CHRISTMAS Day was celebrated by two Okehampton Running Club members by participating in a special Exeter Riverside Parkrun.

There was a huge turnout of people and both ORCs made their mark on the morning run. Jo Page set yet another 5k personal best by knocking 26 seconds off her own record to finish in 20 minutes 13 seconds, while Claudine Benstead set a new club age category record for female veteran 55 clocking a terrific time of 21.28.

On Boxing Day the ‘Beat the Fox’ run in Fremington, North Devon, attracted a huge crowd of 600 runners to take part in this novel charity race. Starting from the Fox pub in Fremington the runners were led out on the road for a short way by the ‘fox’ before he stands aside at the start of a muddy track to let all runners pass him. The aim then is to stay ahead of the Fox for the duration of the 5k course. Many runners were in fancy dress, not best suited to the muddy tracks, fields and stiles that had to be negotiated.

There were six adult ORC runners up for this festive jaunt, two of whom had their children, junior club members, running with them (pictured above).

Fastest round the course and never in danger of being caught by the Fox was Jo Page to finish second Lady, while ORCs Ian Page, Jane and Derek Jackson all finished safely without the Fox over-taking them. Gill and Phil Spinney and their children were beaten by the Fox, but young Kiera and Aiden still loved the race, enjoying the chance to run through stretches of muddy water dressed as Cinderella and a Gladiator.