4 Trigs Report

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Four Trigs Fun for Sidmouth Running Club

More photos available.

Last Sunday saw the 18th Four Trigs challenge start with over 100 runners setting off across the seafront in sunshine. The challenge is a self navigated run to each of four triangulation points circling the Sid Valley with start and finish at the Sailing Club. This year the route was clockwise, with runners checking in first at High Peak, then making their way across Mutters Moor then down through Harpford woods before climbing to the second Trig at Fire Beacon Hill. From here the trail runs inland to White Cross then drops down into Sidbury before climbing the other side of the valley to Trig 3 at Buckton Hill. From here a dip down in Harcombe is followed by a climb up to the Donkey Sanctuary and out to Trig 4 at Weston Cliff. This is the last Trig but the final leg, physically and psychologically the hardest, is still to come. The trail dips down to Weston Mouth then up to Dunscombe Cliff, down to Salcombe mouth, up to Froggie Rock and then finally down in to Sidmouth . This tough route is around 17 miles in distance and involves over 4000ft of climb, so is not for the faint hearted.

Hosted by Sidmouth Running Club and raising funds for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), this friendly and sociable event attracted strong contingents from local clubs Sidmouth and Axe Vale as well as runners from Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. The event was Organised by Marion and Rob Hayman who were well supported by a team of 10 marshalls on the course and 2 counting runners back in.

Jess first woman home

The first man home was James Green from Axe Vale Club in 2 hours and 13 minutes and first lady home was Jessica Raynor from Sidmouth Running Club in a spectacular 3 hours and 2 minutes. Jess’s running has gone from strength to strength powered on by her early morning training regime, designed to fit around the demands of a young family.

Sidmouth showed real strength in depth with Mark Soutar first Sidmouth man home (2h 52m), Nigel Maer chasing Jess down closely followed by Gary Anning and Julian Bartlett. Great runs from a big Sidmouth contingent including husband and wife team Charlotte and Jim Forrer came in next in under 3h 40m, and 10 minutes later Claire Ashby came in alongside Kerry Boyle (working on her marathon training), and Claudia Barry back from London to enjoy some Devon mud. The Keasts were out in force with Nick outrunning older brother John, who had to comfort himself with a better time than daughter Ellie, for now.

In the meantime Sidmouth’s social runners also delivered solid success on the day. Lynda Hawkins, accompanied by daughter Jade, came in at 4h32m time, entertaining fellow runners by carrying, Penelope Pitstop style, a lipstick, mobile phone and usefully, a charger. The Rusty Runner contingent smiled all the way round and Janice Ranson, egged on by Terry Bewes, got over her doubts after Trig 2 and saw the race through to the finish.

Marion Hayman was pleased with how the event went. ‘Weather conditions were so variable’ said Marion, ‘we had hail one moment and sun the next, and of course plenty of mud. It was a great atmosphere with plenty of marshalls and four people in the kitchen making delicious cakes for the runners. We are so pleased we raised £1,570.25 for CRY with entry fees and donations’.

Full results can be found here.

Kerry for London

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Sidmouth Runner on her way to London

Sidmouth Running Club member, Kerry Boyle, is on schedule with both her tough training programme and fund raising plans for her London Marathon challenge. Kerry, who fits training in around being a mum and working as a GP, has been gaining community support in her challenge to raise £2000 for The Institute of Cancer Research.

Kerry and her supporters have arranged a Charity Quiz and Auction on the 24th of February 2018 at the Woodlands Hotel. Kerry said, ‘we have some fantastic donations for the Auction from generous local businesses including tickets for Exeter Chiefs, a photo shoot at Willow studios, classes at Jala Flow and 4 balls at Sidmouth Golf Club. There’s a raffle too and loads of great prizes including family days out and beauty and spa treatments. I’m still collecting prizes so please contact me if you have a donation’.

Tickets for the event have almost sold out with some competitive spirit expected on the night. ‘We have two teams from the Running Club, one from the Rugby Club, some parents and teachers from the local primary schools, the WI have a team and Claremont Medical Practice in Exmouth where I work will have a team’ said Kerry, ‘it’s going to be fantastic fun watching them battle it out!’

Training for the London Marathon is also going well, despite the damp and dismal weather. Kerry will be running in Sidmouth Running Club’s ‘Four Trigs’ event this Sunday. ‘It has been tough getting out with the dark mornings and the ground being so wet and muddy, but I’ve got up to 16 miles and I’m hoping that the ‘Four Trigs’ will be a good mental and leg strengthening event’.

If you want to sponsor Kerry please visit her website https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kerrypboyle or to contact her for more information or donations for her charity event https://www.facebook.com/KerryBoylerunsLondon/

 

 

Fulfords 5

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Sidmouth Four master Fulford’s Five

Last Sunday saw four members of Sidmouth Running Club turn out for the Fulfords 5 mile race at Exmouth. It was an unusual event for the Mighty Greens as it involved no mud and running shoes remaining dry from start to finish. 

