SW Vets X-Country Championship – Jo’s inventive report.

To be sung to the tune of ten green bottles….

Nine green runners lined up for the race, nine green runners soon with mud upon their face, lap one saw one green runner give her best but too tough a pace, so eight green runners continued in the race.

Eight green runners through the wind and rain, eight green runners on another lap again, one green runner looking fresh and great, yes Rob Edwards crossed the finish line in 30:48.

Seven green runners now spread out a lot, seven green runners, for some the pace was getting hot, one green runner always really keen, Naomi Garrick, took third in age, in 32:15.

Six green runners round and round they went, six green runners some were nearly spent, one green runner low on power-drive, a tired Jo Earlam just squeezed in a sub:35.

Five green runners still ploughing through the mud, five green runners as the rain turned near to flood, one green runner relieved there was no more, Tony Velterop finished in 38:24.

Four green runners were all that did remain, four green runners, some still to go round again, one green runner what a brilliant time, Gail Goldsmith, first in age group in 38:29.

Three green runners still in the mighty vest, three green runners doing of their best, another green runner getting a good score, Sue Cunningham, second in age, in 42:04.

Two green runners side by side they’d stayed, two green runners who were not afraid, they kept the green vest going right until the end, Ruth Burrough and Sarah Powell, happy to finish with a friend.

Times. Rob Edwards 30:48; Naomi Garrick 32:15 third 45/54; Jo Earlam 34:40; Tony Velterop 38:24; Gail Goldsmith 38:29 1^st 65/74; Sue Cunningham 42:04 2nd 65/74; Ruth Burrough 53:54; Sarah Powell 53:54.

Devon Cross Country Schools Championship

Sidmouth College had excellent representation with eight students competing at the Devon cross country schools championship at Stover School. Competing as part of the East Devon team was SIDMOUTH Running Club member Kate Marriot. Kate has risen through the ranks since taking part in the Junior Saturday morning training sessions so successfully run by the club’s Janet Ackford over the years. Kate had made this event coming through the preliminary stages with some amazing runs.

This was to be an extraordinary day for the East Devon team taking 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th places overall in the minor girls race.

Kate, coming third has now achieved her dream of a place in the national event in Norwich in March. Also taking part from the club was Toby Garrick who came 7^th in the inter boys race and he to hopes to qualify for the national event.

Congratulations to you both.

Offa’s Twisted Wye Kanter

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home soon came to an end for Sidmouth Running Club Member Carine Silver after receiving a phone call from her sister. She had two entries for the Offa’s Twisted Wye Kanter one each for her and her son, unfortunately her son had to pull out at the last minute so who better to replace him than your sister.

There are four courses on this self-navigation run, 24, 19, 15 and 12.5 miles. They had entered the 19 mile.

This is a new and exciting winter kanter with a ‘twist’ in the beautiful Wye Valley on the Wales/England border. The event uses established long distance routes such as Offa’s Dyke, Wye Valley Walk and Gloucestershire Way as well as paths to link main routes. The twist is that in order to earn your certificate, clues need to be gathered and solved en route. You have to have the confidence to self-navigate as there are no checkpoints and carry sufficient food and drink for your chosen mileage. Tea and toast is provided at the start in Chepstow.

Carine said it was very, very muddy and hilly and at 19 miles a couple of miles shorter than the Grizzly but it took her 2 hours longer to complete. However on their return to Chepstow there was a substantial hot meal and hospitality laid on for them and the news that they were joint fourth home on this route. Just the news she needed for the long drive home after a very tiring day.

The First Chance 10K

Last Sunday saw Justin Ashby one of the leading runners in SIDMOUTH running club head off to Exeter to compete in the First Chance 10K. The race organised by the South West Road Runners is very popular with 10K runners and sells out months before the start. This year there were 510 finishers. The reason it is so popular is that it is run over a two lap, pancake flat, traffic free course over tarmac cycle ways and roads in the Riverside Valley Park so it is an excellent way to achieve a personal best time over that distance.

Back in September 2016 competing in the Taunton 10K Justin, after a full 2 months of dedicated training finally broke 36 minutes for this distance, a time he had been trying to break since 2012 in a time of 35:30.

True to form this race produced not only a stunning new PB for him but also set him another challenge. Finishing in a time of 35:03 coming 8^th overall and first in the M45-49 category he now has to get under 35 minutes. This can only be good news for the club members who have signed up for his 8 week 10k training course which will start in March.

