MEMBERS of Tavistock Athletic Club have been racing both locally and further afield over the last two weekends.

Sourton Scramble was held on a chilly Saturday and set over 10 kilometres, starting and finishing at Sourton Village Hall. It is a multi-terrain race, taking the 80 competitors along the Granite Way towards Bridestowe with a return route by way of Great Nodden and Lake Down.

There were five club entries, and all were to finish well within the top third of the results table.

First TAC home in fourth position overall, winning his M50 age category, was club coach Richard Drage, in 4 4minutes, 37 seconds. Jo Meek, first lady home, was a mere couple of minutes behind, in 46.24. Harrison Baker, aged 15, ran an excellent race to finish in 48.25 and was presented with a Special Youth Award. Jon Meek finished in 50.43 and Allan Herdman in 53.37.

The next day saw two TAC members competing in the Great South, a 10-mile road race at Portsmouth. Once again, Jim Cole ran a storming race to finish in 38th place out of 16,000 entrants, in a fast time of 52.38. Jim finished only six minutes behind the Kenyan winner, Leonard Komon, holder of the world 15km record. Lesley Cowie, making a welcome return to racing, finished strongly in 1.45.52.

On the same day, nearer home, Becca Deane competed in the 10k trail race at Mount Edgcumbe. The race has become something of a local battle between runners from Devon and Cornwall. This year, Devon were the decisive winners, with Becca making a huge contribution by being first lady to the finish in 51.49.

The following weekend, another strong club runner and coach, David Twine, represented TAC at the Templer10, a 9.5mile, multi-terrain race at Kingsteignton. David finished 31st in a field of 242 runners, winning his M55 age category in a time of 1.07.05.

On the same day there was a larger club presence at the Plymouth 10k. This new race, set in the city centre, attracted around 1,000 entries. Jim Cole, Jo Meek and Allan Herdman were again in action, finishing in sixth, 21st and 74th place respectively. Allan won his M55 age-group with Pete Bazley coming second in the same group. Triathletes Bryony Fordham and David Ruffell finished comfortably within the hour. TAC times: Jim Cole 31.36, Jo Meek 37.00, Allan Herdman 41.17, Pete Bazley 42.08, David Ruffell 53.09, Bryony Fordham 56.03.