The race has been run since the mid 1980’s and is hosted by Exmouth Harriers. It is billed as one of the first road races of the year for the serious runner to get out their racing shoes, but at 5 miles long, it also as an event first time runners can take part in. 

The race starts and finishes in the market square and involves two laps of the esplanade and the town centre. Although mainly flat each lap consists of a climb up from the seafront, which is as nothing in Devon terms, but seems particularly hard in such a short race with a bit of pace.

This year saw 326 runners lining up and amongst them there was the welcome sight of Colin Flood making his return after not having raced for over a year and, as ever, finishing looking as fresh as a daisy. Graham “Rocker” Sheppard was also out, taking a break from his 4 Trigs training to break in his new running shoes in readiness for next weekend’s big event. 

‘It was a great event’ said Rob Edwards, who was impressed by the organisation provided by Exmouth Harriers, ‘if you like running, but are not too keen on mud, this is a perfect way to spend an hour or so on a Sunday morning in February’.

Results for SRC: Rob Edwards 39m35s; Graham “Rocker” Sheppard 40m00s; Jo Earlam 46m07s; Colin Flood 47m09s.

SW Vets X-C

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South West Vets Cross Country Championships – report by David Millen, photo – Kit Woodcock

Five members of Sidmouth Running Club took part in the South West Veterans Cross Country Championships held at Sidford on Sunday 28th January. The race, which was hotly contested by a strong field of 50 runners all aged over 35, was over a 6km course comprising 3.5 laps around the rugby field, football fields, alongside the river and through a small section of woodland. With the recent rains parts of the course were very muddy, as befits a cross country course, with a number of twists and turns.

The start

First Sidmouth runner to finish was Naomi Garrick in a time of 32:39. Naomi was closely followed by Rob Edwards in 33.04. Next to cross the line for Sidmouth was Christine Farnham who picked up the prize for third lady in her age category finishing in a time of 35:00. Completing the Sidmouth contingent were David Millen in 35:39 and Karen Farnham in 35:48.

Blackdown Beast

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The Blackdown Beast

Fourteen members of the club, missing from the team photo are Janice and Julian, who else? Who arrived late, as usual, and were queuing for the toilet, took on the 17 plus mile Beast over the Blackdown Hills on a misty and drizzly day.

This was the 5th year for Helen and Terry and what a Mighty mud extravaganza it was, a real mud fest, of the 17 miles 13 of them were in mud and slurry. Janice who was still suffering from a night out was confused thinking she was running the Beauty as she turned up wearing just her new racing back vest and was duly sent back to her car to put on another layer. She did however manage to stay on her feet this time which is more than I did. However I did come to her rescue later in the run when her hair got tangled up in some brambles, and being a true gentleman I did not take a photo but untangled her, then I thought I should have taken a photo first.

Beast virgins Anna Read, Sam Ingram, Danny Painter, Cath Miller, Julian Bartlett and Janice all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the craic with the other 200 runners. Cathy’s Delia, the pasty and mulled cider at Smeatharpe kept us going and we all enjoyed the hospitality of the Luppit Inn this time taking over the lounge.

Although great fun and full of laughter it was exhausting keeping on pulling your feet out of the mud so we were all pleased to finish. Don thought it a good time to try out this new recovery routine he had read about 4 pints followed by a rum and black and a cup of tea. By the look of him I am sticking to my protein recovery shake and a banana.

Brilliant job by Roger Saunders and all his helpers from Honiton R.C. Thank you. Look out for the Blackdown Beauty July 14 and enjoy the famous cream tea.

4 Trigs Training

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Trigs Training underway at Sidmouth Running Club

With the 4 Trigs event reaching its eighteenth birthday next month members of Sidmouth Running Club have been out training to ensure they can celebrate in style with good runs on the day. Describing itself as a ‘low-key’ off-road running event the challenge on 11th February is anything but low key as it covers a distance of approximately 28km with hundreds of metres of climb. Runners have to visit each of the four Triangulation Pillars around the Sid Valley choosing their own routes, but ensuring they visit each Trig Point in the prescribed order. Local knowledge of footpaths and trails is a distinct advantage so the three training runs organised by members of Sidmouth Running Club have been well supported.

The first two training runs covered trig 1 (High Peak) and trig 2 (Fire Beacon Hill). Last Sunday 14 plucky runners set out in the rain to run the last two trigs, Buckton Hill and Weston Trig, starting and finishing at the Sailing Club. ‘It was 11 miles in the drizzle and mostly mud, mud glorious mud’ said Terry Bewes. ‘That is the most mud I have seen on that route and we all enjoyed watching Janice Ranson throwing some shapes on the muddy path down from Buckton Trig trying to stay on her feet and mountaineering up the short cut through the woods on Harcombe Hill’.  ‘I finished in a flip flop because my trainers delaminated’ said stoical Cathy Keast, who at one stage was so focused with her head down climbing out of a valley that she nearly collided with a soggy pony sheltering by a hedge. ‘I’m not sure which of us was more surprised’. Fellow runners slithered their way up and down the coastal footpath getting plastered in mud in the process and all declaring themselves happy to reach the end. ‘It was a tough training run, but we’re all well prepared now’ said Club Chairman Terry Bewes.

