The Sidbury Fun Run attracts a lot of interest from Sidmouth Running Club and allows us to support a very popular local event.

The Sidbury Fun Run attracts a lot of interest from the club and allows us to support a very popular local event.

The runs are, in fact, a bit of a mixture with the young children running a short course of around 11/2 miles through the Manor Park whilst the adults and over-14s carry on past the Manor and on to the top of Evergreen Hill.

It is a lovely route, the weather was sunny, the village was gaily decorated, a Union Jack on top of the hill set out the challenge and with, it seems, the whole village turning out for the occasion the whole atmosphere was typically British

Walkers are also encouraged to take part and so at the start around 300 lined up by the village hall - runners, walkers, dogs, push chairs and anything else that could conceivably get round the course. The start was delayed for a short while as the 52B bus was running a bit late and needed that bit of road to turn around in - then all were off in a big heap together.

Grey Grierson was the first of the youngsters home closely followed by George and Charlie Norris and, after them, were hordes of promising next generation runners. Amongst those spotted were Franki and Dani King-Keast, Robyn Hansford, Leah Hawkins, Lucy West, Eleanor Sheridan and many younger siblings of the Saturday morning regulars who all ran their hearts out.

Tom Norris and Zak Francis did a Sidmouth 1, 2 in the Under-17 Boys whilst Iain Burns raced away to a very creditable third place in the main race just ahead of Mark Keast.

Naomi Garrick, after dropping son Jake off at his rugby training, took the prize for First Lady whilst Rachel Burrow celebrated her birthday at a more leisurely pace in preparation for this weekend's Great North Run.

Lucy Miller, who lives just down the road was possibly the first local lady home but, in any event, should be pleased with her first outing since joining the club.

Next weekend it is much the same as no doubt many members will be off to Musbury for the Musbury Castle Race another community based event well worth the participation.

l Scott Hill and Sam Tipton were joint winners of the short course time trial series.

Alan Hemsworth won the long course award, Iain Burns was second.