WINTER was suddenly upon us last weekend with, snow and rain combining with cold winds to emphasise the change. This did not stop Okehampton Running Club members from getting out and getting muddy in two off road races, the Run Venture Rollercoaster and the Bicton Blister.

The Rollercoaster at Tamar Trails offers five miles of trails with five main hills, though a few others too! The forest tracks take the runners on some steep ascents and descents through the Tamar Valley starting and finishing at the Run Venture Hub. Okehampton’s Paul Crease showed what great form he is in, winning the race in a great time of 33.20 making his averagae pace 6.37 over a very hilly course. Okehampton’s only other runner here was Katie Littlejohns who also had a great run, finishing in 40.21 to come sixth lady and setting a new age group club record.

Two Okehampton runners took the trip down to East Budleigh to run the Bicton Blister, one doing the 10-mile Blister and the other the 4.5-mile Blister Lite.

The start and finish of both these races are on short road sections with the remainder on muddy forest tracks and sandy, stony heathland paths, also surprisingly muddy, with a river crossing to make sure the runners got their feet wet.

The hugely popular Blister always attracts a good entry with nearly 500 taking part this year. Okehampton’s complete newcomer, Jennie Bruce, has never run further than about six miles and never done an off road race, but this did not stop her taking on the full Blister where she finished in an impressive 1.18.57, coming ninth lady. Rachael Haydon had entered the full Blister, but having not completely shaken off a chest infection, she dropped to the shorter distance where she still knocked six minutes off her previous time on this course to finish in 53.50.