The event on 11th February will be hosted by Sidmouth Running Club and organisers Rob and Marion Hayman hope to attract around 120 entrants. All profits will go to the charity CRY(Cardiac Risk in the Young). ‘Last year we raised a total of £1,350 for CRY and Sidmouth held its first screening in June’ said Marion. ‘The event is a great way to raise funds and awareness of this charity which aims to prevent young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) through awareness, screening and research’. Find more details and entry forms at www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk

Devon X-Country

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Sidmouth show of strength at the Devon Schools’ Cross Country

Some of the town’s younger runners, including some from the junior section of Sidmouth Running Club, were in action at the Devon Schools’ Cross Country event last Saturday at an exceptionally muddy Stover School. Brilliantly organised, the course was set-up to provide race distances ranging from 2.2 km to 6.5 km. The course map included a lap of what was affectionately titled ‘Torture Field’ where the energy-sapping mud was arguably at its worst!

To even make it to the start line the athletes had already come through two rounds of selection; firstly at Bicton for East Devon then at Blundells for the joint Exeter and East Devon team. All the runners did the town proud in very difficult conditions.

From the Running Club, Joe Ashby, Josh Miller, Kate Marriott, Toby Garrick, Will Ashby and Tommy Reardon swapped green vests for blue to take on the challenge. This was ‘proper’ cross country with all runners having to run laps of a brutal course which started very muddy and quickly deteriorated through the day! All runners can be extremely proud of themselves for digging deep and producing inspiring performances. Excellent Sidmouth performances were delivered by Tara Darlami (Minor Girls), Kate Marriott (Inter Girls), Joe Ashby and Ollie Beech (Junior Boys), Josh Miller and Will Bond (Inter Boys), Rory Morgan and Will Ashby (Senior Boys). Particular congratulations were due to Josh Miller (9th) and Toby Garrick who had a storming run to make it onto the podium in 3rd position. Both have qualified for the next round – the South West Championships.

Justin Ashby, a coach with Sidmouth Running Club said, ‘With talented runners such as these, the future is bright for Sidmouth Running Club. Ben Chesters and I look forward to nurturing the talent in our Wednesday night intervals session at the club!’

New Year Courses

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New Year Courses Off to a Good Start at Sidmouth Running Club

Sidmouth Running Club members have welcomed over 50 new recruits to the 2018 New Year Beginners and Improvers Courses. Enrolment and a warm welcome from the club Chairman, Terry Bewes, took place on the first two Wednesday club nights of 2018 and the new groups were soon up and running with experienced Run Leaders to help them along the way.

Helen Palmer and Colin Flood guided the beginners through a run/walk combination around town which soon put nervous starters at ease. Clare Partridge who lives in Exeter and is moving to Sidmouth shortly, joined the course to increase fitness, but also to meet some new people. ‘Before my first week in the beginners group, I was a little apprehensive about being able to keep up with the group. My fears were unfounded as, right from the start I was made to feel very welcome and the coaches put my mind at rest by explaining the course and its aims. The first two weeks have been great, the running has been fun, I’ve met some nice people and I’ve even started to do some extra runs at weekends’.

Another beginner, Kath Giles, agrees and has had her appetite whetted. ‘So far I’m loving it! They are a great friendly bunch, and the leaders are positive positive positive!  I’d love to run a proper race (to get a medal) and get up the side of Salcombe Hill in the summer. Watch this space….’. Harri Pollard, mum of 2, moved to Sidmouth in 2016 after many years overseas. This is her second go at the Beginners course as last year, she reflects, ‘life just kept getting in the way’. This year she is determined to make it a priority. ‘I think I might actually really like running and the first few weeks have been reasonably easy. The run leaders definitely ease you in gently – I love the idea of running a little, walking a little, it makes that first bit of exercise after being very sedentary much easier to manage – I only ached a little bit after the first few sessions!’

New for 2018, the Improvers course is led by Tim Mitchell, who has been impressed by the enthusiasm of the new group. ‘We have quite a range of abilities’ said Tim, ‘but we always ensure that faster runners loop back at check points so that everyone gets to run at their own pace’. Rachel Searle, 19, was given the course as a Christmas present by her Godmother. ‘I wanted to join to improve my general fitness but I was worried that I would feel embarrassed. I’ve been to 2 sessions now and I am really happy running with the improvers group. There are a big range of people with different abilities and the run leaders know how to include everyone while keeping the group challenging. I look forward to getting to know the other runners throughout the course’.

Emma Grainger, 64, from Ottery claims not to like running and says she is ‘past her best’ but nonetheless runs regularly with friends, enters a couple of races every year and thinks a regular course will help with training. With several veteran Club members achieving Personal Bests last year, she may yet surprise herself!