Sidmouth Running club was well represented at last weekend’s Exeter half-marathon, The Great West Run, writes Colin Flood.

Over 2000 runners tackled the 13.1 miles, and to everyone’s relief, there was a new route too.

Gone were the two laps up and down the main drag, and in its place was one lap encompassing the northern part of the city. So times on the previous course were irrelevant, well that’s my excuse anyway!

The first mile is all down hill from the start in Sidwell Street down to the river.

While this is a great way to start a half-marathon, it means of course, that you’ve got to get back up again.

This occurs, after a diversion up the Stoke Road, around the 8-mile mark at St David’s, with a long slope back up to the University. Then it’s out to Pinhoe and back to the start.

Milan Goc, taking a break from the full marathon distance, led us home in ninth place in a time of 1:20.

Next home in Sidmouth colours was Theo Burgess (1:31) followed by Shaun Bagwell (1:33).

Naomi Garrick, as seen in the Guinness Book of Records and seemingly unencumbered by her now traditional wedding dress attire, floated fragrantly round in 1:42.

Young Abbi Lee (1:53) faded a bit towards the end, but this was only her second half-marathon, and the first was just the week before!

Paul Mitchell was gracious enough to wait for Colin Flood (both 1:53), while David Welsh (1:59), on course for his ‘52 events in 52 weeks’ completed the Sidmouth runners.

A good effort, good course and good weather.