THE beginners' course organised by Okehampton Running Club was a huge success with over forty people registering to take part.

The club's chairman, Tim Watson, coached each session with assistance from the other club coaches, and was delighted that all who took part completed the course!

In eight weeks the participants progressed from having never run before to being able to run non-stop for forty minutes up and down the hills of Okehampton – a great achievement.

They will now become the first members to join the new Pavey training group, named in honour of the Devon athlete Jo Pavey who won the 10,000 m gold medal at the 2014 European Championships. There will now be five groups all named after famous runners — Fosters, Pavey, Lower and Upper Homes and Coe, training twice weekly with the club.

n Okehampton Running Club meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Okehampton Rugby Club at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start. For details see http://www.okehamptonrunningclub.com">www.okehamptonrunningclub.com