Beat the Bus proceeds give �750 boost to Sidmouth Living With Cancer funds

A �750 cheque from Sidmouth Running Club, proceeds of the second Beat the Bus race, has been handed to Sidmouth Living With Cancer support group.

Bill Valentine and Lesley Roberts gave the cheque to Bill and Evelyn Lankester, watched by members of the group and Tom Spencer from Stagecoach bus company, which also sponsored the run, giving �500.

Tom said: “This is a brilliant idea. It is a challenge that has been set – to beat the Otterton to Sidmouth Stagecoach bus – and that is why Stagecoach support it.”

Thanking him for backing the race, Bill Valentine said: “This is the only beat the bus race in the country, even the world. There are beat the trains and horses but not buses.”

The bus finished 50th out of the 100 runners competing said Lesley, one of those who did beat it to Peak Hill.

This year the Sidmouth Herald sponsored the new Colin Craig Memorial Trophy for the race, won for the first time by Ashley Humphries of Exeter Harriers.

Runner-up was Laurence Bolam from Sidmouth Running Club.

Bill Lankester said SLWC members had helped marshal the event and had enjoyed doing so.

“We are indebted to Sidmouth Running Club, Stagecoach and the Herald for helping us get our mini-bus,” he added.