THE second round of the Westward League Cross Country series took place on Sunday.

The race was held in Newquay, where last year runners had wet, slippery going to deal with, but this year, despite the recent rain, the ground was still exceptionally dry with runners finishing without a trace of mud on them.

For the first time since taking part in the league, Okehampton Running Club not only had a full senior men’s team competing but also a senior women’s team.

The ladies race, over five kilometres, went first with the talented Molly Marvin being the first ORC home to come in 63rd in an excellent 22 minutes 15 seconds just a few seconds ahead of her mum Sarah, who she out-sprinted in the finishing straight. This is Molly’s first venture in senior races and did well to cope with nerves and a cold. Jane Jackson was the third lady runner in the team and finished in 27.15.

There were six ORC men with the five best places to count for the team. Pete Devenport put in a superb run to come home first for Okehampton in a good time of 29.20 giving the men’s team a great start in the points table with 17th place.

Second was Andy Vallance finishing 49th in 31.44, overtaking team mate Matt Pitson near the end, who came 50th in 31.46. Paul Crease was next in 32.14 (59th) with Stuart May in 35.00 (103rd) and George Haskell finishing his first cross country in a good 36.39 (116th).