Sidmouth Running Club was represented by record numbers at the 2019 Bicton Blister and Bicton Lite meeting, writes Hamish Spence.
It was certainly quite a sight to see 49 ‘Mighty Green’ shirts on the start, which was at the very civilised start time of 11am at Bicton College.
The course takes runners along a mile of country lanes and then up to Woodbury Common where the route follows around the edge of the common and is an uphill run to the halfway point.
This does, of course, mean that it is mostly a downhill run home.
There are wide tracks with ruts and big pebbles, woodlands with narrow paths, a few damp areas and a stream to cross. It is a tough race to compete in, but very satisfying one to complete!
The first female home in the Blister was Sidmouth Running Club’s currently ‘unstoppable’ Kirsteen Welch, who reported that she felt it was lonely up at the front of the race and so she dug in to join the three lads leading the way and ran with them for most of the race, keeping a steady – and fast – pace.
In the closing stages the quartet moved up into a final gear for a sprint finish that ultimately saw Kirsteen cross the line seventh overall in a very fast time of 1:08:36. What’s more, her final mile was run in 5:46!
Richard Summerhayes was second SRC member home, finishing 90 seconds after Kirsteen, crossing the line in 25th position in a time of 1:10:04. Richard was the first Sidmouth male and second male V50.
Jessica Raynor was next, finishing 34th overall in 1:11:34, which left her second Sidmouth lady and second in her age group.
There followed a steady steam of SRC members led by Jim Forrer, 73rd in a time of 1:18:10. Next was David Chipping, 90th, 1:21:05; Nigel Maeer, 107th in 1:23:01 and John Keast was 136th in 1:25:48.
Martin Trueman grabbed 148th place in 1:27:03, finishing just two seconds ahead of Colin I’Anson, 149th, 1:27:05.
Next home was Sam Ingram, who is already preparing for the 2019 London Marathon and was pleased with his performance, especially as near the end he was suffering from cramp as he bettered last year’s time, coming 164th in 1:28:32. Catherine Hilton was 177th in 1:29:49, a time that saw her finish as second female V45. Kyle Baker, completing the Blister for the first time, has been beset by knee issues and went into the race feeling he had not trained enough. However, after the first few miles his pace quickened and he ‘dug in for the duration’ finishing 201st in 1:32:32, beating Chris Day-Kerry by just six seconds with Chris, 202nd, in 1:32:45.
Simon Hollyer, Rachel Nice and Rob Edwards spent the race within each other’s sight only sorting themselves out with a last minute dash for the line.
Simon was 222nd in 1:35:06, Rachel was 226th, 1:35:13 and Rob, who had last run the Blister in 2015, finished 227th in 1:35:39.
Sarah Clapham was 236th in 1:36:01, finishing just ahead of Graham Sheppard, 241st, 1:36:56 and Richard King, 242nd, 1:36:59.
Tim Swarbrick was next home, finishing in 1:38:39 and was followed by Steve Saunders, 257th, 1:39, 26th and Sue Cole, 259th, 1:39:33. Don Cawthera, Deb Marriott and Christine Farnham kept each other going, enjoying the scenery, the company and the weather, finishing 275th, 276th and 278th respectively.
Jo Earlam was home in a time of 1:48:04 for 312th place with Carine Silver, 323rd and Sarah Watkins, 326th, not far behind.
Cathy Kelly was next home, 337th in 1:51:40 and John Doherty was 343rd in 1:52:55.
Els Laureys, running the Blister for the first time, had been determined to break the two-hour barrier. Deciding to take it at a steady pace of 11-minute miles all the way up to the water stop at Warren car park, she was close to her target, so with a downhill journey back to the finish her target time was looking good and she achieved it, finishing 345th in 1:53:15. Terry Bewes, who had been running with, and encouraging Els, followed in shortly after, taking 346th place in a time of 1:53:34.
Two more Sidmouth runners broke the two-hour mark with Jenifer Bentley, 364th, 1:55:40 and Amelia Frankpitt, 376th, 1:57:02.
The ‘Three Chatty Ladies’, who came in literally just after the two hour point, having enjoyed the fresh air, were: Kathy Keast, 385th; Helen Palmer in 386th and Monica Read, 387th.
Following on from them were Christie Ward with running partner, and dad, John Sharples.
Both were spurred on by Terry Bewes and the enthusiastic sound of the bagpipes. Christie was pleased with her time of 2:01:42 for 393rd and John was 394th in 2:02:55.
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