We had a very successful day at the Ruby Run last Sunday! This half marathon follows a route that runs between Holsworthy and Hatherleigh, with the start and finish alternating each year. This year’s Ruby Run started in Hatherleigh and this is regarded as the tougher direction with more uphill and a harder second half. The steep hill leading into Holsworthy square from Coles Mill is a really testing finish at the end of a long hilly race too.
Okehampton had a good turnout, most of them running the full race, but a few being part of a relay team. Paul Crease, not normally a road runner and more usually to be found running on Dartmoor, put in an outstanding performance to come second overall in a time of 1.24.58, obviously relishing the hilly route. Geoff Hill was the next ORC home in 6th place, storming up the final hill to finish in 1.28.20.
Not too far behind was Graham Bryant with a terrific run to finish in 1.31.35 and come 10th, just a week after completing the Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon. Chris Turner was the fourth ORC home in 11th place in 1.33.10 and these four made up Okehampton’s team, winning the newly presented Dartington Glass Affiliated Club Trophy for the highest placed club with four runners home. Geoff Hill also took the prize for the First Local Male home. ORC runners were dominating the finish line by this time with Andy Vernon the next home (1.37.05), followed by George Haskell (1.38.08), and Ed Dumpleton (1.40.35), hitting his target time and setting a new PB in only his second half marathon and only nine months since he started running. John Binns was next (1.48.14) and then the first of the four ORC ladies, Jo Turner and Karen Vallance who ran the race together (1.59.49), followed by Deborah Cunningham (2.14.55), Rachael Haydon (2.16.44) and Alan Luffingham (2.18.23), who has run every Ruby Run since it first started in 2003. Kerry Tyler and Suzanne Gratton also ran together and finished in 2.36.50.
On Friday we held our annual Awards Evening at Okehampton Golf Club. This is a celebration of members achievements throughout the year and trophies are awarded for outstanding performances in different categories. Certificates are also awarded, covering six different distances raced by members and with different levels of award. This year eight runners managed to complete every distance from one mile to marathon; Lucy Brint, Jackie Dawes, Claire Stanbury, Nicola Smith, Andy Vallance, Rob Kelly, Chris Turner and Stuart May.
The Annual Awards as voted for by the members were;
Highest Achiever Female; Mags Jarvis.
Highest Achiever Male; Roger Voaden.
Most Improved Female; Becca Ewing.
Most Improved Male; Mark Hawkins.
Best Newcomer; Ed Dumpleton.
Hardest Trainer Female; Nicola Smith.
Hardest Trainer Male; Rob Kelly.
Coach of the Year Female; Charlotte Radnor.
Coach of the Year Male; Chris Aylen.
Member of the Year; Jane Jackson.
The Marilyn Cooper Memorial Trophy, which was presented to the club last year by Paul Cooper in memory of his wife Marilyn who sadly died last March is not voted for, but is presented to the lady runner who has raced the most miles in one year. This was won by Caroline Wilson, having clocked up 198 miles of racing throughout the year.
Many thanks to Jane for the run report
