:40
Jeremy Norcombe50.3850:46
Alan Morbey52.0254:22
Lindsey Freathy53.2855:25
Aileen Heal65.38
Jeremy Slade66.3751:03
Roberta Wadsworth70.35
Steve Lewis54.28
Dan Clist51:01
Adrian Strawbridge46:00
Margaret Pearce54:22
Heather Simmons57:11
Geoff Rugg59:27
Alison Gould64:02
Ian Smith61:32
Rob Collier43:09
Susan Wall67:00
Carly Lowe
Shaun Vinnicombe76:00
Jon Day52:14

AVR dominate Seaton parkrun

It was a quiet weekend on the racing front so Seaton parkrun ended up as a competitive affair with AVR taking the first three male and first two female spots as well as first and third on age grade.

Joel Seward was first finisher in 17:10 with Ritchie Durrant chasing hard finishing in 17:30 and Rich Hardy third in 17:51. Debbie Whiston was first female finisher in 20:21 with Emilie Brock just behind in 20:37.  Once again, Eleanor Wood was first on age grade in 88.5% for her 23:37 with Debbie Whiston third on age grade in 78.79%.

The conditions were good although breezy with Georgie Ryan scooping a PB of 30.06.

Out on the road, Simon Dimmock completed Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun in 20:47 while Bec Davey and Carolyn Nation added the I to their alphabet challenge at Itchen Valley Country Park parkrun.

Cardiff Christmas Classic

Following her brilliant cross-country gold medal winning performance in Brussels last weekend, Innes Fitzgerald ran in the Cardiff Met Christmas Classic Indoors 3000m yesterday.  Running in a senior race the 17-year old finished third behind none other than world indoor champion Laura Muir. Her PB of 9:06.26 places her third behind Zola Budd and Jess Judd in the all-time UK indoor U20 rankings.

At the same meeting, Jake Smith continues his return to form from illness and injury with fifth place in a stacked men’s 3000m in 8:15.09.