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Don't miss the bus in Devon race selection! - 23/5/13
THERE are three great races in
east Devon for local runners to choose from next two months.
First up on Saturday June 8th
is the Umborne Ug 10k multi terrain race organised by Axe Valley Runners (www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk) while
at the end of the month on June 26th is the intriguing Beat The Bus
which literally is what it says on the tin. Check out the details and try
something completely different on a Wednesday night (www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk).
Then get July off to a good
tat with the popular Otter Rail & River Run, which is supported by
Ironbridge Runner. Only 200 runners are allowed in this event so enter quickly
with details on the Sidmouth Club website (see above).
How Ward is helping Holly's plans for the Comrades Marathon - 23/5/13
I HEAR that Bideford's John
Ward has been keeping Team Bath's marathon international Holly Rush company as
she prepares for the Comrades Ultra Marathon next month.
Rush, who recently finished
third in the Mustang Trail race, completed her last long training run at the
weekend with Ward matching her stride-for-stride over the 50k which include some hard hill efforts.
Ward has upped his mileage in
preparation for the Jungfrau marathon and recently won the Neolithic marathon
in Wiltshire.
Claire is back in Britain to tackle London 10k - 23/5/13
BRISTOL & West Olympian
Charlie Hallissey is back in Britain from her home in Washington DC to take
part in the London 10,000m road race on Bank Holiday Monday.
Hallisssey has raced 10k
twice this month with times of 34:35 in the AppleBlossom race and 34:54 in the
Rite Aid Cleveland event last weekend so over the fast London course will be
looking for signs of improvement.
It's pure madness in Plymouth on Saturday night! - 23/5/13
THE county track & field championships
dominate this weekend so for road runners there is a limited choice of races.
On Saturday evening the Plymouth
Musketeers hold the Muskies Madness 5.5k multi terrain race from Kings Tamerton
Community Centre in the city (www.theplymouthmusketeers.webs.com).
Also on Saturday evening
across in Dorset is the Edgdon Easy 10k multi terrain race in Weymouth (www.egdonheathharriers.com).
On Sunday events include the
Wells 9.6k multi terrain race (www.wellscityharriers.org.uk) and the Trowbridge 5k (www.stampedesports.co.uk) while on Bank Holiday Monday in Gloucester is the Whitsun Beer
race (www.severnathletic.org.uk).
Next Tuesday in east Bristol
is the latest Pomphrey Sports 5k road race (www.bristolandwestac.org.uk) while the following evening is the Back In A Flash 5k in Swindon
(www.grassrootsevents.co.uk).
Put the Devon 10,000m Championships in your diary - 23/5/13
WITHOUT wishing to hurry away
the summer a date for your diary; the Devon County 10,000 Championships will be
held at the Exeter Arena track on Wednesday September 11th and entry
details are available on the events section of this website.
Why Rosie was left way out on her own - 23/5/13
YOU had to feel a bit sorry
for Rosie Chamberlain at the British Miler's Club meeting at the Exeter Arena
on Tuesday.
The Exeter harrier was obviously
not unhappy to win the 800m A race but a winning margin of 25 seconds over the two laps was not what she
was hoping for n the night.
That she still clocked a time
of 2mins 12.21secs in her solo time trial in breezy conditions is testament to
her talent and determination but Chamberlain has her sights set much higher and
ultimately on attacking the time of 2mins 06ses which is the qualifying mark
for the European Juniors.
She may need to travel to one
of the BMC Grand Prix meetings to have a chance of achieving that.
Antell is new signing for Bideford - 21/5/13
TOP west road runner Shaun
Antell has switched clubs to Bideford AC. The Barnstaple-based baker started
his career with North Devon Road Runners before moving to Bristol & West AC
where he enjoyed a successful spell in their A team.
But now the 26-year-old has
decided to re-join a Devon club and as he regularly trains with Bideford then
that seemed the logical switch.
"We are sorry to see Shaun go
but we were never going to stand in his way," said Bristol & West AC team
manager Mike Down.
"Shaun said he wasn't put
under any pressure to join Bideford but as he trains with the lads there I can
understand his decision but he could have had the best of both worlds and still
run with us as a higher claim athlete."
Trigwell smashes 1500m PB in BMC Grand Prix - 21/5/13
JOSH Trigwell was Devon's
most successful athlete in the opening British Milers' Club Grand Prix fixture
at Solihull on Saturday evening. The 19-year-old Exeter Harrier carved two
seconds off his personal best with a time of 3min 55.30ecs for third place in
the D race.
That time puts Trigwell 13th
in the South West Rankings and second Exeter Harrier behind Owen Walpole, who is
eighth quickest in the west with his recent personal best of 3:51.57 at the
recent British Student Championships.
Cornish star Molly soars to No 1 in the UK - 21/5/13
RISING west teenager Molly
Long leapt to the top of the UK Rankings for under 17 women with a superb
performance at the opening British Milers' Club Grand Prix in Solihull.
The 16-year-old from Padstow
clipped almost a second off her personal best with a time of 2mins 08.62scs on
Saturday evening to win the B race at the prestigious meeting that attracts the
best middle distance runners in the country.
"This is still the start of
the season and I am feeling very positive," said Long.
Long's big target this season
is the English Schools' Championships when she will be hoping to improve upon
her fifth place in last season's 800m final.
Lenton beats his rivals to win the Crunch - 21/5//13
IT certainly seemed a long
10k but there was no disputing that Axe Valley Runners' Tim Lenton was the
winner of the Crediton Crunch.
