2023 off to flying start for Sidmouth Running Club

Sidmouth Running Club welcomed new members to its first club run of the year including nine in the beginners group with more to join next week. Chairman and beginners course leader Terry Bewes had to think on his feet when it was clear a mile and a half in that the beginners group were very competent!

Ahead of the Juniors starting back on 11 January, Amelia Womersley-Westlake took part in Axe Valley Runners, Axmouth Challenge on Sunday morning, before heading over to Budleigh Salterton to cheer her mum, Donna, over the finish line in her first half marathon. Amelia's dad said despite the nasty hill to start with Amelia really enjoyed running the mile course especially through the muddy bits and receiving her medal and cake at the end.

Seven Mighty Greens took part in Climb South West's The Walter Raleigh Round half marathon starting and finishing in Budleigh Salterton. The muddy, challenging route took in High Peak, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh and surrounding countryside where he spent time as a child. Darren Pearce had nowhere to go when the runner in front of him went flying in the mud so ended up flying on top of him! They then went on to run most of the way back together. As well as the mud and river crossings the runners had to face strong wind and hail at one point but all finished with smiles on their faces.

Results: Colin Ryan 2:09:39, Ollie Goodchild-Horne 2:10:40, Darren Pearce 2:30:08, Adrian Horne 2:52:35, Carol Hounsell 3:18:31, Sarah Watkins 3:20:54, Clare Luke 3:33:00, Donna Womersley-Westlake 3:34:30.

Further afield MG Toby Garrick took part in the SW cross country championships at RNAS Merryfield in Somerset. Again mud featured heavily in the route and Toby's mum, fellow MG Naomi, was on hand to cheer him over the finish line in 24:24, 29th in a field of 138. They were able to cheer on Sidmouth's Kirsteen Welsh (2nd female) and Toby De Gruchy representing Exeter Harriers too.

The First Chance 10k organised by SW Road Runners had six Mighty Greens enter who all enjoyed the flat course around Exeter Riverside Valley Park on Sunday. David Knapman finished in 7th place, 2nd MV40 with a time of 33:21 and his sister Becky was delighted to find out she had knocked 3.5 minutes off her PB!

Results: David Knapman 33:21, Clive Gilbert 50:27, Becky Knapman 52:03, Don Cawartha 52:04, Sam Ingram 54:09, Debbie Cawartha 58:27.

The first of the Sunday runs started too, with a choice of two distances: a 16 miler with Richard King and a 9 miler with Alexa Baker. Richard's route was a mixture of Four Trigs, Exe to Axe and the terrain of the Grizzly with perfect training conditions i.e.: wet slippery mud, a strong South Westerly wind and rain. Alexa's route took in two trigs in preparation for the upcoming Four Trigs event and was as equally muddy and slippery in places! These mile building Sunday runs are a chance to improve running fitness in preparation for upcoming races whilst losing yourself in the elements and changing landscape.