It has been a very busy week for ORC! On Tuesday Stuart May took part in the final round of the Run Exe 5k series. There are six races in the series but runners only need to complete four and their times are then added together to work out overall winners and age category places. Having completed the required four races, Stuart was pleased to find he had come third in the MV45 age category with a total time for the runs of 79min 32secs.
Wednesday saw a beautiful late summer’s evening, when the last of our Summer Series races took place. The Sourton Tor race is a traditional up and back fell race starting from the Bearslake Inn near Sourton, where the runners ascend over 300m over open moorland to the top of Sourton Tor. On a windy, but lovely evening, the runners barely had time to appreciate the stunning sunset from the top, before the fast downhill descent on the other side of the valley to complete the 2.6 miles of the race. First home was Toby Chapman, who had travelled from Taunton to run, finishing in 21.29, four seconds ahead of last year’s winner, James Best, despite going well off course after reaching the summit of the Tor. Greg Millar was the first ORC home in 28.38 with Jo-Anne Turner and Alison Holiday finishing together in 38.51 to jointly claim the Third Lady prize.
The following evening four ORCs took to the streets of Exeter to run the Michelmores Charity 5k Run. This race is now in its 17th year and the charity they were raising money for this year was Balloons, who support bereaved children and their families in the south west. The conditions were very hot but this did not stop Jackie Dawes from running a great race to finish with a new PB of 25.39. Next home was Molly Bell in 27.48, followed by Jane Richardson in 30.50 and Sarah Bell in 36.54.
Sunday saw a good turnout of ORCs at the Bude Pirate Run with seven members taking part. This off road 8miler incorporates the course of the old Mouth to Mouth Race, but with added milage as it now starts and finishes near Crooklets Beach in Bude. The runners head north, initially on the coast path, before turning off inland towards Stowe Barton and Coombe Woods, after which a short stretch on the road brings them to the coast at Duckpool, where they take the coast path back to Bude. With the exception of the dip down to Northcott Mouth, followed by the dreaded steps up again, the first three miles are entirely uphill, but the steepest climbs are on the coast path on the return leg of the run, where all but the fittest are reduced to a walk. On such a beautiful day, with the stunning views along the coastline, it would be hard not to enjoy this tough run. Hugh Robinson was the first ORC to finish with a good run in 1.05.40 to come 11th overall, followed by John Binns in 1.20.00. Charlotte Radnor was the first lady ORC home in 1.22.05, with Jane Jackson next in 1.23.38, Christine Fristch in 1.31.38, Katy Speak in 1.33.38 and Mags Jarvis in 1.35.12.
Many thanks to Jane for the run report
