It was definitely 'Ladies' Day' at Newton Abbot Racecourse on Sunday, as a small but perfectly formed contingent of Sidmouth runners turned out for The Dartmoor Vale half and full marathon.

It was definitely 'Ladies' Day' at Newton Abbot Racecourse on Sunday, as a small but perfectly formed contingent of Sidmouth runners turned out for The Dartmoor Vale half and full marathon. There were over 700 entries for this event organised by the Rotary Clubs of Dartmoor Vale and the Women's Running Network. It is a well-organised and marshalled event which includes a 10k and a fun run as well.The weather was perfect for running, bright but cool and with a slight breeze. The course goes from the racecourse at Newton Abbot by road to rise to Chudleigh and then up a steep hill to Ugbrooke Hall. It is nothing a seasoned Sidmouth runner cannot cope with, but it is a good challenge, especially second time around for the marathon runners, making any PBs well earned. However, once at the top, you are richly rewarded by fabulous views over the Dartmoor Vale and the brooding Dartmoor Tors, as you make your way back to Newton Abbot.Jess Watkins, with her lucky checked shorts, had an excellent race, moving quickly up the field and finishing in 1.34.00 as the second lady home - hopefully rewarding her for the earlier disappointment of illness and injury which prevented her from running the marathon. Helen Palmer can claim to be the second Sidmouth lady home, trailing behind Jess in 2.05.11 but pleased to shave two and a half minutes off last year's time. Husband David, using the run as pre-Snowden training, encouraged her for the first two miles but got bored and finished in 1.43.03 whilst the ever young Mick Allen came in at 2.06.28.Jane Hemsworth, on a hat-trick of marathons this year, clocked up a not quite PB of 4.13.31. On such a challenging course this is some achievement and we look forward to what she may achieve on a flat course!l Sidmouth was also represented at the Cardiff Half Marathon by mother and daughter Fiona and Sasha Cummins, both making a welcome comeback to the running scene. They normally run around chatting to each other all the time but Fiona wound it up a bit just to see what sort of shape she was in having not raced since London. Not bad I would say looking at her time of 1.37.42. Sasha, on the other hand, ran a sensible race and, without her mother nagging away over the last three miles, looked very relaxed as she finished at the Castle in 2.02.15. That puts her in sight of the two hour barrier and we look forward to seeing that come down shortly.