Run Report – 16/07/17
Last Thursday evening the annual Tavistock Relay races took place in the town. This is always a popular event with a friendly but competitive atmosphere and this year ORC was represented by two teams. Although the line-up for the vet team was slightly changed this year, Geoff Hill, Andy Vallance, Rob Kelly and Rob Hicks pulled off four great rounds to retain the first placed Male Vet Team award they won last year. They were also an impressive fourth placed mens team overall, one place higher than last year. The second team of Graham Bryant, Ed Dumpleton, Paul Crease and Monica Richards had to run as a senior men’s team despite the inclusion of one lady runner. They too ran well and finished 8th senior male team and 14th overall.
There were three ORCs running at another evening race the next day. Roger Voaden Paul Carter and John Binns took part in the Chudleigh Carnival Road Race which takes place each year during the Chudleigh Carnival week. It follows a challenging and hilly mile course where the runners do a loop in the town before taking on a mile long climb to the Chudleigh ridge. After completing the ridge, the route drops back to the town for a sprint finish along the main street. Roger Voaden was the first ORC home in 35.12 to be 2nd MV50, followed by Paul Carter in 35.54 for 3rd MV50 and Johbn Binns finished in
42.24.
Saturday evening saw the running of the very popular and well-established moorland race, the Haytor Heller. This tough 6 mile off roader is run over rugged open moorland, with steep ascents and descents, and starts below Haytor Rock, following a hilly, single lap course before returning again to Haytor Rock for a fast descent to the finish in the car park. Rob Hicks has done this race several times and was the first ORC home in 46.50 to come 13th overall in a very competitive field of runners. Paul Crease is also a regular competitor here and was next ORC in, finishing in 48.28 and coming 18th overall. Christine Fritsch was the first ORC lady home in 1.12.46, followed by Katy Speak
in 1.21.45 and Carole Cornwall in 1.22.21.
Run Report – 24/07/17
In a quiet week of racing five ORCs took the opportunity to test their speed over a fast, flat 10k course at the Exeter 10k. These races attract runners from far afield trying to clock a good time on the flat paths along the River Exe and Exeter Canal. Ed Dumpleton was the first ORC home to score a personal best time of 43.15. He was followed by Sarah Marvin, recently back from injury, running a good time of 47.21 and Jackie Dawes, not quite achieving the sub 50 mins time she wanted, but coming close in 50.32. Daniella Bryant made up the ORC finishers in 74.41 as Geoff Hill had to pull up with a slight calf injury and not wanting to jeopardise his upcoming marathon.
Many thanks to Jane for the run reports
