THREE races occupied Okehampton Running Club’s competitors this week.

Saturday night saw the first in the Wild Night Run series, kicking off with the Haldon Night 5k and 10k races. On a clear night there was a full moon to help light the way along the woodland paths and trails of Haldon Forest. Five ORCs took on the 10k distance and the first home for the club was Christine Fritsch, improving on her time last year to finish in 1 hour 02 minutes 35 seconds. Phil Spinney, who has only recently got back to running after a lay off, was next in 1.04.12, followed by Geraldine Walter in 1.04.47, Beki Simmons in 1.08.00 and Hannah Woods in 1.10.31. Phil’s son Aiden won the under 8’s fun run with his younger sister Kiera coming seventh.

At the Bideford 10 Miler on Sunday there was another huge turnout of ORCs to take on this fast, flat course which this year had nearly 930 finishers.

The weather often has a big effect on this race which heads out on the roads to Yelland and then returns beside the Torridge estuary along the Tarka Trail. There was a strong headwind on the outward journey, and along Instow seafront it was brutal, whipping up sand from the beach and throwing it in the runners’ faces, but it was slightly more favourable on the return leg of the race.

There were some great performances, some first timers at the distance and a host of personal bests from Okehampton’s runners. First home for the club was Roger Voaden, just a week after his Snowdonia Marathon in a time of 1.04.40. The first lady home was Katie Littlejohns who is really on form at present, her time of 1.11.37 giving her a new PB and a new club record for the distance. Jackie Dawes also ran a new PB and bettered her own club record for her age category by finishing in 1.22.03, and Jane Jackson was third female veteran60 in 1.27.04. Personal bests were also scored by Ed Dumpleton, who knocked six minutes off his previous best in 1.09.45, Jayne Peachey; 1.19.07, Tracey Mills; 1.26.13, Jo Bradford took five minutes off her’s in 1.27.19, Rachael Haydon; 1.35.42, Lotte Smith; 1.39.01, and Jane Richardson; 1.48.58.

For seven runners it was the first time they had run this distance and for Catherine Walker the furthest she had ever run having only completed eight miles in training previously. First of these was Rob Richards, using this as a recovery run from his Exmoor marathon last week in 1.22.36, Phil Read; 1.23.43, Viki Heyer; 1.28.47, Rachel Holland; 1.40.52, Catherine Walker; 1.44.38, Debbie Miller; 1.51.20, Daniella Bryant; 2.04.28.

Other ORC times; Andrew Vernon; 1.06.22, Andrew Thorne; 1.12 41, Louise Lyle; 1.21.31, Darren Trick; 1.22.16, Mike Westland; 1.24.29, Lucy Marrison; 1.41.20, Ruth Bushell; 1.49.30, Claire Sprague; 1.54.57.

Katie Littlejohns, Jayne Peachey, Louise Lyle and Jackie Dawes made up the Okehampton ladies team who were placed second.

There was ORC success at another ten miler on Sunday. The Templar Ten is a multi-terrain race starting and finishing in the grounds of Stover School with the course taking the runners through the picturesque Stover Country Park.

Brennan Townshend only recently joined the club and he did it proud, flying round in a hugely impressive time of 57.22 to win his first race in Okehampton club colours. Also running there was David Slocombe who is enjoying his recent return to racing and finished in 1.46.54.