Harriers men top the Drogo podium!

The Drogo ‘10’ is a challenging trail race on woodland tracks and paths around Castle Drogo and the Teign Valley at Drewsteignton. This year it took place on Sunday 17th November on an overcast but mild and windless day, making for ideal running conditions. Despite the name, the race actually measures in at 9.6 miles but offers plenty of climbing within that distance with 3 killer hills to challenge the runners but also to provide some superb views of the valley and river below.

The race is always a highlight on the local running calendar and this year we once again fielded a large team of Exmouth Harriers; fourteen altogether who lined up along side a field of over 500 other runners. Turning out for his home-town club, Tom Merson was the first of that 500 to cross the finish line. He was certainly pushed hard the whole way though as last year's winner, Ceri Rees, along with Tom's training partner, Andy Chambers, all broke the 1 hour barrier: no mean feat at this event which involves around 1500ft of climbing! Tom’s time of 58:17 was also a new course record. 

Tony Hatchard was next in, having a superb run, to finish 6th in 63:40 and comfortably inside his own personal target of making the top 10 in a field that was stronger than usual this year. Adam Miller was a little further adrift of Anthony than he would expect to be on the roads, but, as he recognises, off road technical terrain is Anthony's strength. Adam nevertheless helped the Exmouth team to the first male team prize with his time of 68:28 in 23rd place, with just the 3 runners to count, ahead of a strong Exeter Harriers team.

A further four from the club were inside the top 100 finishers. Marc Cox was 33rd in a solid 70:31. Richard Bishop made a welcome return to racing after a year of so away from competitive running, but he has been putting a solid block of training in recently so we can expect to see his times improving again over the coming months. He was 63rd in 75:27. Richard Hawes was a creditable 69th in 76:10 and looked full of running at the finish. He was followed shortly by Exmouth’s first female, Hannah Bown, who was 74th in 76:48. Hannah also claiming the 3rd female spot, having had a good battle for second with a by-now familiar female rival from South Devon AC: a dual that seems set to run and run as these ladies are very evenly matched and seem to target the same races! 

One dual that Hannah will have been pleased to was the ever-exciting brother-sister battle with Chris Dupain. Chris finished 101st in 79:46 with two more Harriers packing in tightly behind him and crossing the line within half-a-minute, Jon Garrity 103rd in 80:05 and Scott-2-Trigs-Jordan, 105th in 80:22: a little inter-club rivalry always speeds up that last few hundred metres and gives the chance to work on that sprint finish! 

Martin Richards, making a rare racing appearance, was 220th and just outside the 90 minute mark (a tough barrier to break on this tough race) in 90:48. Lisa Hatchard was 250th in 92:55 and Dawn Teed placed 281st in 95:24; both ladies were right in the middle of the finishers. Finally, for those mathematicians amongst you, while Lisa’s was the median performance of the day, Diana Richards, in 343rd in 1:41:28, sneaked into the inter-quartile range (top 3/4 of finishers).

The winning Harriers' male team: Anthony (6th), Adam (23rd) and Tom (1st)

Well done to all the Harriers. Great to have such a good turn out and show our blue and yellow vests off!