SUNDAY’S snow showers and poor weather conditions forced the annual Tavy 13 Half marathon to be cancelled and in turn the Primary Schools Challenge fell by the wayside.

After consulting with Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team and on the advice of UK Athletics race director Martin Exley-Deane from Tavistock Athletic Club, confirmed the event would be off.

‘With 430 runners entered for the half marathon and 375 children taking part in the Primary Schools Challenge, we were bitterly disappointed to cancel the event’ said Martin.

The whole event takes months to organise and is a real community affair, continued Exley-Deane. He added:‘We’ll look to re-arrange when we can find another suitable date in the near future. It’s so disappointing for all the participants, marshals and volunteers’.

The club had bought substantial amounts of food and members had donated cakes ready for catering at the event. However, the food was not wasted as the club generously donated much of the perishable produce to local care homes and the Salvation Army hostel in Plymouth.

Details of the re-arranged date and updates will be posted on the race website www.tavy13.co.uk and Facebook page Tavy 13.