Meet the Coaches and Run Leaders
Mary Roberts
Lead Club Coach
I started running in 2014 with a very small goal – just to make it past two lamp posts! I never imagined back then how much running would grow to mean to me. I’m not the fastest runner, and I never will be, but that’s not what it’s about for me. I love the enjoyment of running and, even more, I love encouraging and supporting others, whatever their pace or distance. Over the years, I’ve qualified as both a run leader (LiRF) and then as a coach (CiRF), mainly because I wanted to help others feel more confident and realise they can achieve more than they think. These days I enjoy everything from parkrun to ultras, but the real highlight is being part of a community where everyone supports each other – ORC most certainly is that community, so friendly and masses of support for runners of all abilities. I’m really looking forward to the role of Club Lead Coach and supporting you all on your running journeys.
Rob Russell
Performance Coach
Robert Richards
Coach
I have been a run coach for a number of years. Having twice been Head Coach of this club, that has allowed me to advance my skills and knowledge of all running activities. I focus mainly on technical aspect of running, I love watching and observing many styles of running technique. And advising when asked. I have an Event Group level EA qualification in the Endurance Running area.
I use my skills and knowledge to advance the club constitution to make running available to the whole community. Whether this is coordinating the Couch to 5k programme or furthering the challenges up to distance up to and including 50k.
Recently I have stepped back from the Head Coach role but continue to share my knowledge and support to the whole club.
Rachel Russell
Coach
Rob Hicks
Coach
Claire Grubb
Youth Coach
EMMA JEWELL
Leader in Running Fitness
Since an early age, I have thoroughly enjoyed being active and am rarely found standing still. As a child I was (initially) dragged by my mum to the local park run, which is something I grew to love and still really enjoy. School cross country caused me to fall out of love with running due to the seriousness and cutthroat nature and so it took me a few more years after leaving school to feel comfortable enough to join a ‘running club’ as I felt it would be way too serious and I wouldn’t be good enough.
In 2023, I moved to Devon and got involved in ORC within a few days of moving here. It has allowed me to feel like a real part of the community and I have met so many lovely people through the club and some lifelong friends. I love the inclusive nature, there really is a group for everyone, no matter your ability and they will always be there to cheer you on. The club has allowed me to really find my love of running again, without feeling stressed about times or stats, just enjoying piling up the miles and enjoying the beautiful Dartmoor scenery. I am now very excited to become part of the committee and can’t wait to get more involved in the years to come.
NICK MARVIN
Leader in Running Fitness
I started running quite late in life and run for fitness rather than competitively. I have been an enthusiastic Parkrunner since 2014 and love running with people of a similar ability. I also enjoyed entering events over longer distances, even up to a half marathon. After a long absence through injury, I decided to join the club’s couch to 5K programme to bring myself back to fitness and became a fully fledged member in 2020. I very much enjoy the social aspect of our Tuesday and Thursday runs which are fun rather than achievements.
MATT GRINT
Leader in Running Fitness
I started casually running in my late teenage years, enjoying the community atmosphere of the local parkrun. At university I took part in my first race on campus which gave me the bug – I loved the atmosphere and encouragement from like-minded people. I joined my local running club in Oxfordshire before moving to Devon in 2021 and then not running much at all since then if I’m honest! Fast forward a few years I took part in the Drogo 10 in 2023 which gave me the nudge to start running regularly again and I joined ORC that same week as a way of socialising and exercising at the same time.
The club has become so much more than I thought it would and a year later I have run a few races (for fun, not to win!) and now here I am on the committee… The club is so welcoming – I urge everyone to come along and see where you end up.
Garry Wallace
Leader in running fitness
I started running around 55 years ago having been recruited to Barnet & District A.C. by my elder sister who ran for the now defunct county of Middlesex. Since then I have continued running on and off for various clubs in the home counties, more for fun, enjoyment and good health, rather than competition, but I am still tempted to enter races by a nice medal or a scenic course! I moved to Devon after retiring in 2024 and Joined ORC as my first claim club but I am also still a member of Stevenage Phoenix. With more time available I became a run leader (LiRF) in 2025 as I wanted to give something back to the running community. I am fiercely passionate about supporting runners of all abilities and helping them reach their running goals however ambitious or humble. I love the sense of belonging that being part of team ORC brings and it certainly helps runners develop. I prefer exploring the moors and trails best but still run on the roads and enjoy occasional Parkrun Tourism.
Lucy Gooding
Leader in running fitness
Lois Rowlands
Leader in running fitness
I was never a sporty person at school (as my feeling was you did sport if you were competitive and really good at it). As an adult I kept fit through aerobics and have always been a keen walker. In my late 40s I joined our local hockey club through the Back to Hockey initiative for women who had never played hockey before. To help with my fitness I started to do some running. In 2022, a work colleague and I started to train for Warhorse 10K which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted to keep up my momentum plus I was keen to keep running during the winter and really didn’t want to run on my own in the dark. I had friends who were members of ORC who encouraged me to join and I love being part of such a sociable and supportive club. In early 2025, I wanted to give something back to the club so I undertook my Leadership in Running Fitness certification to enable me to lead groups. I run for fitness rather than competitively, choosing runs/races for their interesting route rather than to achieve a PB. My favourite distance is 10K but have pushed myself to a couple of 10 miles with a half-marathon being my next goal.