SUNDAY saw the third in Okehampton’s summer Race Series, the Cosdon Hill race. This lovely little race is a typical up and down, self navigating fell race held in conjunction with the Belstone Fair.

While short in distance at just 3.5 miles, this race is guaranteed to get the heart rate soaring with the long climb over open moorland with no path to define the route for some of the way, to the top of Cosdon Beacon, before flying back down to Belstone Common for the finish.

A large area of bog is waiting to catch the unwary taking too straight a path on the way down, while many trodden paths can lead runners to the wrong destination. This was not the case for overall winner Tim Lenton or female winner Jo Meek who both set new course records, Tim finishing in an excellent 28 minutes 52 seconds and Jo in 33.54.

First home for ORC was Geoff Hill in a rare off-road run and having come first at the Run In The Park earlier that day with a superb personal best of 18.01, finishing in 10th place here in a time of 34.17. Not far behind him was Paul Crease, recently back from injury, came home in 34.26 and chased by ORC junior runner Mathew Richards who ran an impressively strong race, finishing only seconds behind Paul in 34.31. Robert Kelly was next in 35.10, also on his second race of the day having run the Barnstaple 10k earlier. Indigo Ramsey headed another group of ORC finishers, completing in 43.36, followed by Molly Marvin in 43.37 and Merv Rice in 43.31. Rob Hicks was running with his son Arthur, a junior member who pipped his dad to the post in 44.06 with Rob just behind in 44.10. Other ORC times Phil Read 45.04, Katherine Murray 48.56, Paul Evison 58.42 and Janet White in 1.01.27.

On Sunday morning five Okehampton runners took part in the Care for Kids Barnstaple 10k. The race starts at Park School, and then meanders around the historic Rock Park before it continues along Taw Vale and the Strand using the Tarka Trail and over the Taw Bridge, which is the steepest part of the course. It then returns back to the town square. The course is a flat, fast one – perfect for a first race. First home for the club was Robert Kelly in a time of 37.43 to be placed fourth overall. Next was Jo Page in 42.36 to take the first lady prize. New member Karen Gear finished in 51.53 to be fourth female veteran 35, while Joseph Lynch and Charlotte Lynch ran together, finishing in 1.22.40 in their first 10k race.

A single ORC, Hayden Bond, travelled to Tenby in Pembrokeshire to take part in the Tenby Half Marathon. This is held alongside the Wales Marathon, with the half runners starting in Pembroke at the halfway mark of the marathon and following the marathon’s route back to the start on closed traffic free roads. The course is set in the Pembrokeshire National Park and is a testing route with more than 1,00ft of ascent. Hayden ran a superb race, enjoying the support from the crowds over the red carpet finishing straight, his time of 1.31.23 placing him ninth overall.

On Tuesday evening eight Okehampton Runners took part in round four of the Run Exe Summer series 5k. Whilst Exeter was graced with blazing sunshine, the accompanying strong head wind along the river made conditions on the back straight, which participants run along twice, somewhat challenging.

First ORC home was Roger Voaden, taking a break from his usual long distance running and happy with his time of 18.45, winning his age category. Next in was Graham Bryant in 19.02, closely followed by another age category winner Stephen Sincock – one minute inside his platinum award time target, finishing in 19.08. First lady ORC was Jo Page who finished as second senior lady in 20.46. Another age category winner was Claudine Benstead who finished in a great time of 21.00 to claim first FV55. Other ORC times: Paul Evison 23.06, Jo Bradford 23.26 and Mags Jarvis 25.26 to finish third FV60. Having completed three races apiece in the series now, Jo Bradford and Mags Jarvis are well placed for podium finishes in their respective age categories.