The need for marshals meant that only a few of the organising club took part. Exeter based South West Road Runners had designated this as their first race in their 2013 internal club championships and as a result a couple of dozen of their distinctive luminous yellow vests were out in force on the day. This number was matched exactly by south Devon’s Torbay AC, who won no less than six of the 12 team prizes on offer: 3rd Senior Men's team, 3rd Senior Women's, Veteran Men 1st & 3rd, and Veteran Women 1st & 3rd. There was also a good turn-out from Tamar Trotters, who also scooped up some of the individual and team prizes.
EXMOUTH HARRIERS performances:
Local boy Tom Merson is in a rich vein of form at the moment. While he is from the town and remains a second claim member of Exmouth Harriers he now runs for Bristol & West - a big city club able to provide the competitive opportunities that will help him get the best out of himself. Exmouth Harriers though were pleased to see that for this race, Tom had dug his old Harriers vest out from the bottom of the drawer and did the royal blue and yellow colours proud by crossing the line first in it! After some early sparring with Exmouth Harriers' Eithiopian guest runner - Berihu Tesfay - Tom made good use of his hill climbing skills to do some damage to his rival on the steep climb up Rolle Street and from then on he never looked back as he stormed round the course in 24:50 (just over 12 mph). This time is the second fastest ever on the course, and the fastest since 2001, and was over 1 1/2 minutes clear of runner-up, James Denne (26:17), form Exeter Harriers.
Next Exmouth Harrier in was Dave Stone who was 14th overall and 3rd Man aged 40-44 in 28:44. This was 10 places lower than his position in 2012, highlighting the strength and depth of the performances at the top end of the competition in this year's top class race. However, were the distance another 21 miles longer, then we bet Dave would overhaul a great many of those 13 athletes in front of him!
The wearer of the next blue and yellow Exmouth vest to finish was that of Marc Cox who was 29th in 29:47. This was a massive 4 minutes quicker than at this race a year ago, showing just how much Marc has improved since joining the club around this time last year!
John Garrity did well to finish 7th in the always tough and competitive Men aged 40-44 category, with an overall 44th positionm just outside the magical 30 minute mark, in 30:48.
Next across the line for Exmouth was Lisa Hatchard 104th in 36:19 and placing 3rd Woman aged 35-39 along the way: the first of many trophies for the cabinet this year we're sure, as Lisa continues to improve race on race. Lisa was in the sights of club-mate Carly Audritt who took 1 1/2 minutes off her best 5 mile time, set last October at the Churston Flyer event, with 36:29 for 105th overall. A minute or so behind Lisa and Carly in 119th and 38:06 was Caroline Gentry and she was 3rd in the 40-44 Veteran women’s age group. Caroline is a graduate of last year's Harriers' beginners' running course and so she is doing superbly well to be placing top 3 in her age category already! These three runners also claimed the 2nd senior female team prize, behind an ever-competitive South West Road Runners' squad who took 1st.
Just 30 seconds behind Caroline and with almost a hundred runners behind him was Ray Elston, competing for the men age 70+ prizes. On this occasion Ray had to be content with 2nd place in his age category as unattached runner Phillip Vaughan came in just 60 metres in front of him. Phillip is surprisingly unattached it should be said as he would be a welcome addition to the veteran ranks of any club. So Phillip, if you're reading this, download a membership form off our website - we'd love to have you!! Ray was overall 126th and his time 38:39.
Kurt Margison (age 40-44 category) was less than a minute short of going under 40:00 as he finished 141st in 40: 33. At last year’s Fulfords Five, Lisa Broad ran while pregnant! This year, without the bump, she ran 3 minutes faster, recording 42:44 for 159th place.
The time when all you had to do to claim a place in a category of age 60+ was to turn up is now a thing of the past. These "super-vet" age-groups are now as competitive as ever. Mick Allen of Exmouth Harriers is a bona fide, highly competitive athlete and he ran 43:50 in 167th place and yet was only fifth man over 70! Though slightly younger (65-69 group) the same might be said of Les Turner who was 188th in 46:21.
Thanks must go to all the Harriers, their friends and families, the cadets and the St. John's Ambulance crew who marshalled and assisted the event and ensured that the runners stayed safe out on the roads and had a carefree run.
Some of the proceeds from this race will go towards the Wukro-Devon Runnng Porject: an extremely worthy cause that the Exmouth Harriers continue to support and which aims to provide financial support and equipment and clothing to talented athletes in a poor region of Ethiopia.
Men's race:
1st: Tom Merson (B&W / Exmouth) 24:40
2nd: James Denne (Exeter Harriers) 26:17
3rd: Dan Rodgers (Launceston RR) 26:33
Women's race:
1st: Lucy Commander (SWRR) 29:11
2nd: Ami Yetton (Plytmouth Harriers) 29:35
3rd: Alison McEwing (Erme Valley) 30:02
Some rather amateur photos of the race taken by wannabe-but-not-quite-there-yet photographer Ellie Sutcliffe (me!) can be found on the Harriers' Flickr page:
Some more professional and rather-better-quality-all-round photos can be found here, courtesy of Charles Whitton photography: http://www.charleswhittonphotography.com/fulfords-5-322013-expires-3513
Below are just some snaps I took of the Exmouth Harrier runners. Enjoy!
Tom pushes the pace on the first hill and starts to pull away from his rivals
Jon Garrity - always looking like he's having far too much fun!!
Lisa having a strong run for 3rd FV35 and leading the ladies' trio to the 2nd female team prize
Ray Elston - strong as ever, fighting for the 2nd place MV70 spot
Kurt Margison - tackling the steepest hill on the course with ease
Mick Allen.... looking very menacing with his stare and pointed finger!! (Sorry for taking your photo on the toughest part of the course Mick!!)
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