LAST Sunday saw 12 members of Bere Alston Trekkers (Bats) make the journey to Bideford to take part in the annual half marathon road race. 

Some of the Bats were running as a warm-up run for the Grizzly, some as part of their London Marathon training and others as part of their Tavy 13 preparation.

Although cold and overcast at the start of the race, conditions could not have been better.  The course is a combination of road and disused railway track that took the runners through an area of outstanding natural beauty. 

The course gently undulates for the first half all the way to the aptly named Puffing Billy where the runners turn left for a faster, flatter return along the Tarka Trail. 

Making her race debut with a brilliant time was Emma James.  First lady and man home, finished together, Dave Adams and Dotty Allan.  Dotty not only set a new ladies club record but smashed her own distance record by four minutes! Also achieving a distance personal best was Julian Setterington (by 17 minutes), Phil Megicks (also by 17 minutes), Rebecca Sargent, Kathy Williams, Ralph Elmes and Simon Griffiths.