JP’s Junior Fun Run and Exe to Axe success

Sunday was a great day for Sidmouth Running Club, where all the hard work behind the scenes paid off, as the inaugural Junior Fun Run took place during the main JP’s Exe to Axe race.

Starting from the top of Mutters Moor, 42 juniors charged across the field, joined a SRC adult runner through the woods and road section to the top of the daffodil field, then ran down the zig zag path along the millennium walkway, across the prom, around the playpark to the finish line.

Sidmouth Running Club Chairman and fun run organiser Terry Bewes congratulated the youngsters on making their club proud and thanked the adult runners and marshals, many of whom went on to either run the Sidmouth to Seaton half of the Exe to Axe, or marshal the main event. Junior coach Kerry Boyle said it was a glorious morning for the first ever JP’s Exe to Axe fun run and all the children seemed to enjoy it too.

Over in Exmouth, there was a rolling start for the main event of the Exe to Axe Race, between 9.30 and 10am, as over 140 runners began the demanding 22-mile coastal challenge to Seaton, a truly stunning course across East Devon.

Hamish Spence wasn’t the only Mighty Green to take a tumble but carry on regardless along the scenic if slightly hilly (3900ft of elevation!) route. As Cath Miller put it, brutally beautiful! Jack Wilson found himself out of his comfort zone, especially as cramp set in the other side of Branscombe when his water ran out. He was very grateful to the kindness of fellow runners who offered him salt and tablets, which made him determined to finish. On crossing the line, Jack declared it was one of the best experiences ever!

Ollie Goodchild-Horne was the first of 20 SRC runners over the line, 44th out of 142 finishers of the full Exe to Axe in exactly four hours. We were all pleased to see Simon Hollyer looking much perkier at the end than he did last year and, despite only just recovering from Covid, he had a PB too!

At 11am, the entrants to the Sidmouth to Seaton half set off, including 14 Mighty Greens. Brigid McEleney-Smith thoroughly enjoyed the run, coming in fifth place out of 25 finishers in 2:20:08.

MG Marion Johnson ran the race as a relay with her daughter, swapping over at Sidmouth and finishing in first place in 4:01:52 out of 21 finishers.

All the club runners appreciated the views of where they were heading and where they had been, the weather was perfect and underfoot was dry, but having the support of the marshals, mostly SRC runners themselves, along the route, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, really made a difference. Their support and encouragement really helped and Jo Earlam was a perfect back runner.

It was a very well organised event with all profits going to the Ukraine.

Brenda Perratt said she is always proud when John’s Exe to Axe takes place and thanked Paul Mitchell, Rob Edwards, David Lee and everyone involved for keeping John’s memory and run alive.

SRC Results
Oliver Goodchild-Horne 04:00:45
Colin Ryan 04:04:19
Colin I’Anson 04:25:41
Geoffery Ball 04:27:38
Catherine Hylton 04:27:59
Becky McDonald 04:41:53
Darren Pearce 04:45:01
Lynda Hawkins 04:52:12
Jack Wilson 04:57:25
Simon Hollyer 04:57:25
Neville Hylton 05:07:22
Rachel Barnard 05:13:38
Cath Miller 05:14:41
Hamish Spence 05:32:36
Richard King 05:32:51
Becky Proctor 05:37:50
Naomi Garrick 05:40:30
Lee-Ann Thomson 05:48:58
Adrian Horne 05:48:58
David Wright 05:49:02

142 Finishers

Half Race
Brigid McEleney-Smith 02:20:08
Sarah Ginsberg 02:25:33
Georgina Tulloch 02:37:40
Sarah Clapham 02:42:42
Sue Collman 02:42:42
Alexa Baker 02:54:48
Kerry Salter 02:54:48
Carol Hounsell 02:54:50
Terry Bewes 03:00:08
Christine McCormick 03:04:41
Amelia Frankpitt 03:11:48
Carol McManus 03:26:57
Ann Cole 03:26:59
Julia Haddrell 04:08:28

25 finishers

Relay
Marion Johnson and Daughter 04:01:52

Sidmouth Herald: Exe to Axe Junior Fun Run Exe to Axe Junior Fun Run (Image: SRC)