THERE were near perfect conditions on Sunday for the Bideford 10 miler where Okehampton Running Club was once again well represented with 23 runners taking part.

This popular race has a fast and flat course that starts on Bideford Quay and follows the road out to Yelland before returning along the Tarka Trail.

With the good conditions and a fast course the ORCs managed to amass no less than 12 personal best times, two club records and three age category places in a competitive race.

First home for the club was Hayden Bond, who came home in 1.04.06 to set a personal best. Stephen Sincock was next home for Okehampton with an impressive run of 1.05.27 securing him first male veteran 55 and setting a new age category club record, with Andrew Vernon coming home next in 1.07.54 to be third MV50.

Next to finish was also the first ORC lady runner, Jo Page, in her third race in eight days, finished in an incredible 1.09.12 to set a new overall ladies’ club record in her first race over this distance. Veteran runner Jane Richardson was the only lady ORC to get an age category place, coming third FV65 in 1.37.51, still setting new PBs at an age when most are getting slower.

Other ORC times: Geoff Hill; 1.11.10, George Haskell; 1.11.39, Tom Andrew; 1.18.50 PB, Philip Read; 1.18.57 PB, Jackie Dawes; 1.21.21 PB, Karen King; 1.22 PB.16, Mike Westland; 1.26.05, Paul Evison; 1.26.21 PB, Jane Jackson; 1.27.06, Chris Fullford Brown; 1.28.37, Geraldine Walter; 1.28.43 PB, Christine Fritsch; 1.29.42 PB, Mags Jarvis; 1.30 PB, Paul Jelley; 1.34.32, Jo Burrow; 1.35.26 PB, Rachel Haydon; 1.39.07, Lotte Smith; 1.40.45, Vicky Hall; 1.42.35.

Four ORCs had a successful outing to the Cornish Marathon on Sunday. With over 2,000 feet of ascent and a steep climb from miles 24 to 25, this is a tough but popular marathon for runners who really like to test themselves.

Hugh Robinson was the first home for the club in 3.14.06, an excellent time for such a hilly race and one that earned him a top 10 place and a win in the MV40 category. Paul Carter ran well a time of 3.19.19 to come 15th overall. Roger Voaden finished in 3.24.30 and Graham Bryant in 3.36.50, the collective times for all four giving them the third male team prize.

On Halloween Jo Page took part in a night race organised by Jolly Running. The Dark Halloween 10k Trail race started from the Drum inn, Cockington near Torquay and took the runners on a hilly route through Cockington and Scasdon Woods with terrain varying from paths, grass tracks and woodland trails to small tarmac sections. Earning her ‘glow-in-the-dark’ medal was enough to keep her going to complete in 1.02.12.

The previous weekend Christine Fritsch travelled up to the Peak District to run a fell race that would give her the qualification she needed to enter the Three Peaks Race next year. She entered the Grin and Bear which turned out to be a lovely race for Christine as she thoroughly enjoyed it, despite it being a tough 17 miles, finishing in 3.57.49.

Last Thursday saw a big milestone for the club with the first-ever ORC Junior Athletics Club training session being held in Okehampton College sports hall. Committee member Rob Hicks raised the idea of a junior section at the 2017 club AGM and with the support of the Running Club and OCRA this idea became a reality and asporting opportunity for children in the area. Rob first had to complete England Athletics training courses to qualify fully as a coach and was pleased with the feedback from parents and children after the first session where 21 young athletes between the ages of eight and 11 enjoyed an hour of javelin throwing, long jump techniques and relay running.