Lenton clocked 38mins 09secs
to finish 26 seconds clear of Stephen Buckley with Dan Palmer (South Devon AC)
third.
It was good to see Ellie
Sutcliffe back in action after her recent injury problems and finishing top
woman in 17th overall (42:42) from 226 runners should give her a
good boost. Michelle Moore of South Devon AC was runner-up (44:28) with Karen
Cook third (45:45).
West 1500m ace Bishop goes joint top of UK Rankings - 21/5/13
DAVE Bishop has gone equal
top of the UK Rankings (outdoors) for 1500m after an impressive time in Los
Angeles.
The Bristol & West AC
runner celebrated his recent 26th birthday with a sparkling time of
3mins 38.48secs in Los Angeles, which was only a second outside his personal
best.
That time equals Chris O'Hare's also recorded in America last month
but significantly he failed to finish the race in LA, in which Bishop also eat
Swansea's Chris Gowell (3:39.29).
Don't forget the Tyntesfield 10k! - 21/5/13
A REMINDER that Nailsea
Running Club is staging the Tyntesfield 10k multi terrain race from the
National Trust property on Thursday (7pm). For entry details see the race
website at: www.nailsearunningclub.org.uk.
New west race is launched in Somerset - 21/5/13
THE first ever Chew Valley
10k road race will be held on Sunday June 16th (9.30am). The race is being organised by the
Bishop Sutton Primary School PTA with the support of the Wrington-based Home and Kitchen Store and
will be held on a predominantly traffic-free course with chip-timing.
There will be an extensive
prize list and entry fees will be £13 to non-affiliated runners and £11 for club
runners.
"With 250 runners already
signed up - out of a maximum 500
runners- it is looking to be a very popular entry to the race calendar," said
race spokeswoman Emma Robinson.
The race will start and
finish at Bishop Sutton Primary School, close to Chew Valley Lake, and head out
towards East Harptree in the shadow of the Mendip Hills. The main challenge
then comes in the shape of the hill up to Hinton Blewitt before the final
stretch back to Bishop Sutton.
Straight after the 10km race,
a 1km Fun Run will take place for children, who will be able to enjoy their run
whilst the road closure is in place. There will also be refreshments,
entertainment and a barbeque before, during and after the event.
For further details see the
race website at: www.chewvalley10k.co.uk.
Emma is too sharp for her rivals in the Run Exe 5k - 17/5/13
EMMA Sharples of South West
Road Runners was top woman in the Run Exe 5k last night in 18:56 with clubmate
Clare Hodgson runner-up (19:11). Top man was Exeter University student Jack
Fitsall (16:12) from Olly Garrord (16:22).
New 10 miles road race to be launched in Exeter - 17/5/13
IRONBRIDGE Runner Events re
planning to launch a new 10 miles road race in Exeter later this year.
The new event will be held on
Saturday September 21st and will be an ideal warm-up for the
new-look Great West Run, which has now switched date from a to October under
the new management of GO2 Events of Bath.
"It will be the perfect
warm-up for the Great West and we have had a very good reaction from local
runners," said Mark Owen of the shop's events team.
Cole is in great run of form - 17/5/13
JIM Cole may be getting
married next month but he is not taking is eye off his running. The Tavistock
AC runner followed up his excellent second place in the Plymouth half marathon with
victory in the Ivybridge 10k road race on Saturday evening.
Cole clocked 32mins 28secs to
beat former Tavistock clubmate Peter Freedman, now living in the Midlands and
running for Coventry Godiva Harriers with Bristol & West's Andrew Chambers
third.
Top woman was Lucy Hodgson of
Newquay Road Runners (37:40) from Alison McEwing of Erme Valley Harriers and
former Torbay runner Helen Dyke.
There were 652 finishers
which is slightly down on recent years but still a healthy turn-out for this
popular Saturday evening race.
Crediton Crunch is looking good - 17/5/13
ENTRIES are already well up
on last year for the Crediton Crunch 10k multi terrain race on Sunday May 19th
(10.30am).
Organised by the Crediton
Running Network with proceeds in aid of local charity Balloon the race takes
place from Lords Meadow Leisure Centre and for further details see the website
at: www.creditonrunningnetwork.co..uk
Fancy a trot? Then head to south Gloucestershire - 17/5/13
A reminder that Hogweed Trotters
are staging their Hogweed Trot 10k road race from Yate Town Football Club on
Monday May 20th (www.hogweedtrotters.co.uk).
Also next Thursday (7pm) is
the Tyntesfield 10k multi terrain race from the National Trust property just
outside Bristol and for entry details see the race website at:
www.nailsearunningclub.org.uk.
There is only a month to go
to the Torbay half marathon on Sunday June 23rd and no entries will
be taken on the day (www.torbayhalfmarathoon.co.uk).
British Milers' club Exeter entries warning - 17/5/13
The second meeting in the
British Milers' Club regional series at the Exeter Arena is on Tuesday (May 21st)
and organiser John Knowles wants to remind athletes that entries are now closed
and will not be taken on the evening.
Harriers sixth as west rivals take the honours - 17/5/13
EXETER Harriers finished
sixth in the opening Division Three match of the British Men's League in
Cardiff at the weekend. The match was won by west rivals Bristol & West AC.
"We mustn't get carried away
but Saturday was an excellent start and potentially we could field an even
stronger team in the next few matches," said B&W team manager Cy Knibb.
