THE last two weekends have been busy for Tavistock?s senior athletes with a feast of road races across the county from five-kilometre to marathon.

Two weeks ago was the DML 5K, a popular and scenic race around the grounds of Saltram House. Being a club Grand Prix event meant there was a strong entry from Tavistock and there were some excellent results.

Taking the honours were Richard Drage who was first M45, Martin Exley finishing second M40, Steve Groombridge, first in his new M50 category and Rhian Johnson who was first F55. In total, Tavistock had ten in the first 50 of a field of more than 200 runners.

Full results: sixth, Richard Drage, 16:27; eighth, Martin Exley, 16:49; 11th, Adam Holland, 17:04; 13th, Sean Wilkinson, 17:18; 18th, Steve Groombridge, 17:56; 24th, Adam Tofield, 18:34; 27th, Chris Eastaugh, 18:44; 33rd, Allan Herdman, 19:12; Pete Bazley (position and time not recorded); 50th, Fiona Dunn, 20:04; Robert Kirby, (position and time not recorded); 73rd, Roger Hewitt, 21:29; 74th, Andy Smith, 21:30; 103rd, Nigel Rendle, 23:15; 110th, Michael Youlden, 23:45; 137th, Fiona Arundel, 25:43; 143rd, Louise Elsworth, 25:59; 144th, Daniel Tofield, 26:02; 145th, Bryan Tofield, 26:02; 147th, Patricia Hewitt, 26:17; 149th, Hazel Walker, 26:22; 162nd, Marion Playle, 27:21; 172nd , Greg Stanton, 27:54; 175th, Sarah Aspen, 28:26; 178th, Rhian Johnson, 28:43; 186th, Lorraine Tofield, 29:25; 188th, Dan Bates, 29:52; 199th, Joyce Stanton, 31:28.

Last weekend saw the second running of the Dartmoor Vale Marathon which also included a half-marathon and 10K race. The marathon event incorporated the county championship for this distance.

Fiona Dunn and Rob Kirby made their marathon debuts and finished within a whisker of each other in fantastic sub-four hour times. Fiona was 4th female overall and first Tavistock runner home, just 11 seconds ahead of Rob and 47 seconds ahead of Pete Bazley.

Full results for the marathon: 27th, Fiona Dunn, 3:45:36; 28th, Rob Kirby, 3:45:47; 30th, Pete Bazley, 3:46:23; 93rd, Trevor Williams, 4:57:43.

In the half marathon Wally Lake in his first outing for Tavistock finished 58th in a time of 1:44:07. And in the 10 race Adam Holland was third in a marvellous 37:17.

Full results and more information about Tavistock Athletic Club can be found at www.

tavistockathletics.com