14 Harriers grab their 'First Chance'... 10k

Start of the First Chance 10k - Mike leads us all out... and leads us all in again 36 minutes later!

A popular event on the New Year running calendar in the region is the South West Road Runner's organised 'First Chance 10k', so called because it provides entrants with their first chance of the year to compete and their first chance to get the fitness regime back on track after the over-indulgences of the festive period. This year all 600 places were sold out before race day, 14 of them being scooped up by Exmouth Harriers.

The race is well known as being flat and fast as it snakes a trail alongside the Exeter canal and the River Exe in Exeter. Half of it is on a tarmac path and half on a gravel track and the only real factor to influence conditions on the course is the strength of the wind, which this year was fairly moderate.

Of the 600 who signed up, 503 completed the race, with Jim Cole of Tavistock AC taking an impressive victory in 31.51.

Having a great race for the Harriers was Mike Musgrove, who led us all home and also led the MV40s home as he claimed top spot in that category, placing 17th overall in a time of 36.08. This time was just 5 seconds shy of his PB set in Langport in Autumn, showing that Mike has managed to keep his fitness up over the winter: an example to us all!

Next in was Mike's training partner (in crime), Adam Miller. Adam had a strong run despite some recent niggles in his foot and ankle which have slowed him down in training and he posted a time of 37.12, giving him 28th place overall.

Adam pushes on at the end of the first loop.

Then came Richard Bishop, having a storming run to clock a new PB of 39.27 which gave him 48th place overall and 8th in a strongly contested MV45 category. More impressive, this came shortly after his escapades along the uber-tough stretch of Dorset Coastline as he competed in and placed a highly commendable 8th in the CTS Trail Marathon just a couple of weeks before.
Richard, looking very strong on his way to a sub-40 time.

Hot on Richard's heals was Chris Dupain. Chris seems to go off-radar for long periods of time and then just pop up like a goafer and churn out a fast time. He must keep up the fitness in between times (at least we hope he does or we'd be very annoyed if this was just natural speed and ability!). He came in just 2 places and 11 seconds behind Richard, 50th in 39.38.
Chris finishing strongly.


I, Ellie Sutcliffe, trailed in next, and trailed really being the word. I was in very poor shape going into the race and was forced to take it much steadier than usual, plagued by achillies niggles, a reduced fitness level and on the back of a 3 week all-inclusive holiday! I clocked 40.15, my worst on this course and over 2 minutes down on my PB set here in summer. The quality of the women's race this year was much weaker than last, with my faster time from last year only being good enough for 8th place, but this year's slower time enough for 4th place in the women's race. The top woman was Alison Thorn of Erme Valley in 39.10... a time I feel I should have beaten - ggrrrrr!!
Goodness knows what I'm looking so happy about - I had a shocker of a day at the office!

Andy Johnson had a good race, Mr. Consistency, he continually churns out 10k times around the 41-42 minute mark and this race was no exception. He ran 41.21 for 78th spot overall and 13th MV45.
Very colour-co-ordinated, Andy, having a good race!

Hoping to set a new PB was Rory Devine. Rory set off like a looney and disappeared out of my sight early on, but his early pace proved tricky to sustain and he lost time in the latter half of the race. Nevertheless, he totally smashed his previous PB by around 2 minutes, covering the 10k course in 42.26 for 101st place.
Looking good! Rory on his way to setting a huge new PB.

Ben White came next, battling it out in his own personal race with his partner, Emma, and, on this occasion, coming out on top! He clocked 45.08 for 154th place.
Also very colour-co-ordinated, Ben flies the Harrier's flag with style!

Emma Dupain had to pace Ben and literally eat his dust as his speed over the shorter distance just outmatched hers. She took 10 seconds longer to cover the 6 1/4 miles, but those 10 seconds count! Emma placed 161st, 22nd female and is no doubt looking forward to the Exeter Half Marathon, her favoured distance, in February to enact her revenge on Ben!

Also carrying the Dupain flag and making sure the family standard was well represented was Dad, Nigel. Nigel recorded a very good time of 47.09, placing him high up in terms of age-graded WAVA percentages. He was 194th overall and 7th MV60.
A man on a mission: Nigel storms ahead!

Not running under the Exmouth Harrier's name, but a member of the club nonetheless, Siobhan Trapnell was chasing a sub-50 time. In the end she just missed out on this, clocking 50.24 for 265th place, but it was a new PB nevertheless for this athlete who is a graduate of the Exmouth Harrier's women's jogging group and is now making huge progress with her running.

Siobhan lives up to the wording on her tee-shirt!

Also defying age and nature was Mick Allen. Mick was 296th overall in 51.40, but, more impressively, he placed 4th MV65+, out running a lot of men many years his junior.

Jim Wyatt followed Mick's example and also did the strong Harrier's vet contingent proud, taking 53.40 to get around the course and claiming 331st spot and 7th MV65.

Last but by no means least, and deserving a special mention, was Mike's wife, Nic Musgrove. This was the longest race Nic has tackled, having only taken up running last year. She estimated that it would take her over an hour to complete the course but this proved to be a grossly inaccurate guess as she hot-footed it around in 54.49 for 344th place overall. Very well done and, next stop, a half marathon!

Thanks to Bob Woodhall and Dave Eveleigh for their course-side support, and thanks to Dave who contributed most of the above photos!