British Men's League Division
Three, Cardiff - overall teams: 1 Bristol & West AC 355.5; 2 Kingston &
Polytechnic Harriers 309; 3 Nene Valley Harriers 291; 4 Reading 277; 5 Swansea
Harriers 260; 6 Exeter Harriers 254.5; 7 Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets
231.5; 8 Havering Mayesbrook 214.5.
Mitchell targets fast start to the season in Solihull - 17/5/13
ENGLAND Athletics 1500m
champion Steve Mitchell will be looking to make a statement of intent at the opening
British Milers' Club Grand Prix in Solihull on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Bristol &
West AC runner goes into the meeting full of confidence after his startling
success at the recent National 12-Stage Road Relay Championships when he
clocked the fastest short stage time of the day.
Afterwards coach Keith
Brackstone was quick to remind Mitchell that a certain Ross Murray claimed that
plaudit twelve months ago - he recorded a time of 14mins 00secs compared to
Mitchell's 14:13 - as he launched a tremendous season that ended in selection
for the Olympic Games in London.
"I wouldn't compare myself to
anyone else as I just try to do my best but it would be nice to have a similar
season to the one Ross enjoyed last year," said Mitchell. "He was brilliant in
2012 and made a real breakthrough.
"I was really pleased with my
time in the relays as that was 19 seconds quicker than I have ever run before
on that course and that has given me a lot of confidence.
"Obviously my first goal this
summer is to break 3mins 40secs and then the closer I can get to 3mins 35secs
the better. I have a few races planned, including the British League for the
club and the opening BMC Grand Prix meetings at Solihull and Manchester before
the British Championships. That is the big target.
"I am really looking forward
to the new season and I am absolutely where I want to be at the moment," added
Mitchell.
Get set for the new Run Exe 5k series - 9/5/12
THE 2013 Run Exe 5k series gets underway on
Tuesday (May 14th) (7.30pm) over a fast course in Flowerpots Field
near the city centre and entries are take on the night. For further details see
the website at: www.ironbridgerunnerevents.co.uk.
The team at Ironbridge Runner in Exeter have
also confirmed that there are still some places left in the inaugural ‘Le Tour
of Exeter' from July 26th- 28th.
Inspired by the iconic Tour
de France cycle race this exciting event will comprise three races on three
days kicking off with a 10k road race followed by a trail race in Haldon
Forest, also incorporating the King & Queen of the Mountains competition
and then climaxing with a 5000m track race at the Exeter Arena incorporating a
king and queen of the sprints challenge.
"The initial response has
been very encouraging," said race organiser Pete Ferlie. There is a race limit
of 125 entries and for further details see the website above.
Perratt steps down as Grizzly race director - 9/5/13
GARY Perratt has stepped down
as race director of the iconic Grizzly event in east Devon after seven years in
charge.
Perratt has overseen huge
changes in the mechanics of putting on such a big event as health and safety
issues have become increasingly onerous and is a huge tribute to him and the
band of volunteers from Axe Valley Runners club that they have kept the race
going.
The race reigns have now been
handed over to Dave Thomas and the Grizzly committee though Perratt will remain
as club chairman.
Perratt's last duty was to
oversee the distribution of £30,000 to local charities and good causes from the
proceeds of the 2013 race which takes the total of donations handed out in the
26 years of the race to a superb £273,000.
Harriers hoping to bounce back in British Men's League - 9/5/13
GOOD luck to Exeter Harriers who open their
British Men's League Division Three campaign in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Harriers suffered relegation last year as
they struggled to recover from the shock departure of team manager Jon Milum
but new boss Sonya Ellis has brought some much-needed stability and enthusiasm
to the post.
Joining Exeter in Division Three will be
Bristol & West AC, who won promotion last season in their first year back
in the British League after a long absence.
Yeovil Olympiads, who are the third and final
west club in the national set-up suffered relegation to Division Four.
Now Hall targets another marathon - 9/5/13
STUART Hall is planning a
winter marathon after his impressive comeback in the recent London race.
The Plymouth-based fire-fighter revealed that
he is looking at either Frankfurt or Valencia as his next outing over 26.2
miles after clocking 2hr29mins 10secs, which placed the 48-year-old second in
the veterans' over 45s age group.
"I am looking at a November marathon and
leaning towards Valencia as that is a flat and fast course and looking at
previous results is always a decent race," said Hall.
"That would suit me and as long as I can avoid
injury I will definitely have another go as I really enjoyed London."
In the meantime Hall will continue training on
the bike which has clearly benefitted him in recent years when not running.
Thomas also has more marathons in his sights - 9/5/13
Another west athlete planning to run more
marathons by the end of the year is Justin Tomas. The county's leading marathon
runner confirmed he will be defending his Cornish and Duchy titles and will resume
full training once he has recovered from London.
Team Bath chairman Dave Coales will also be
hitting the roads again in the autumn after setting a personal best in London.
"I have entered the Chicago marathon on October
12th as it is a super flat and fast course," said Coales
Cole & Co on tour in Ireland - 9/5/13
JIM Cole is renowned as a hard-running, tough
competitor on the roads and it seems the Tavistock AC athlete, who lives near
Okehampton, is approaching his wedding next month in the same style.
"I am off on a four-day stag party to Ireland,"
said Cole.
Among the running fraternity Exmouth-based Tom
Merson is among making the trip.
Why Welsh ace Rees loves the west country - 9/5/13
THE west country has proved
to be a happy hunting ground for Welshman Martin Rees. In March Rees turned up
at the Bath half marathon and set a new world record time of 71mins 31secs for
the veterans' over 60s age group.
Last weekend he returned
across the Severn Bridge for the sixth Bristol 10k and duly added another world
record with a sizzling tine of 32mins 56secs.