SW Club & County CC Championship

On Sunday afternoon 1 senior and 2 junior SIDMOUTH running club members headed to the South West Club & County Cross Country Championships at Exeter Racecourse. The various courses all involved several laps of a largely flat course but with a punishing uphill finish. The weather was fine and the going was soft under foot.

First out of the blocks was Kate Marriott. Once again the very competitive Kate had an excellent race and was pleased with her 23^rd position overall and even more pleased with her 4^th in Devon placing as this earned her a Silver medal as part of the Devon U15 girls’ team.

Toby Garrick the other half of this dynamic duo had another excellent run and finished 19^th overall and he too was placed 4^th Devon runner in a team that took the U17 boys Silver medal.

Naomi Garrick gave a very spirited performance to finish 48^th in the senior women’s event and deserved a medal, even if she didn’t get one!

The Somerley 10K

First out of the blocks in 2017 was Tim Clay who headed off to Ringwood to compete with several hundred others in the 15^th anniversary running of the Somerley 10K. This trail run is in the grounds of the stunning Somerley estate and the fine weather showed it off in all its glory. Tim was well pleased with his time of 51:10 after all the festivities of the previous week.

Otterton Reindeer Run 2016

The Otterton Reindeer Run has now been going for over 10 years and is one of the most popular races on the local calendar, as could be seen by the numbers that turned out to run it last Saturday. Such is the popularity of this race that you have to turn up at least an hour before the start to find a parking space in the village otherwise you are left with a long walk to the start. It is a wonderful start to the festive season; the atmosphere is just amazing and it is really an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It is very much a village event with sponsorship from local businesses and it is the principal fundraiser for the local school. As well as the 10k race there is also a 3K race for the children which is hugely popular as could be seen by the endless queue through the Church signing on in the morning. Christmas theme fancy dress was very much the order of the day and competitors did not disappoint with an array of costumes.

The race starts at the Church and heads up to the top of Maunders Hill before a long downhill road section takes you into a field where the race divides with the 3k taking a more flattish route back and up along the river to finish on the village green whilst the 10K runners start the first of the three hill climbs before finding themselves on the White Bridge and a short road section before taking the muddy track back to the river. You follow the river back to Otterton where you go under the road bridge and onto the old railway line which you follow for half a mile and then around a field back to the river over the bridge and across two fields to the finish.

The Mighty Greens had 30 runners at the start line with the first club runner home being Theo Burgess who seemed to have forgotten his.

Photos by Kyle Baker Photography and Kit Woodcock

Jayne Drew had another excellent run and our very own Dynamic Duo Paula Farrand and Bert Dykema continued to impress. It was good to see Adrian Organ back running again after being missing for quite a while. Ruth Burrough and Fumiyo Kagawa who were part of the 2016 beginner’s course back in January along with Sarah Powell, (who unfortunately missed the race through injury) and newcomer Carol Hounsell rounded of the year in style by completing their first 10k off- road race.

Thanks go to Christine Nicholls, Jill Trivett and Jo Earlam for running with and encouraging them around the course.

Our club ambassador Jo Pavey signed on with husband Gavin and children Jacob and Emily looking resplendent in their club hoodies. Jacob ran the course with Jo while Emily enjoyed the run in the buggy pushed by Gavin. A genuine family event.

10K results: Theo Burgess 15^th in 43:47, Tim Mitchell 43:53, Jayne Drew 48:07, Jon Hanson 51:27, Rob Edwards 51:55, Adrian Organ 52:37, Graham Sheppard 54:08, Paula Farrand 55:44, Bert Dykema 55:44, Karen Farnham 56:29, Jon Ball 58:09, David Millen 59:41, David Wright 1:05:10, Cathy Keast 1:06:41, Don Cawthera 1:07:02, Monica Read 1:09:07, Debbie Marriott 1:09:12, Sue Cunningham 1:09:38, Carol Hounsell 1:11:23, Caroline Ball 1:12:02, Jill Trivett 1:12:41, Jo Earlam 1:22:01, Ruth Burrough 1:22:10, Fumiyo Kagawa 1:22:12, Christine Nicholls 1:24:11, Terry Bewes 1:24:13, Arthur Vince 1:26:00. There were 208 finishers.

3K results: Jacob Pavey 21:07, Jo Pavey 21:22, Emily Pavey 26:01. There were over 200 finishers.

Sunday saw the Devon County cross country championships in Exeter which was a flat and fast course. Naomi Garrick came 19^th in the women’s race in 21:32, Kate Marriott 8th in the girls under 15 in 15:25 and Toby Garrick 9^th in the men’s under 17 in 17:26.

