IN an exciting week of racing there were some great results for Okehampton Running Club members across a broad spectrum of race types and distances.

Wednesday evening saw eight ORCs set some fast times at the Exeter 10k. where light cloud and no wind made for ideal running conditions round the two lap course of the Riverside Valley Park. First home for the club was Graham Bryant, whose time of 39 minutes 27 seconds was a new personal best. He was followed by Ed Dumpleton, also setting a new PB of 41.23. Next was Hayden Bond in 41.36, followed by a duo of ORC ladies who both produced superb runs with Karen Vallance just holding off Jo Bradford to beat her by four seconds. Their times of 47.25 and 47.29 respectively saw Karen set a new club age group record. Mags Jarvis’ time of 51.23 gave her the highest age graded percentage ever and a platinum award. She was followed by Ged Fitzgibbon in 53.18 and Phil Turner in a new PB of 57.54.

The following evening the Tavy Town Relays took place in Tavistock with Okehampton fielding teams in the senior men’s, veteran men’s and veteran women’s categories. These well established 1.1mile lap relays with teams of four runners are fiercely contested for club honours.

The ladies, with two vet teams, rose to the occasion, particularly Sarah Marvin who ran first leg in one team and then stood in for the injured Jo Turner to run the anchor leg in the other team. She and her fellow runners Karen King, Karen Vallance and Jo Bradford were rewarded with second place in the vet category.

The men again put in some great runs with the men’s A team of Rob Kelly, Paul Carter, Andy Vallance and Andrew Vernon finished in second place ahead of the fourth placed B team. The other ORC teams were men’s vet B - Hugh Robinson, Alec Robinson, Ed Dumpleton, with Hugh running a second time for the absent Steve Gentle (fourth). Ladies veteran B - Anne Binns, Jane Jackson, Kathryn Volkelt-Igoe, Sarah Marvin (eighth). Men’s senior - Graham Bryant, Hayden Bond, Tom Andrew, George Haskell (10th); mixed - John Binns, Louisa Jayne, Jaqueline Rice, Mike Westland (19th).

Two days later eight ORCs were out running a completely different type of race, the iconic Haytor Heller. This notoriously tough and hilly moorland race, starting and finishing in the shadow of the great Haytor rocks, has a cruelly steep uphill start but a wonderful downhill finish. Rob Hicks was happy to have a good run having come back from injury, coming seventh overall and first M35 in a time of 44.33. Emma Dean’s time of 1.03.41 rewarded her with second F35. Jane Jackson was running her first off road race since her ultra marathon two weeks ago and was pleased to win the FV60 category in 1.11.24. Together with Jo Page and Christine Fritsch these four were placed third ladies’ team. Other ORC times; Hayden Bond; 56.14, Jo Page; 58.05, Tom Andrew; 1.01.36, Jason Ewing;1.03.42, Christine Fritsch; 1.09.39.

The outstanding performance of the week was Roger Voaden’s participation in the Salwick Scorcher 7 in 7, a series of seven marathons in seven days, held near Preston in Lancashire. These races called for both physical and mental strength, particularly in hot conditions. Roger’s times for the marathons were; 3hr 20 (first), 3hr.28 (first), 3hr 58 (second), 4hr 46, 4hr 07, 3hr 50 and 4hr 25.

Three ORCs participated in is the I Move London Record Relay attempt taking part in the city throughout July. The aim is to set a new official Guinness world record for the longest continual relay while at the same time supporting three charities who help combat homelessness, mental illness stigma and help reduce gang violence.

Running throughout the day and night, the 4,000 miles will be completed by 2,500 runners over 5k and 10k laps where the baton must never be put down. Jo Page and Hugh Robinson have completed stages earlier this month while Jo Bradford finished off a successful week of races with her leg on Sunday.