And it seems it won't be his
last. Rees is planning another trip to the west to attack the five miles best
of 27:00 in Gloucester at the end of the month.
Sixth Bristol 10k really hits the mark - 9/5/13
A WORLD record and a double
British victory gave a golden glow to the sixth Bristol 10k road race at the
weekend.
Former steel worker Martin
Rees had smashed the world record for veterans' over 60 runners in the half
marathon in Bath the last time he crossed the Severn Bridge from his home near
Swansea and his hopes were high when he returned to the west.
The amazing 60-year-old
didn't disappoint as he smashed the previous record of 33:29 to become the
first over 60 runner to break 33 minutes with a superb time of 32:56.
"Despite the wind it was
great running conditions," said Rees. "I went off at a quick pace, around 3mins15secs
per kilometre which I managed to maintain through to the 5s stage. I'm really
pleased with the new world record."
With due respect to overall
British champions Dave Webb and Gemma Steel the performance of Rees was the
highlight of another successful event that even eclipsed their impressive
victories and is one that will cause a stir among the road running fraternity
around the globe.
And it is one that the
Bristol Post can proudly claim to have helped with your correspondent having
put Rees in contact with race director Georgette Van Hoof having heard that was
looking for a quality event to attack he word record.
As for the main race Webb,
who is a member of Leeds AC, became the first British winner for four years and
only the second in the event's history as he held off Sri Lankan Olympic
marathon runner Anuaradha Cooray and fellow Brit Martin Williams.
"It is great to win the
Bristol 10k from such a great British field," said Webb. "We've just had a baby
boy so there will be even more celebrations when I get home!"
Top west runner was Wells
City Harrier Frank Tickner in a time of 20:21, well outside his personal best
with Bath-born Ben Noad 10th.
British international Gemma
Steel, who was a winner in Bristol two years ago when she contested the McCain
Cross Challenge in Ashton Court, also ended the African domination of the event
with a first home triumph in four years.
"I'm thrilled to have won,"
said Steel, who is a member of Charnwood AC.
Women: 1 Gemma Steel
(Charnwood) 32:15; 2 Selem Abere (Ethiopa) 32:21; 3 Katrina Wootton 32:23; 4
Emma Clayton (Bingley) 33:49 (PB); 5 Andrea Whitcombe (Swansea) 33:56; 6 Lorna
Russell (Winchester) 33:58; 7 Teresa McGloin 34:22; 8 Cassie Thorp 34:51; 9
Deborah Niccol (B&W) 34:56; 10 Emma D'Alton (WH) 35:09.
Men: 1 Dave Webb (Leeds)
30:05l 2 Anuradh Cooray 30:3; 3 Martin Williams (Tipton) 30:18; 4 Frank Tickner
(Wells) 30:21; 5 Carl Smith 30:26; 6 James Connor 30:32;7 Aaron Scott 30:34; 8
Nicholas Torry 30:37; 9 Matt Barnes 30:41; 10 Ben Noad (Highgate) 30:42.
M60: 1 Martin Rees 32:56
(world record).
Stop tinkering with the Plymouth half say top Devon runners - 2/5/13
DON'T change the Plymouth
half marathon course: That was the message from top Devon runners after the
unveiling of the new-look circuit last weekend.
Former international marathon
runner Stuart Hall, the last Devon winner of the men's race in 2001 and top
county athlete Kairn Stone both backed the changes to the course made by
organisers GO2 Events.
"This course is definitely
faster than it used to be and following numerous changes over the years
hopefully the organises with stick to this one now," said Hall.
Stone, who finished third on
Sunday, concurred with his training partner's view.
"This could be a really fast
course on its day and I liked it," said Stone.
Tavistock's Jim Cole, who
finished runner-up, presented a united home front in backing the new course in
which the major change saw a gradual climb along Billacombe
Road, turning into Haye Road and taking in the downhill views through Saltram
Park.
"I found it a better route with a good flow.
There was even better crowd support this year too," said Cole.
Amy Budd marketing manager of GO2, was grateful for
the comments and said they would be given serious consideration when planning
the 2014 race.
New route for Great West Run to be unveiled soon - 2/5/13
Go2 Events have also taken over the organisation of
the Great West Run from Pete Ferlie and his team at Ironbridge Runner and the
first change they made there was to push back to the race to Sunday October 13th.
The second change will be to the course with the
new owners keen to have a city centre start and finish and scrap the old
two-lap event based from the Exeter Arena at Pinhoe.
"We have been working hard finding a new and faster course with start in the city and hopefully an
announcement will be made very shortly," said Amy Budd, marketing manager of
Go2 Events.
West ace Peters smashes 1500m PB in USA - 2/5/13
Richard Peters has delivered a stunning performance in America over the
weekend. Competing in the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational meeting in Palo
Alto, California, the 23-year-old Bristol & West AC runner and former Easy
Runner athlete of the month winner clocked a massive personal best of 3mins
40.05secs.
That shaved 2.64secs off his
2012 best of 3:42.69 set in the NCAA Division I Championships in June and
represents a tremendous start to the
outdoor season.
It was only Peters' second
race outdoors this season having opened with 3:43.26 at the end of last month
and the time puts his second on the 2013 UK Rankings behind Chris O'Hare's
indoor time of 3:37.25
Who was the last British male winner of the Bristol 10k - 2/5/13
THE sixth Bristol 10k road
race will take place on Sunday - and can anyone remember the last British male winner?