How would you like to join the Mighty Green family? you are never too old. In the Reindeer run we had runners from 6 years to 72 years. A beginners course starts on January 4^th see the club website or phone 07734 581782 for more details.

Bicton Blister

With such good weather on Sunday morning and an 11am start it was no wonder that a record number of thirty five Mighty Green clad SIDMOUTH Running Club members turned out to take part in the very popular Bicton Blister. This is a 10 mile multi-terrain race on Woodbury Common starting and finishing at Bicton College. The start and finish are short road sections, with the remainder of the race being on sandy, stony and normally muddy paths across the various Commons of East Devon, although this year it was extremely dry. Along with the main race is the Bicton Lite which is the little brother covering 4.5 miles with the same start and finish, just less distance on the Commons. Such is the popularity of this race that competitors come from far and wide to compete and this resulted in over 550 lining up at the start.

The good weather also brought out a couple of runners we have not seen in a while in Graham Hill, busy being a shepherd who was over 2 minutes faster than in 2014 and Andy Shearer back from Spain, busy being retired. One mystery runner to me Susie Perry who also turned in another excellent time as did Antony Hall. Naomi Garrick was really pleased with her time coming fourth in the V45 category being over a minute faster than last year. The look of exhilaration on the face of Milly Frankpitt on hearing her time, was a sight to behold and her stepdaughter Madeleine running in the Lite did extremely well and hopefully will soon be joining the Club. Three of our runners returning after injury or illness, Helen Palmer, Monica Read and Colin Flood used the event to test out their recovery in readiness for bigger things in the New Year.

Even better news, we ended up on the podium with our senior ladies team of: Jayne Drew, Kerry Boyle, and Naomi Garrick coming second. Justin Ashby coming second in the V45 category and Jon Hanson coming 3^rd in the V60 category. Not to be out done, our two prolific medal winning juniors Toby Garrick coming second overall in the Lite and first in his age group and Kate Marriott coming second girl overall and first in her age group, also in the Lite.

It was inspiring to see at the finish, members from the various clubs including ours lined up along the finishing straight cheering on their members coming in behind them; great club spirit all round and superbly organised by Exmouth Harriers.

Blister Results: Justin Ashby 8^th overall 1:04:22, Graham Hill 1:07:50, Antony Hall 1:11:05, Julian Bartlett 1:20:37, Naomi Garrick 1:24:25, Kerry Boyle 1:24:37, Jayne Drew 1:25:19, Alan Colwill 1:25:33, Jo Hanson 1:31:13, Andy Shearer 1:31:24, Susie Perry 1:32:56, Simon Hollyer 1:40:02, Karen Farnham 1:40:03, Jo Earlam 1:40:41, Graham Sheppard 1:41:10, Sarah Watkins 1:43:32, Sue Collman 1:43:46, Jon Ball 1:46:52, John Doherty 1:46:53, Deb Marriott 1:49:29, David Wright 1:50:50, Milly Frankpitt 1:52:02, Terry Bewes 1:52:03, Don Cawthera 1:53:33, Jennifer Bentley 1:57:04, Helen Palmer 1:58:22, Monica Read 1:58:23.

Lite results: Toby Garrick 30:49 2^nd overall, Will Ashby 34:50, Kate Marriott 38:57, Madeleine Frankpitt 45:39, David Millen 46:30, Colin Flood 46:45, Suzi Rockey 51:25, Caroline Ball 53:10, Sue Cunningham 54:40.

Haarleberg 10K

A bit further afield one of our newer members and Sidbury resident Dutchman Bert Dykema returned home to run in the 7^th Haarleberg 10K event in the Netherlands. Feeling confident with the training he had been doing running all the lovely hills around here the flat terrain of Holland would prove little problem.

He was so confident in fact he decided to race his marathon running sister Frederiek and his two young nephews Jelle and Joost who spend most of their spare time playing football. So lining up at the start with the other 920 runners in the cold +2 degrees, (too cold for the Mighty Green he said,) they were off. These Dutchmen are a bit soft, the Club has another in Tony Velterop and he only runs if it’s not raining.

However back to the race, and the boys came home in 45 minutes, Bert in 50 and Frederiek in 56. A very good result for Bert, considering the opposition.

This result obviously spurred him on as a couple of days later despite the horrendous weather on Monday with his running buddy Paula Farrand they both headed off to Exeter Arena to take part in a 3K speed session. Racing in group E, the race which is seven and a half laps of the circuit Paula came in a medal winning third in 13:20 with Bert just missing out coming fourth in 13:45.