ON a cold but dry day, round three of the Westward League Cross Country took place on Sunday. The venue for this event was in the playing fields and woods adjoining the Exeter Arena, and included within it were the Devon Championships.

Injury and illness made for a few last minute changes to Okehampton’s men’s team but all the runners put in great efforts and ran well. Andrew Vallance was the first of the men and the only male to have entered the Championships, coming home in 31 minutes 25 seconds giving him 14th place in the Championships and second in his age category. Matt Pitson was next with another good run in 31.55 and Robert Kelly in 33.24. Hugh Robinson ran nearly the whole race with club-mate Chris Turner on his heels, but he managed to hold him off right to the finish with them clocking 33.54 and 33.59 respectively. Stuart May was next in 36.21 and George Haskell came home in 37.39.

The ladies’ race saw a doubling of ORC entries from the previous meeting in the senior ladies’ race, with six runners taking part, and Eleanor Marvin running in the under 15 age category.

Again Molly Marvin was the first Okehampton runner home with a great run to finish in in 20.55, giving her a qualifying sixth place in her age category for the Devon Championships. Sarah Marvin followed her home in 21.24, coming fifth in her age group with Juliet Paterson next in 22.30. Anne Binns was next, pleased with her time of 23.31 in her first race back from injury, followed by Jane Jackson in 24.59 and Mags Jarvis in 27.07. Eleanor Marvin ran well over the 3.9k course, against a fast field of competitive under 15 entrants, to come home in 19th place.