I pose the question because
the inclusion of Wells City Harriers' Frank Tickner offers the best chance of seeing
a British runner on top of the podium again although the Somerset international
remains coy about his chances at the end of a long, hard season.
As for the stats five of the
six races have been won by African runners with Phil Wicks being the sole British
winner in 2009 when he had a great run to beat Andy Vernon, the pair clocking
28:54 and 29:00 respectively.
Since then the Africans have
dominated and while it would be nice to see a change on Sunday don't hold your
breath.
Race chief hoping for another big 9,000 turn-out 2/5/13
BRISTOL 10k race director
Georgette Van Hoof is delighted with the response to this year's event.
From an entry of 11,000 runners
around 9,000 are expected to toe the start line on Anchor Road for the two
waves on Sunday morning.
"Normally in the week leading up to the race the top runners are
dropping out for one reason or another but this year they are still calling to
get into the race which is brilliant news," said Van Hoof.
"We had 9,062 finishers in 2011 and 9,153 last year and we should be
looking at around that figure again on Sunday which would be really good,"
added Van Hoof.
At the sharp end Wells City Harriers' former UK cross country champion
Frank Tickner is among those intending to toe the line along with fellow
international runners Mike Skinner, Dave Webb and Jon Pepper.
Locally Bristol & West AC will have a strong presence with Tom Merson, Shaun Antell,
Robbie Bugden and Owain Jones all entered.
The race is the second - and the only one in the west country - in the
2013 runbritain Grand Prix, whose ix races offer a prize pool of £18,000.
The top
individual prize is £500 while there are also special British award categories,
aimed at home-grown talent, with the chance to win further prize awards of up
to £500.
Glastonbury 10k race entries still open - 2/5/13
OTHER road races on Sunday
include the Glastonbury 10k (www.glastonburyroadrun.info), the
North Dorset Village marathon (www.ndvm.co.uk) and the Saltash half
marathon (wwww.tamartotters.co.uk) while on Bank Holiday Monday options include
the Blaisdon Bluebell 10k near Gloucester (ww.severnac.co.uk) and the Sutton
Veny The Cricketers 10 in Wiltshire (www.hsvcc.org.uk).
Finally next week the
Yeovilton 5k summer series, in Somerset, gets underway on Wednesday (www.yeoviltownrrc.com) while in Bristol the GWR Towpath 10k series kicks off on Friday
(www.greatwesternrunners.org.uk).
Cope completes half marathon No 254 - 30/4/13
I BUMPED into Exmouth
Harriers' Trevor Cope at the Plymouth half marathon on Sunday.
The 60-year-old told me that
the race was his 254th - yes, you read that right, two hundred and
fifty four - half marathon since he took up running in 1986.
"I am pretty sure that is an
English record and I have been trying to check whether it might also be a
Commonwealth record," said Cope.
Precise records might be
difficult to find on that front but what cannot be disputed is Cope's love for
the sport and his amazing strength and stamina to keep on churning out halfs at
an average of just over one a month for
over 25 years. Fantastic.
That's a real lip-smacking run by Haynes - 30/4/13
IN the whacky world of road
running Ronnie Haynes has served up a tasty performance that he hopes will
leave the good folk at the Guinness World Records office
drooling in admiration.
Competing in his home city
Plymouth half marathon on Sunday Haynes, who work as a civil servant, completed
the event in a time of 85mins 59secs to claim a new world record - dressed as a
carrot.
Proving that he is no
couch-potato the 30-year-old carved 11mins 22secs off the previous best time,
set three years ago as he completed a charity challenge that has seen him attempt 13 events in 11 months, to raise money for the Motor
Neurone Disease Association.
Haynes has also completed
a dualthlon as a pirate and competed in a half marathon as an Umpa Lumpa
amongst other weird and wonderful costumes.
"The best outfit
was the mankini as everyone was laughing and cheering me on," said Hayes. "‘I
always find it amusing how other serious runners will try and up their game if
I start to beat them. I especially like overtaking people near the finish line
in fancy dress."
Turner is back on the winning track - 30/4/13
LEE Turner made a successful
return to action after a quiet couple of months with a solid victory in the third
Haldon Heartbeat 8.5 miles multi terrain race from Torbay clubmate Jon
Parkinson.
Wendy Urban was denied a
Torbay double by Rebecca Mingo of Bere Alston who was recently third in the
Taunton marathon.
Haldon Heartbeat 8.5 miles
multi terrain race, Exeter racecourse - men: 1 Lee Turner (Torbay) 49:15; 2 Jon
Parkinson (Torbay, M45) 49:32; 3 Dave Tomlin (Teignbridge T, M40) 49:38.
Women: 1 Rebecca Mingo (Bere
Alston) 59:25; 2 Wendy Urban (Torbay, W45) 60:40; 3 Sharon Daw (Mud Crew, W45)
61:27. 193 finishers.
There is no stopping that man Murray - 30/4/13
MARATHON-MAD runner James
Murray produced another excellent performance in the Greater Manchester
marathon on Sunday.
In his fifth road marathon of the
year - yes you read that right - the 42-year-old Bideford AC runner clocked
2hrs 53mins 36secs to finish 76th.
Murray's first marathon was
nine weeks ago when he finished sixth and second veteran in the Duchy event (3:00.55).
That was followed rapidly by Barcelona (2:52.29), Taunton (also 2:52.29),
London (2:49.12) and then seven days later Manchester.
In addition back in February Murray
ran four multi terrain marathons on four days in the Enigma Quadzilla event in Milton Keynes
churning out remarkable times of 3:05.59, 3:08.17, 3:11.15 and 3:13.20.
