Runners rise to the
Grizzly challenge | | •
Early Days runners head off alog Seaton seafront. Ref: 11-05-9463SH |  | | •
THE runners head off towards Beer. Ref: 11-05-9471SH |  | •
Eventual winner Neil Holmes at the bog section in Branscombe.
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One of the steep sections heading out of Branscombe.
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This East Cornwall Harrier was the first lady home. Ref: 11-05-9528SH |  | •
Smiles from a competitior as she nears the finish!
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Report
By Dave Mutter
Pictures by Simon Horn To
order pictures, CLICK
HERE>> Grizzly day dawned slightly cloudy and chilly,
near perfect conditions for running. There was great excitement on Seaton Esplanade
as the multitudes swayed in time to Vanessa Cross’s aerobic warm-up.
Seaton
Mayor Jim Knight set the merry throng into motion and the early pace was very
quick, with AVR's Paul Holley soon in the lead and holding on to it until the
dreaded bogs at 12.5 miles. His legs became full of mud and drained of energy,
but Neil Holmes (Erme Valley Harriers), who had started slightly slower, began
to overhaul his adversaries.
He finally took the lead at Hole Hill. He
never looked back from there, and towards the end pulled further away to win in
a magnificent 2-12-18. Anthony Hatchard of Exmouth Harriers was second, over five
minutes behind Neil in 2-17-39, with Paul Jegou from White Horse Harriers third
in 2-20-05.
Paul Holley limped home 29th in 2-30-27. The ladies’
race was won by Sharon Daw of East Cornwall Harriers, 57th overall in 2-38-41.
Heather Foundling-Hawker from Honiton RC put in a magnificent last minute charge
to try and overhaul Plymouth Harriers' Lynda Faulkner, but just could not get
there, so Lynda was second lady, 85th overall in 2-43-12, and Heather third, 86th
overall in 2-43-16.
Unlike last year’s really damp event, this 19.5
mile course was hard and dry (except for the bog!), but despite this the overall
impression from the 1,488 who finished was that it was a very tough challenge
indeed, with most quite exhausted at the end.
After Holley, Richard Easton
was the home club's next finisher, 77th in 2-42-29, a superb effort. Jonathan
Day bounded to 310th in 3-02-51. He was a tad nonplussed at being passed by Honiton's
Richard Harvey, who just seemed to be floating along with a permanent grin on
his face.
Thomas Elliott was next home, 340th in 3-04-02. Eleanor Wood
ran really well, but was very tired by the last stretch of beach. A kindly Viking,
with a sharp helmet, used it with relish to coax her to finish 463rd in 3-14-24,
but Steve Reynolds needed no such prodding to come home 501st in 3-16-47.
Despite
a lack of training, Mike Calvert was 511th in 3-17-31. Graham Vere had a slog
with a log in the bog and still finished 609th in 3-25-16. Stephen Potter warmed
up for the London Marathon by finishing 799th in 3-39-27. Jane Calvert, who has
been plagued by illness this winter, still managed to complete in 4-07-48, 1,140th.
Liz and Dennis Elliott trotted around together and finished joint 1,245th in 4-18-36.
For Alison Gould it was the first time of entering such a tortuous event,
but she was still smiling as she crossed the finish line, 1,396th in 4-34-18.
Tom (Loony) Scriven completed the AVR line-up, 1,425th in 4-41-00.
Susie
Pitt, Emily Van Tinteren, Mike Roper, Phil Bayliss, Dave Braunton and Michael
Ellis did a first class job of backmarking, and clearing up the course. A special
mention must go to Kevin Rendell and Joyce Cummings, not only did they marshal
all the event, they then went around picking up the course signs and tape, not
finishing until 8pm.
Many other local runners took part, with James Green
255th, 2-58-54, Justin Adkin, 429th, 3-11-49, and Martin Adkin, 531st, 3-19-22.
These three are part of a team that in October is taking part in a rowing race
from the Canaries across the Atlantic, so tougher challenges await them.
Dr
Julian Hurst was 478th in 3-15-24 and Dr Joe Pitt 857th in 3-44-19. Sarah Norcombe
was 1,388th in 4-33-29. She ran for Devon Air Ambulance, and had her own gang
of cheerleaders to keep her going. Jenny Morgan was 530th in 3-19-21 and Martin
Richards 1,007, 3-55-26.
A team from main sponsors Saucony, the shoe manufacturers,
entered from their main HQ in the USA, and Jon Quint ran very well to finish fifth
in 2-21-28, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The nine-mile Cub Run U18 winner
was AVR's James Beard in 1-08-25, with Tom Hilder second, 1-15-52, and Adam James
of South Devon AC third, 1-18-12. Anna Wittekind of Colchester Harriers was the
1st lady home in 1-13-26, followed by Jill Anderson of Plymouth Harriers in 1-21-54,
with Rebecca McCorquodale of Great Bently Joggers 3rd in 1-26-10.
John
Perratt of Exmouth Harriers won the over-60 men's event in 1-19-53. Other AVR
finishers were Liam Roberts 11th, 1-21-05, Dawn Potter 76th, 1-46-27, Alanda Vere
84th, 1-48-22, Debbie Barry 85th, 1-48-23, and Harry Moore 186th, 2-36-34. There
were 194 finishers in this event.
One of the things about the Grizzly
is that it is billed as a running experience and, as part of this, many runners
stopped for a few moments to reflect and tie a ribbon around a memorial made out
of driftwood to absent friends at Under Hooken beach.
Overall, it was
another very successful event, but it was only made possible by the many marshals
and helpers around the course, and the landowners who kindly give permission to
run over their pastures. AVR would like to thank them, and anyone else who helped,
including the hundreds of spectators who cheered all the runners along. Looking
to next year, the entry form will only be available on or after the Seaton Half
Marathon on September 11. For a full results list please look at the AVR website,
www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk.
Meanwhile, Steve White attended the Primera Sport New Forest long distance
duathlon. This was a 10K run, followed by 45K cycle, rounding off with a 5K run.
There was quite a frost in the forest, and competitors were warned to slow right
down at cattle grids. This was like a red rag to a bull to Steve, and at each
grid he increased his speed and lifted his bike in the air to gracefully fly over
them. This tactic help Steve to a 2-48-32 finish.
 |  | •
Pebble-dash runners set off along Seaton's shoreline.
Ref: 11-05-9452SH | •
Ref: 11-05-9456SH |  |  | | •
Ref: 11-05-9458SH | • Runners race along
Seaton Seafront. Ref: 11-05-9468SH |  |  | •
Axe Valley Runner Paul Holley at the notorious bog section at Branscombe.
Ref:
11-05-9492SH | • Drinks to take away at Branscombe.
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11-05-9550SH |  |  | | •
Ref: 11-05-9461SH | • Ref: 11-05-9552SH |  |  | •
Second in Sunday's Grizzly was Exmouth Harrier Anthony Hatchard.
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Grizzly winner Neil Holmes is pictured with his daughters.
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Seaton firefighters were on hand to hose down the runners. Ref: 11-05-9584SH | •
Ref: 11-05-9598SH |
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