The South West racing season got underway on Sunday with the First Chance 10k in Exeter. This has become a hugely popular race, with runners wishing to get back after the Christmas break and test their fitness, and the race was full several months ago.

It is run on a traffic-free course in Exeter’s Riverside Valley Park and the flat course has good personal best potential.

Eleven Okehampton Running Club members took part this year with the mild and calm weather making for good running conditions. Matt Pitson put in a terrific run, coming home in a very good time of 35 minutes 48 seconds to be 17th overall and just one second over his PB. Mike Westland was next home in 50.58 with the first lady ORC, Jackie Dawes, not far behind in 51.06.

Other ORC times; Ged Fitzgibbon; 51.24, Katy Speak; 52.26, Mags Jarvis; 55.35, Alan Luffingham; 56.24, Jane Richardson; 59.42, Debbie Bryant; 1.01.30, Janet White; 1.03.37, Sarah Bell; 1.12.34.

Another 10k race was taking place in Plymouth on the same day. The January Jaunt is a multi-terrain race organised by the Plymouth Round Table.

It starts at the Plymouth Devils speedway track, taking runners out into the Saltram Estate before returning to the St Boniface Arena. Okehampton’s Roger Voaden was the club’s only runner at this event and finished in 38.58 to come seventh overall.

One Okehampton runner, Molly Marvin was not only representing her club at a race this weekend, but was also running for Devon, at the South West Cross Country Championships.

This was held at Haldon Racecourse where the dry and fairly level 4.4k course made for a sharp pace. Molly rose to the occasion and ran an excellent time of 17.29, coming in fifth Devon runner which may have secured her selection to go forward to the National Champion-ships.

Molly has also qualified for the Devon Schools’ Cross Country finals later this month along with her sister Eleanor.