No that man has unbelievable
stamina and powers of recovery!
Cole gives it his best shot in the Plymouth half - 28/4/13
JIM Cole pushed himself to
the limit to try and deliver the first Devon men's winner in 12 years but could
not prevent yet another African victory in today's 20th Plymouth
half marathon sponsored by Babcock.
The Tavistock AC runner and
part-time jockey is a renowned competitor who never gives less than his best
and once he, fellow Devonian Kairn Stone, Peter le Grice of Cornish club Mounts
Bay Harriers and pre-race favourite
Tadele Geremew of Ethiopia had pulled clear then it was Cole who was pushing
the pace.
On the climb through Saltram
Park Cole softened up his west rivals but had no answer to Geremew's turn of pace
on the long downhill stretch.
That was effectively race
over as the African, who was third last year, pressed on to win in 69mins
5secs, slower than last year but good enough to leave him 1min 22secs clear of
Cole.
Stone, who lives and works in
the city, finished third for the fourth time in nine consecutive years running
the race with le Grice bravely forcing himself across the line despite suffering with sore
quad muscles that hampered him in the closing stages.
"The support was really good.
I've run Plymouth's half marathon three times, last year I was third and this
year I won, so I'm pleased," said Geremew.
The leading woman was another Ethiopian, Selam Abera, as she finished an
excellent sixth overall just in 75:23, a quality time that left her seven
minutes ahead of Vicky Pincombe from Chulmleigh with local favourite Ami Yetton
third.
Just behind Abera came the
remarkable Stuart Hall, who just seven days after clocking 2:29.10 on his
marathon comeback in London finished in 76:36.
Plymouth half marathon - men: 1 Tadele Geremew (Ethiopia) 69:03; 2 Jim Cole (Tavi) 70:25; 3 kairn Stone (NEB)
71:07; 4 Peter l Grice (MBH) 71:53; 5 James Bellward (Crawley) 73:57; 6 Stuart
Hall (Fire, M45) 76:36.
Women: 1 Selam Abera
(Ethiopia) 75:22; 2 Vicky Pincome (unatt, W35) 82:34; 3 Ami Yetton (Ply H)
83:19; 4 Leigh James (WSE&H) 85:24; 5 Anne Luke (Tamar, W55) 85:36.
Plymouth race chief praises runners and big crowds - 28/4/13
OVER 3,000 runners completed
the 20th Plymouth's half marathon with the organisers estimating that 20,000 people lined the 13.1 mile route.
A 30-second silence was held
for all those affected by the tragic events at the Boston Marathon, allowing
the local running community to pay their respects, before the race was started
at 9am. Plymouth's Olympic heroes Heather Fell, Antony James, Tonia Couch and
Sarah Barrow sounded the klaxon.
Ronnie Haynes, a civil servant from Plymouth, hopes today to have broken the
Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a vegetable,
with a time of 85 minutes, 59 seconds, beating the current official record of
97 minutes 21 seconds. Hayes was raising money for Motor Neurone Disease
Association.
Organisers GO2 were delighted with the turn out and the inspirational crowd
support.
"Congratulations to each and
every runner who crossed the line today," said race organiser Amy Budd.
"People were running for lots
of reasons, to get fit, to raise money for charity, in memory of a loved one or
a training run for a marathon. The race had a lovely atmosphere - as always,
Plymouth did itself proud."
This year saw a new route, with a gradual climb along Billacombe Road, turning
into Haye Road and taking in the downhill views through Saltram Park.
"I found it a better route,
with a good flow. There was even better crowd support this year too," said
runner-up Jim Cole.
Hall eyes Plymouth half glory - one week after London! - 27/4/13
STUART Hall is steeling himself
to line up for the Plymouth half marathon tomorrow - just seven days after
running the London Marathon.
The 48-year-old Plymouth-based fire-fighter
always intended to run his home city event although he wasn't sure how he would
feel after completing his first marathon in eight years in a superb time of
2hrs 29mins 10secs to place him e overall in the veterans' over 45s age group.
"I am running the Plymouth half this Sunday
coming but not sure how legs will feel," said Hall.
"It is bit too soon really but it is my local
race. I will hopefully keep running through the summer but have a couple of easy
months after Plymouth and do more cycling."
Other Devon runners in the race include Jim
Cole of Tavistock and former South West Road Runners' athlete James Bellward,
who now competes for Crawley.
But both Tom Merson and Shaun Antell have
pulled out of the race.
Why ace Stone is Plymouth's 'Mr Consistency' - 27/4/13
WHEN
it comes to consistency then Kairn Stone's record in the Plymouth half marathon
is in a class of its own. Over the past nine years he has always finished in
the top six and never run the distance slower than 71mins 00secs with a course
best of 68:24.
Clearly
the Torquay-born and bred runner, who has been living and working in Plymouth
for some years now, would love to win the race and there would be no more
popular winner (apart from the legendary Stuart Hall!).
But
now aged 36 will Stone ever realise that sporting
ambition? Don't bet against t though Stone himself is playing down his hopes for
tomorrows race after a low-key start to
the year.
KAIRN STONE'S PLYMOUTH HALF RECORD
2004: 3rd 68:24
2005:3rd 68:24
2006: 4th 68:44
2007: 5th 69:25
2008: 3rd 69:04
2009: 4th 71:00
2010: 2nd 68:53
2011: 6th 69:00
2012: 5th 70:20
Afican runners are clear favourites for victory in top Devon half - 27/4/13
ETHIOPIAN
runners Tadele Geremew and Selam Abern will
start favourites for the men's and women's titles in the Plymouth half marathon
tomorrow.
