MEMBERS from Okehampton Running Club have been racing in a variety of events at distances from seven to more 26 miles.
ORC Karen Skye had a great run and was second lady overall in 2hrs.30.56 mins, winning the F35 category. Andy Vallance was the first member home finishing seventh overall in 2.06.26. Other ORC times Adrian Kettle 2.34.30, Tim Watson 2.43.05 and Lucy Skye 2.48.07.
In the Tavy 7 – a scenic seven mile road run six members took part. Steve Gentle took fifth overall place in 43.07mins followed byAndy Vernon 46.48, Nick Seccombe 48.34, then husband and wife Ben Bowler 52.42 and Jo Bowler 56.52 with new member Ann Binns 59.01 in sixth place in the F45 category.
Three members took part in the Dartmoor Vale Marathon and five in the half marathons. Paul Carter was the first ORC to complete the marathon with an excellent sixth overall place in 3.15.49, followed home by Roger Voaden 3.26.53 and Robert Kelly 3.32.48.
Emma Sizmur had a great half marathon debut posting a time of 1.46.39 followed by Cathy Carey 1.56.08, Jo Camies 1.56.17 (3rd F40) and Claire Kelly 1.57.42. Paul Bollom completed in 2.06.09.
Derek Jackson had a superb run in the Chester marathon after three years off with injuries clocking a time of 3.28.41.
Roger Voaden was narrowly beaten in the Teign Valley Toddle – a misnomer – this race starts and finishes uphill and with a long steep hill in the middle! Running neck and neck with the eventual winner for most of the 10.25 miles, he finished a close second in 65.1.
Jess Trerise achieved a personal best in the Cardiff Half marathon with a fast 1.39.02 and Dave Harding made a come back to racing after a 15 year break to finish in 2.15.13. Marilyn Cooper ran the Mouth to Mouth 10K – a race with abundant mud and steep climbs, finishing in 67.36. Unknown to Marilyn she had been put down in the results as Martin Cooper so although she was the first F55 to finish her prize was given to someone else!
ADRIAN Kettle was the sole runner from Okehampton Running Club at the South Molton Struggle in North Devon – a multi terrain race of eight miles.
He has been putting in some consistently good performances and here he finished an excellent 15th overall in 52.27 minutes.
Meanwhile Marilyn Cooper was at the Great South Run having completed the Great North Run earlier in the year. She finished in 1hr 23mins 38secs which placed her 11th in the F55 category. This event is billed as the world's premier 10 mile race. 25,000 runners of all abilities lined up at the start. The field included several Olympians and celebrities Sally Gunnell, Billy Sharp and Iwain Thomas.
Thousands of people ran for various charities — Alex Norman from North Tawton was one of these raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The race was started by double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes.