Some events were cancelled or postponed while we are mourning the loss of our most wonderful sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth 2nd, others took place and some were run before the sad event.
Sunday 4th September saw four ORC’s take part in the Treggy 7 Road Race. This undulating course is part of the Cornish Grand Prix Series. This meant a very competitive race with teams from Hayle, Newquay, Falmouth, Truro and St.Austell among others. It was a very warm day with excellent running conditions. First home for ORC was Andrew Vallance in a PB of 45.13, very closely followed by Richard Davies in 45.15. Andrew Vernon followed in 49.44 claiming 3rd V50. The sole lady representative was Claire Watkins who is to be congratulated on setting a new club Vet F45 record of 54.26.
The following Tuesday evening saw five ORC members take part in the 6th and final round of the Run Exe 5k Summer Series. As regular readers of this column will know this event is a two lap course beside the flood relief channel and along the footpaths which surround Exwick playing fields. First home was Andrew Vernon 19.16 2nd V50, Claudine Benstead was next in 20.11 1st V60 then Sophie Luxton finishing her season with a fine 21.34 1st FU17. Paul Evison followed in 22.48 3rd V65 and Victoria Evison who gained a PB of 30.10 to round off a successful evening.
The overall series rankings, in which Okehampton are well placed again this year, have been announced. In order to figure in the final rankings runners have to complete four of the six races. A yellow jersey is awarded for category winners, red jersey for 2nd and green jersey for 3rd. ORC took four category prizes. Claudine Benstead and Sophie Luxton won their age group, Andrew Vernon was 2nd and Paul Evison 3rd in their respective age groups.
Okehampton Running club has it’s very own Summer Series comprising four fell races. The final one of the season is the Sourton Tor Fell Race. The race is a short and sharp traditional fell race and this year it was tackled by four junior and twelve senior ORC’s under threatening skies. In the event the rain held off and the senior male course record was broken by just under a minute, Tom Perry returning to Bearslake where the race had started just 17minutes and 52 seconds earlier. The home club runners had a great showing with Arthur Lane (11.01) taking the U11 boys spot, Paul Crease (20.59) being the first V50 male to finish and Claire Watkins coming in as third lady (25.44).
The juniors performed really well with Eleanor Taylor (12.03), Alistair Taylor (12.32) and Kieran Spinney (20.46). In the senior race, Chris Turner (20.15) was first ORC to return followed by Paul Crease, Joe Lane (21.57), Tom Polland (22.29), Aiden Spinney (24.35), Daniel Heggs (25.24), Claire Watkins, Will Serviour (26.54), Katherine Hails (28.46), Christine Fritsch (30.43) and Lucy Gooding (41.40).
On behalf of the club the Race Director would like to thank the Volunteers and especially the Bearslake Inn for hosting and Andrew Horn for the use of his field for parking.
There was some excellent running on Saturday from Daniella Tansley and Ian Ripper who took on the ‘Dartmoor in a day’ challenge. This is a self navigation event across the moor with two checkpoints/aid stations on the way. The weather was warm and there was little breeze.
Ian took on the full 50km from Okehampton to Ivybridge and finished in a provisional time of 6:56 (17th overall and 15th male) just inside his target time of 7 hours. Daniella did the 30km option from Postbridge to Ivybridge her longest run to date. Finishing in 4:18 (10th overall and 6th lady).
Having nearly 60,000 runners the Great North Run is the worlds biggest half marathon. This year the weather was kind and the sun came out for the second half of the race. Jo Page, who was the sole ORC racing, reports that she enjoyed the race from start to finish due to the crowds and atmosphere. She finished 2248th in 1hr 37.07 her fastest time in 18months.
Another fixture held on Sunday was the Bude Pirate Run organised by the Bude Rats. The race is billed as 8ish miles and covers trails, fields, woods and the North Cornwall Coast Path. It is a beautiful course with lots of steep climbs and the added bonus of a pasty for all finishers. Claire Watkins represented the club and gained 2nd Vet45 crossing the line in 1hr14.