Geremew finished third
in Plymouth last year behind Kenyan winner and Ethiopian team-mate and while in
the recent Brighton half marathon he failed to finish he has since then proved
his fitness by winning the Wallsend 5k near Newcastle in 15 minutes.
Abern will start clear
favourite to win the women's race as she was selected to represent Ethiopia in
the World Half Marathon Championships last year and boats a persona best of
72mins 12secs.
This s Selam's
first race in the UK and she will be back in the west country next weekend for
the Bristol 10k road race. Like Geremew she is represented by Run Fast group
based in London.
Around 5000 entries have been
received for the race, organised by Bath-based company GO2 Events and the new
course, which again starts and finishes on the Prom ay 9am, is expected to be
quicker than previously.
Entries now closed for Exeter BMC meeting - but not for Bristol 5k - 27/4/13
THE first British Milers Club west regional meeting of the summer will be
held next Tuesday (April 30th) at the Exeter Arena but entries are
now closed.
But entries will be taken on
the night for the first race in the Pomphrey
Sports 5K summer series from the Pomphrey Hill Community Sports Pavilion, off
Pomphrey Hill, east Bristol (BS16 9NF) also on Tuesday (www.bristolandwestac.org).
Millfield meeting looks like being a big hit again - 27/4/13
ANOTHER big entry is expected
for the annual British Milers Club Young Athletes PB Classic at Millfield
School, Somerset, on Bank Holiday Monday May 6th.
"This meeting started back in
the eighties and has a great history," said Mike Down, one of the co-organisers.
"We have seen some real top
class young athletes perform here before going on to become senior
internationals and it is established as one of the best meetings in the west
country."
The meeting kicks off at 6.45
with 800m races followed by 1500m and 3000m races for all ages. Entries can be
made on-line at: www.britishmilersclub.com
and any athletes who are able to help with pacemaking duties should contact
Down (tel: 0117 9733 407).
Missed Plymouth? Then why not try the Saltash half - 27/4/13
THE Saltash Half Marathon next Sunday, which is organised
jointly by the Saltash May Fair Committee and Tamar Trotters, is regarded as
one of the toughest on the calendar and entries are still being taken.
Last year's winner by some distance and from176
finishers was Telford AC's Chris Rimmer in a time of 1hr 12mins 46secs with Michael
Robinson (Tamar Trotters) second and Teignbridge Trotters' Daryl Milford third.
First woman was Anne
Luke, who finished sixth overall (1:27:0).
Both runs will begin and conclude at Warfelton
Field in Saltash and the cost of entering either is race is £13 or the half marathon
with a £2 discount for holders of an England Athletics Competition Licence. Runners
who turn up on the day pay an extra £2.
For further information on the Saltash Half
Marathon or the Fun Run call Stephen Smith on 07900405500
Why Brackstone is hoping Mitchell can crack it this summer - 27/4/13
BRISTOL & West
AC coach Keith Brackstone is hoping that Steve Mitchell's success in clocking
the fastest short stage of the day the English Road Relay Championships last
weekend could be the harbinger of a brilliant summer.
"Last year Ross Murray ran
the fastest time at the same event and then went on to make a big breakthrough
over 1500 in the summer which ultimately resulted him getting picked for the
Olympic Games," said Brackstone.
"Hopefully Steve can now go
on and do something similar this summer. It was a great run and very
encouraging for the track season."
Holly now tackles the Mustang 277k trail race in Nepal - 27/4/13
HOLLY Rush's preparations for the forthcoming Comrades Ultra Marathon in
South Africa seem to be progressing really well going on the evidence of her
performance in the Virgin London Marathon last weekend.
Rush, who flew out to Nepal
on Thursday to tackle the Mustang 277k stage race that starts on Tuesday,
finished top west woman in a comfortable 2hrs 44mins 21secs.
"I was over the moon with
2:44 and while I'm apprehensive about the Mustang race I am really looking
forward to it," said Rush.
'Forgotten' man Hall is Devon's Top Dog in London - 23/4/13
EMAILS have been flying in
following my list of the top Devon runners in the Virgin London Marathon on
Sunday.
I always feared that one or
two names might slip through the net as I trawled through the early results but
I didn't expect to miss out such a big name as Stuart Hall.
The Plymouth-based runner,
who represented England in the marathon at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester,
has been one of the west's top runners for years but due to injury hadn't
tackled a marathon since the Boston race in 2005 and his last appearance in
London was in 2004.
But he definitely turned up
this year - representing the DSFRS Running Club - and at the age of 48 recorded the impressive
time of 2hrs 29mins 10secs, which placed him second in the veterans' over 45s
age group.
"It was Kairn (Stone) who talked me into
running London in December," said Hall.
"I managed to get a championship entry using
my half marathon time and entered in early January just before closing date. My
aim was to run sub 2hrs 30mins so I was happy to achieve that.
"My training had gone well (injury free) and
I think if I can stay injury free then could possibly run 2hrs 26mins, so that
will be the aim either in the autumn or London next year."
Doaa shines on the London stage - 23/4/13
FURTHER good news from London on Sunday came
in the mini marathon.
Keith Reed of Erme Valley Harriers points out
that Doaa Shayea, who is still only 14, made a huge improvement in the under 17
women's wheelchair race.
In 2012 Shayea recorded as time of just over
20 minutes but this year she improved that time by over three minutes recording
a superb time of 17mins 22secs, even though she lost her crash helmet about a
mile into the race.
