It is the official course for the Devon County 10k championships and so it always attracts a very high quality field of runners from all over Devon and also the neighbouring counties of Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and Avon too.
Bets were on as to who would win the men's race with the top two contenders being the in-form, second claim Exmouth Harrier, Tom Merson, and the Newham and Essex athlete Kairn Stone, who has had a quiet summer season but is now coming back into form. On the night Stone took the victory in 31.39 from Merson who ran a very strong race for 2nd in 31.53. The female race was also of a high caliber, with Lucy Hodgson of Newquay Road Runners taking the win in 38.01. There were 544 finishers.
The Harriers did not discredit themselves at all and the 7 who competed all ran well within themselves, achieving some good individual results.
Heading them home was Mike Musgrove. Just back from 2 weeks holiday in France where du vin, du pain et du boursin were on the menu, as well as the odd trail run to keep up the fitness, Mike reported at the end that he felt a little heavy and sluggish around the course and didn't feel as though it was his best performance. That said, however, his time of 37.13 on an undulating course was still good enough for 15th place overall and, even more impressive, Mike claimed the top spot in the Vet 40 category; this is always a tough category at any race but particularly so in the Devon county champs, so well done to him.
Next home for the Harriers and having a very good run was Adrian Kearns who finished in 34th place overall and 4th Vet 40. According to a little stalking of his athlete profile on 'The Power of Ten' conducted by myself, this is Adrian's first 10k in recent years, so his time of 39.12 is a credit to him and his training.
Next in came your's truly, Ellie Sutcliffe. A little leg weary after the Exeter 10k 4 days before I just couldn't seem to get fired up for this one, so I was strangely not too annoyed when I saw 3 or 4 women shoot off into the distance from the start. I decided to use it as a leg sharpener before my marathon next Sunday so I didn't over cook it and just managed to dip in under the 40 minute mark, clocking 39.56 to take 41st place overall, 8th female and, pleasingly, 1st in my senior age catgeory (we won't mention how many vets were ahead of me!)...
Next up was the ever-consistent Andy Johnson. Having already raced hard in Exeter the previous Wednesday and still harbouring a slight calf injury, he did very well to clock a time of 42.49 which gained him 68th place overall and 5th in the Vet 45 catgeory.
And now to our super vet, John Perratt. John runs in the Vet 70 category and usually manages to come out on top, or very near it, in his races. For some reason the results have not attributed an age category to him on this occasion, but it looks as though there were no other vet 70s in front of him, so he is the likely victor in his age group. He ran an impressive 49.42 to take 212th place overall. To be just outside the top third of all competing runners at age 70+ gives you some idea of how good an athlete John is.
Cruising in next was Stan Mason to take 291st place in 53.36. All the more impressive, Stan-the-man-that-can even managed to muster the energy to encourage and assist chivalrously a struggling, young female runner on the run in to the finish line! Meanwhile, Stan's wife Joan was hot on his heals, coming home just behind in 313th place overall and a very creditable 4th in her female Vet 50 category in a time of 54.28.
Well done to all the Harriers - go wear your top quality :-/ gold finisher's medals with pride!
The start of the Torbay
Regatta 10k road race
Mike looking strong as he approaches the finish
Mike and Ellie looking ever so slightly dorky with our "gold" medals!
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