Double victory for the Harriers at the Woodbury 10k

On Sunday 25th September an impressive turn out of Harriers - 17 of the royal blue blighters in total - descended upon the nearby village of Woodbury for the Woodbury 10k race. Following an undulating, though not massively hilly, route that skirts around the village, this race is a charity event aiming to raise money for Christian Aid and their on-going project of improving living conditions in rural Kenya.

Being literally on the doorstep of Exmouth and Sidmouth, the race turned into a bit of a mob-match between the two respective running clubs. Though Exmouth easily triumphed on the day with victory in the men's race going to our Dave Stone in a time of 35.42, and top spot in the women's race to our own Caroline Pleaseance, clocking 42.11 for 9th place overall.

After Dave there trickled in a steady stream of Harriers, with Mike Musgrove heading them up in 5th position in 39.42, over 2 minutes and 2 placings down on his time from last year unfortunately; am sure Mike will be a bit disappointed with that, but we all have off days! Someone who clearly wasn't having an off day was John Garrity, hot on Mike's heals, in 6th place with 39.48; again John is exhibiting continual improvement since taking up competitive running only earlier this year.

After Jon came Richard Bishop in 7th place with 40.31, shortly followed by the first of a large Dupain contingent, Chris running 40.54 for 8th spot.

Then came Caroline racing to an impressive victory in the female race. She was being chased along by Scott Jordan who had a terrific race for 10th place in 43.56 and bagging a massive new PB in the process, knocking an incredible 7 minutes off his previous 10k best!

The friendly rivalry between Scott and Emma Dupain continues and on this occasion Emma had to settle for 2nd place to Scott and also a useful 2nd place in the women's race with her time of 44.36 - just 1 second slower than her time from last year, talk about consistency!

There was then a gap until the next Harrier, John Lambert, rolled in, in 16th place and in a time of 46.25. This also earned him a tidy 1st place in the V/50 category. Nigel Dupain continued John's success by having a strong run taking him to 22nd place and 1st V/60 in 47.26.

Ben White, also a Dupain in all but name, followed on in 48.09 and 26th place. Then came a bit of a gap before the Mason's cruised home, with Stan clocking 53.55 for 39th place and wife Joan snapping at his heals, just two places behind in 54.07.

Nicola Kelly was next, easily finishing in under the hour in 57.07 and 60th spot overall and she was being chased down by a block of three Harriers with Les Turner heading up the chase in 58.09 (63rd), then Alison Wilkinson in 58.43 (64th) and rounding off proceedings for the Harriers, Lisa Broad, 59.00 and 65th. There were 88 finishers.

This meant that all 17 Harriers completed the course in under the hour. Well done to everyone!