Harriers hit Erme Valley en masse for the relays

Most of the Harriers, apart from the first wave of runners who had to dash off to the start line, at the Erme Valley Relays 2012!

Despite it being one of the wettest days of the year in the wettest summer on record, this did not deter a hardy band of Harriers from descending en masse to Ivy Bridge to participate in the Erme Valley Relays. An eagerly anticipated annual event on the running calendars of most of the local running clubs, this is a great evening of competition, camaraderie and curry sauce covered chips consumption! This year the event had a record entry and a record number of participants on the day, proving that the Devon and Cornish runners are a tough breed who refuse to be beaten by the rain and cold.

91 teams in total completed the relays and of those an impressive total of 7 teams were composed of Exmouth Harriers. Traditionally the Harriers have always done well at these relays and year on year have managed to come away with some form of prize or top placing; however, competition and the standard of entry is also getting better year on year and so the Harriers had a real battle on their hands this year. Unfortunately none of our teams came away with the top category prizes, but this did not dampen the spirit of what was a great evening, a superb team performance and a fantastic atmosphere generated amongst the team members and competitors from other clubs.

The course is a tough one; although short, measuring in at just under 2.5 miles in distance, it is extremely hilly, with the first half being mostly down hill and with all the height needing to be regained in the latter half. Teams are composed of 4 people and each member runs the same leg, with the change-over point being at race HQ, just outside the Ivy Bridge Rugby Club.

The first team home was the ever-formidable Torbay AC, who covered the hilly 10 miles in a speedy cumulative total time of 53:20.
The first female team home was from the host club, Erme Valley Harriers, who took 62:07 to get their 4 members around the 4 legs.

On the start line raring to go! Stan, Adam and Jon are ready to run the 1st legs for our mens' teams

And here's how the Harriers faired...

Our first team home was our very strong senior male team. They placed 9th overall (so top 10% of teams) and 6th senior male team in a cumulative time of 57:03. These were the individual splits:
L1: Adam Miller - 13:46
L2: Marc Cox - 14:28
L3: Chris Dupain - 15:27
L4: Jamie Pearson - 13:22

Next in was our talented MV40 team. Hoping to challenge for a top spot in their category, they faced some very stiff competition on the night from the Erme Valley Harriers and South West Road Runner clubs and so in the end they had to settle for a hard-earned 3rd MV40 spot and they placed 15th overall in a total time of 58:27. Individual splits:
L1: Jon Garrity - 14:25
L2: Dave Stone - 13:23
L3: Andy Johnson - 16:25
L4: Jamie Palmer - 14:14

There was then a gap of just over 7 minutes before our next 2 Harriers teams crossed the line in immediate succession. The first of the 2 was our MV50 team who took 65:45 to cover the 10 mile route and this gave them 43rd place overall and 5th in their category. Our Harriers team came out top of the MV50s last year, but fast forward 12 months and they had to settle for 5th place against some much stiffer opposition. Splits:
L1: Dave Wright - 15:17
L2: Dave Eveleigh - 16:59
L3: Phil Bater - 18:45
L4: Hugh Marsden - 14:44

Just one place and less than one minute after our MV50 team came our first senior ladies team. Like our MV50 team, we faced some really stiff competition this year and so we knew we were going to have to go out hard from the start to stand any chance of making an impression on the top 3 teams. Places chopped and changed throughout the 4 legs and in the end we crossed the line as 4th senior female team, in 44th position overall, in a time of 66:22. There were the splits:
L1: Hannah Bown - 16:16
L2: Moira Glen - 16:32
L3: Emma Dupain - 18:09
L4: Ellie Sutcliffe - 15:25

After a short lull in Harrier proceedings came the arrival of our mixed team, composed of 3 ladies and 1 man (lucky you, Jon!). This team was composed of many first timers to the relays and it was Carly's first race in a Harriers vest, so they all got stuck in and made the most of the experience. They finished 63rd overall and the 6th mixed sex team in a time of 73:53. These were the individual legs:
L1: Nicola Crook - 19:43
L2: Lisa Hatchard - 19:44
L3: Carly Audritt - 19:14
L4: Jon Croome - 15:12

Our second senior male team rocked up next and although they had to be classified in the senior category due to the fact that they had one senior runner, Ben White, whilst the other 3 members were in fact all vet runners, so they did extremely well to finish in 75th place overall in a time of 78:37. Split times:
L1: Stan Mason - 21:32
L2: C. Margison - 19:02
L3: Jim Wyatt - 20:58
L4: Ben White - 17:05

Then rounding off an evening of fine Harrier performances was our FV45 team. The standard of female veteran athletes is getting higher year on year, with many local female veterans continually placing in the top 3 overall positions in races and proving to runners half their age that they are still a force to be reckoned with. So our vet ladies always had a tough battle on their hands, but they went into it fighting and emerged as a creditable 4th in their strong category and 78th overall in a total time of 79:19. Individual splits:
L1: Claire Baxter - 20:06
L2: Joan Mason - 21:27
L3: Dawn Teed - 19:37
L4: Lorraine Croome - 18:09

Well done to all the Harriers that gave up a cosy Friday in to face the miserable weather and participate. You did the Harriers proud and I think we all had a good time in the process! Thanks to all the kind people who volunteered to drive down and thanks to Dawn Teed and Dave Stone who did most of the organising of the teams. On on to Erme Valley Relays 2013!!