AFTER weeks of training and some returning from injury, last Sunday saw members of Bere Alston Trekkers (Bats) taking part in the first 10 miler race held at Bideford. Although conditions before the start of the race were overcast, wet and windy by the time runners were three miles in to the course the sky had cleared, the sun was shining and temperatures had grown to 20+ degrees making the going extremely hard for the majority of competitors. The course was a combination of road and disused railway track. The first five miles of the course wound their way up to Yelland. It was during this first half that a majority of runners struggled with the unexpected heat and found themselves walking some of the way. Once reaching Yelland the course turned back along an extremely windy Tarka Trail back to Bideford. The wind, in some areas, made the going very difficult for some of the runners and again some were forced to walk. However, Bats did their very best on the day and all finished with excellent times. This 10 miler race was part of a training schedule for those Bats taking part in the New Forest Half Marathon later this month. The Bideford 10 Miler also saw the addition of two prizes for members of the Bats team. The first, and very well deserved, was Laurence Sargeant who achieved 3rd in his age group with a very splendid time and the second was Dotty Allan who also achieved 3rd in her age group. Both proud prize winners are pictured.
ABOVE: Bats with their souvenir mugs: left to right: Pam Adams: 01:32:35; Mary Kelly: 01:41:01; Laurence Sargeant: 01:19:45; Sue Catto: 01:57:36 and Dotty Allan: 01:32:01.