Due to the gradient of its climbs, this is most certainly not a PB course. Finish times tend to be 4 to 5 minutes down on what a runner could expect to achieve on a flat 10k route.
Seven Harriers joined the 142 strong field and prepared to do battle with the hill. Amongst them was Harriers' stalwart strong performer, Dave Stone. Dave has run this race for many years and has been consitently well placed, finishing 3rd in 2008, 3rd again in 2009 and 4th last year. Clearly being demoted from the top three placings last year fired him up to get back there this year as he ran a quality race, crossing the finish line in 3rd in a time of 40.25.
Next over the finish line, also finishing one place higher than he did last year, was our off-road king, Hugh Marsden. Hugh finished in an impressive 11th place, clocking a time of 43.50. Often Hugh manages to scoop the Vet 50 prize but on this occasion was just run out of it, into second place in his category, in what was a very strong field of vet runners.
Four places behind Hugh came myself, Ellie Sutcliffe. This was my first ever race last year after taking up running seriously last summer, so I was keen to see my hard work over the past year be rewarded with an improved time. Last year I ran 49.34 for 47th place and the 5th female spot and this year I was thrilled to improve that time to 45.32, knocking over 4 minutes off, and to claim 16th place overall and 2nd female.
Cantering in 2 places behind me, in a good time of 46.01, was vet 40 competitor, Jon Garrit, meaning that 4 out of the 7 competing Harriers finished in the top 20!
Next over the finish line was the ever-improving Scott Jordan. Scott's been working hard all summer, clocking up some 50+ mile training weeks, and this is clearly bringing its rewards as he finished in 52nd place, in 52.39: a decent time on this tough multi-terrain course.
Next in was Dawn Teed who was running this race for the first time and confessed to being a little daunted by the hill beforehand! Her prediction was that it would take her over an hour to complete the course but she proved herself wrong when she came blasting back down the hill to stop the clock at 58.06, in 93rd spot and 8th in the female vet 40 category.
Rounding off a septet of good performances, Jim Wyatt followed up his run in Totnes last week with another solid performance. Jim took just over the hour to cross the line in 107th place overall and 8th place in what proved to be a very strong vet 60 category.
Our male team, with the top 4 runners to count, repeated last week's Totnes performance by coming runners up (or, as Dave Stone put it, first of the losers!) to the visiting Hampshire based club, Overton Harriers.
Some pictures from the day can be viewed in an enlarged version by clicking on the images below.
Harriers about to tackle the tough Sidmouth Festival 10k trail run. Back L - R: Scott Jordan, Dave Stone, Jim Wyatt, Hugh Marsden. Front L - R: Ellie Sutcliffe, Dawn Teed
The eventual winner of the race, Adam Holland (far right, in black), and of the women's race, Lucy Commander (centre, in yellow), lead the way up Peak Hill as Dave and Ellie (left) give chase!
Dawn Teed lets the handbrake off as she powers back down Peak Hill to the finish.
Dave Stone about to summit Peak Hill
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