Mike yomps to victory at the Yarcombe Yomp!

The weekend of 5th / 6th November proved to be a hectic one on the Exmouth Harriers' racing calendar, and events all got off to a superb start on the Saturday with Mike Musgrove winning the 10 mile Yarcombe Yomp.

Staged by Axe Valley Runners and starting in the village of Yarcombe, both 10 mile and 5 mile options are offered, both being tricky, off road courses around the countryside. For the Harriers Mike Musgrove tackled the 10 mile route and his wife Nic and fellow female Harrier Siobahn Trapnell competed in the 5 mile event.

After the week's heavy rain it proved to be a very muddy affair, starting out across a series of fields and tracks and then leading up a long, steep climb to the top of the valley. After negotating a tricky section through a wood, we dropped down to the start/finish line. This was the finish for the 5 mile event but the 10 milers had the joy of repeating the process and running a second lap.

Special mention must go to Nic and Siobahn. This was Nic`s first off roader and she said she loved it. Both ladies are graduates of the Exmouth Harrier's beginners' running course and so the fact that they are now competing in tough, off-road events is testimony to the hard work that they have put into their running in the last few months. Siobahn took the victory in the 5 mile female race, finishing in 52.12, for 5th place over all (out of 15 finishers). Nic was hot on her heels, completing in 60.17, 10th place over all and 5th lady. Mike suggests that her short interlude en route to talk to a number of cows and their owner halfway round the course might have affected this time and may have been a cover up for taking a rest and enjoying the stunning views over the valley.... Nic denies this allogation!

In the 10 miler, Mike took a clean victory from the 60 runners, finishing in an impressive time of 1h14.30 - 2 clear minutes ahead of the 2nd placed runner, Nic Smith from Sidmouth RC - and putting to bed those bothersome achillies niggles that he was experiencing back in October.

The event finished off in the village hall where a lovely selection of soup and the biggest selection of homemade cakes Mike haas ever seen awaited the runners!

Well done to all 3 Harriers!


Is this the Yarcombe Yomp or the Yarcombe Romp? ... Jury's out!