Exeter 10k, Tavy Relays & Haytor Heller

In contrast to last, this week was a busy race calendar with races on weekday evenings as well as the weekend.

Three members ran City Runs 10K in Exeter where they were joined by World, European and Commonwealth medallist Jo Pavey. This is a race where speed and a good time for each individual is the ultimate goal and the presence of Jo Pavey probably put everyone in race mode. All three achieved age category positions, Claudine Benstead 1^st with a time of 41.36, Ged Fitzgibbon 2^nd with 51.40 and Jane Richardson 1^st with 1.01.37.

On Wednesday Okehampton Running Club, with the phenomenal support of its members were able to enter 6 junior, 1 under 12 boys, 3 men’s and 2 ladies teams to the Tavistock relays. The teams of four have one runner on the fast and furious 1.1 mile circular course at a time with a hand over of a baton within a designated space. The six Juniors teams known as the Tigers, Panthers, Lions, Lionesses, Puma’s and Jaguars all embraced the concept of team work and gave their all. Under 12 boys, Arthur Hicks, Aiden Spinney, Rudy Simmons and Elliot Woods won 1^st place. Rob Hicks, Rob Kelly, Joe Lane and Mark Lynch took 1^st place for the  Veteran 40 men. The Veteran ladies, Lucinda Walsh, Wendy White, Anne Marie Lethbridge and Wendy Walters took 2^nd place. This event is always a great evening and it was super to see it back on the calendar and so well supported by the club.

On Saturday sole ORC Christine Fritsch took on Teignbridge Trotters Haytor Heller in phenomenal heat and a time of 1.16. As its name suggests this is a race with gruelling climbs and descents over 6 miles. It was the 35^th anniversary of this race.