Shayea is now looking to significantly improve
her track performances this summer with the main target being the England
Championships in June.
It is all change in the west coutry top ten - 23/4/13
THE
west's top ten in London has changed since yesterday - and not just due to the
initial omission of Stuart Hall. Chippenham Harriers' Stuart Leaney, who is
based in Somerset and is coached by Steve Hollier from North Somerset AC, has
emerged as the quickest west man in the field with his time of 2hrs 28mins
49secs.
Frustratingly
that was ten seconds outside his personal best set in London last year but
Leaney tells me he enjoyed the experience far more on Sunday as he finished
strongly whereas in 2012 he over-cooked the pace and was in pieces at the
finish.
TOP TEN WEST MEN
Stuart
Leaney (Chipp) 2:28.49
Stuart
Hall (Fire Service, M45) 2:29.10
Mike
Smith Bourton RR, M45) 2:32.55
Justin
Thomas (CAC) 2:33.39
Simon
Plummer (Salisbury) 2:34.38
Peter
Thompson (Bournemouth) 2:36.46 (PB)
David Coales (TBAC, M40)
2:37.34 (PB)
Scott Campbell (Westbury)
2:37.34 (PB)
Adam Miller (Exmouth) 2:38.44
(PB)
Daniel Summers (Wesbury)
2:38.58 (PB)
TOP TEN WEST WOMEN
Holly Rush (TBAC) 2:44.21
Jenny Jagger (B&W)
2:52.24 (PB)
Mel Varvel (VoTwo, W40)
2:53.14 (PB)
Georgina Starkie (Frome)
2:57.38 (PB)
Zelah Morrall (CAC, W40)
2:58.39
Fiona Cramp (BRR) 3:02.21 (PB
& club W35 record)
Sarah Baxter (TBAC) 3:03.30
(PB)
Juliet Champion (Chelt, W35)
3:05.17 (PB)
Heidi Tregenza (CAC, U23)
3:06.23 (PB)
Fiona Price (Chipp, W45)
3:07.48
'Forgotten' man part II: Jenkin in Boston - 23/4/13
NOW an apology to Bideford's
Mark Jenkin. In all the hype leading up to the London Marathon Jenkin's time of
2:34.53 in the Boston Marathon the previous Monday - an event that will forever
be remembered for the tragic bombing that marred it - was over-looked by this
column.
Jenkin's time was well
outside his personal best of 2:27.51 which will be disappointing for him as the
course is regarded as quick despite Heartbreak Hill but it is still the sixth quickest
by a west runner in 2013.
Miller smashes PB to finish top Devon man in London Marathon - 22/4/13
EXMOUTH Harriers' Adam Miller
appears to have been the fastest runner from Devon in the Virgin London
Marathon yesterday.
After scouring the impressive
results service I am left with the 37-year-old as top of the Devon charts after
recording a personal best of 2hrs 38mins 44secs.
That shaved just over ten
minutes off his previous best which he set in last year' London race and also
follows up PBs in the Bath half marathon (74:38) and the First Chance 10k
(35:02) plus earlier this month the Yeovilton 5k (17:09).
Miller was the only Devon
runner to go under 2hrs 40mins with the next fastest time going to Aaron
Richmond of North Devon Road Runners, who smashed his personal best by over
eight minutes with 2:40.12.
Third quickest was Torbay
AC's Simon Longthorpe, who shaved a minute off his long-standing best.
TOP DEVON TEN MEN
Adam Miller (Exm) 2:38.44
Aaron Richmond (NDRR) 2:40.10
Simon Longthorpe (Torbay)
2:42.08
Dave Stone (Exm, M40) 2:42.52
Milan Goc (SRC) 2:44.13
Mark Jones (CoPly) 2:46.27
Justin Ashby (SRC, M40)
2:47.53
James Murray (Bide) 2:49.12
Pete Waumsley (Tamar, M40)
2:49.47
Garry Smart (Teignbridge,
M45) 2:50.53
And Emma is quickest Devon woman on her debut - 22/4/13
IT was hard to predict who
would top the Devon list for quickest women in London but that honours seems to
be going too Emma Lake of Erme Valley Harriers.
According to her Power of Ten
stats on the British Athletics website Lake was running her first marathon but
a personal best of 88:23 in last year's Cardiff half suggested that she had a
decent time in her legs.
This year, though, she has
raced sparingly with just two headline performances with PBs in the First
Chance 10k (39:43) and Plymouth Hoe 10 (66:51), both performances that must
have given her confidence.
Nonetheless, running a
marathon is a far different challenge so Lake should be happy with her debut as
it put her ahead of Exmouth's Hannah Brown (3:16.46) and Tamar Trotters' over
55s veteran Jane Bremner, who clocked a superb time of 3:20.06.
TOP DEVON WOMEN
Emma Lake (EVH) 3:09.12
Hannah Brown (Exm) 3:16.46
Jane Bremner (Tamar, W55)
3:20.06
Helen Anthony (Teignbridge)
3:21.35
Lucy Goodman (SMolton)
3:27.40
Lisa Souch (SWRR) 3:28.40
Jill Anderson (Ply H, W45)
3:29.50
Catherine Rebecca Philp
(SWRR, W40) 3:30.29
Debbie Burman (SDAC) 3:31.05
But who was the best in the best? 22/4/13
OKAY, you have read about the
top runners in Devon but who were the best in the best?
Well, subject to further
results emerging that accolade goes at present to Team Bath AC's Holly Rush and
Jus