Harriers host a belting Blister!

Around 500 runners gather at Bicton College for the start of the Bicton Blister and Blister Lite races


Sunday 27th November saw the Exmouth Harriers stage their biggest event of the year: the Bicton Blister and Bicton Lite races. The sun came out this year and greeted a record number of entrants across the two races, with 422 finishers in the main 10 mile event, and 84 completers in the 4.5 mile "Lite" race. An astounding number of entries were taken on the day, with a long queue of late entrants at race HQ signing up right until 5 minutes before the race was due to start!











Race HQ and the late entries desk were busy with well over a hundred late entires pouring in until the very last minute!

Both races start and finish in the beautiful grounds of Bicton College, near Sidmouth, and take runners on a mile of tarmac country lanes out the back of the College before leading them off onto Woodbury Common. Here the course twists and turns over muddy, stoney, uneven tracks and provides competitiors with some stunning views to distract them from the pain of the neverending ascents and descents! After completing a short loop, the Lite runners then head for home, whilst the competitors in the 10 mile event go on to complete a second, longer loop on the commons, crossing a few streams and jumping a few fallen logs and tree roots in the process.

Competition was fierce this year with last year's winner, Stuart Hall, back to defend his title. Kerry Rees, who took victory just one week before at the equally tough 10 mile Drogo race was also on the start line, as was the in-form Tavistock AC runner, Jim Cole. These three men dominated the event, with Cole taking the victory in a "blistering" time of 1.01.15, from Rees (1.01.28) and Hall (1.02.58).

The women's race was not quite so tight at the top, with the first three ladies coming in at 2 minute intervals, but some impressive times were clocked here nevertheless. Unaffiliated runner, Rachael Currie, stormed home to vistory in 1.14.46, in 39th place overall. Wendy Urban of Torbay AC repeated her position from last year, 2nd lady in 1.16.29, and Exmouth Harrier's own Caroline Pleasence claimed a hard earned 3rd spot in a time of 1.18.41.

Caroline Pleasence rounded off her very successful Autumn season of competition with a hard earned 3rd place!

Other Harrier finishers in the 10 mile event were: Richard Bishop, 36th in 1.14.18; Jim Pyne, 60th in 1.18.59; Scott Jordan, 120th in 1.25.13; Lorraine Croome, 159th in 1.28.21; Ray Elston, 258th and 2nd man over 70 in 1.36.15 and Roger Riggs, 274th in 1.37.56. Special mentions must go to Ray, who continues to defy nature and age as he upped the distance from the 'Lite' race last year to run the full 10 miles this year, and to Roger, who is a relative newcomer to the running club scene and this event is by no means the easiest introduction to competitive running!










Roger Riggs (left) and Scott Jordan both had great races in the 10 mile event

The Lite event was over-flowing with Exmouth Harrier runners this year as the graduates from club's beginners' jogging course chose to target it as their first competitive run. All of the beginners, expertly guided by their mentor, Bob Woodhall, have made superb progress over the past few months and have committed themselves to Bob's training programme with determination and good humour! Their hardwork clearly payed its dividends as there were some commendable performances and impressive times in Sunday's 4.5 mile race.

The first Harrier home in this race, and a graduate of the beginner's course, was eighteen year old Michael Morton, taking 23rd spot overall in a time of 42.41. Hot on his heels, just one place and 4 seconds behind, but out-sprinted by Michael on the home straight, was Siobhan Trapnell. This gained Siobhan 6th female overall and 1st in the FV40 category.











L: The top 4 Harriers finishers in the Lite race, L - R: Michael Morton, Siobhan Trapnell, Nic Musgrove and Sarah Slight. Well done guys!
R: Sandra Bate looks happy to have sighted the finish line, but she'd better watch her back as Linda Western and Susan Percy are hot on her heels!

Other Harrier finishers were: Sarah Slight, 39th in 45.46; Nic Musgrove, 40th in 47.00; Alison Wilkinson, 56th in 50.13; Roxanne Henry, 68th in 52.49; Sandra Bate, 80th in 1.09.31; and, rounding them off, finishing within 3 seconds of each other, were Linda Western, 1.09.43, and Susan Percy, 1.09.46, in 81st and 82nd positions respectively.











Alison Wilkinson heads for home! Roxanne Henry sights the finish!

The 'Lite' was won by 14 year old runner Callum Hall in an amazing 29.29: he's one to watch for the future! Top woman was the ever-consistent South West Road Runner's veteran, Karen Cook, 5th overall, in 35.18.

Feedback suggests that the runners appreciated all the little extras, such as the bagpipe seranade half way around the course, the Ironbridge Runner stall, the post-race massage facility... I know that some of the marshalls appreciated this latter...

Lorraine and Ellie selflessly testing the massage facility to ensure it's up to scratch for the runners. Good news: it was!

Well done to all the Harrier finishers, though particularly to all our newcomers. We hope you enjoyed the experience and will stay with the club and go on to compete in many more races!

On behalf of the race director, a big thank you as well to all the many other Harriers who sacrificed a run in order to help out on the day. Whatever role you took on, the event could not have gone ahead so smoothly without you.

Finally, we send our best wishes to runner Pamela, who had an accident out on the course. We wish her a speedy recovery.