4 Harriers tear around Torrington!

Terry, Tree-boy and Katie prepare to tackle the Torrington Caper.

Christmas may have been approaching and so they might have been excused from racing, instead using their spare time to do last minute turkey shopping or be at home putting up the decorations and swilling sherry, but 4 hard-core Harriers rather chose to head to Torrington to race in the Torrington Christmas Caper multiterrain race.

Billed as offering the intrepid off-roadie 9.5 miles of mud, forests, rivers and hills, it is tough from start to finish and has previously been voted Devon Race of the Year. This year wet conditions on the course meant that the challenge was as great as ever, but this did not deter out stalwart contingent of Harriers from giving it their best shot.

There were 181 finishers, 4 of whom were Harriers, and of these John Garrity was top Harrier of the day, finishing in 30th spot in a creditable time for such a tough course of 1.16.53.

Not too far behind him was recently crowned 'Exmouth Harrier Male Athlete of the Year', Scott Jordan. On this occasion though, Scott was making a special guest appearance as a Christmas tree - fully bedecked with tinsel! He completed the tough 9.5 mile course in 1.24.10, giving him 59th place over all... how embarrassing for the 122 runners behind him to have been beaten by a Christmas tree!!

Next in, giving a token nodd towards the approaching festive season via his efforts in donning a demeure strand of tinsel, was Terry Oldham. Terry would no doubt have kicked himself for letting a Christmas tree beat him at the best of times, but when that tree is concealing rival runner Scott Jordan beneathe its branches, the ego blow must have been even greater! Nevertheless, Terry ran well over the challenging terrain to post a time of 1.26.45 for 67th place and 9th MV50.

Last but by no means least was Katie Comer, representing the female Harriers contingent with pride. She took 1.35.05 to cover the course which gave her 111th spot over all and placed her 21st female on the day.

This man clearly had too much time on his hands over the festive period...