AFTER a day of rain, conditions were not ideal for achieving record times, but six of the seven Tavistock Athletic Club athletes who entered Run Exe 5K won their age-categories.

The seventh member came home in second place, testimony to the standard of coaching at the Club and commitment of the runners taking part.

Jim Cole finished in 15minutes, 54seconds, just over half a minute behind the winner, Tom Merson from Bristol and West AC.

Next to the finish was club coach, Richard Drage in 17 minutes exactly to win the Male over 50 category, followed 20 seconds later by Tony Symons, first M45.

Olympic Athlete, Heather Fell was first female to finish, in 17.55 and 12th place overall. Steve Groombridge won the M55 age group in 18.21 and Fiona Dunn won F35 in 20.40. Last TAC member home, in 23.10, only two and a half minutes behind Fiona and winning M60, was coach Keith Bowles.

The week before, Keith had competed in the Gloucester half marathon, as part of his marathon training and finished in 1hour, 49mins,11secs, and seventh in his group.

Jo Meek was first female to finish in the Chudleigh Carnival six-mile run, in 34mins 30 secs.

Rachel Clay knocked four minutes off her 2007 time, to finish third female in 53.26 in the Haytor Heller, a tough six-mile off-road run starting below Haytor Rocks.

Jim Cole excelled to finish second in the Magnificent Seven, covering the country lanes around Saltash in 40.04, whilst in the same race, Peter Bazley came sixth in his age category in 51.06.

These runners are all serious athletes, training several times a week, but many club members do not wish to race, but prefer to run in sociable groups to maintain their fitness. Provided you can run for around 30 minutes, you are welcome to join us.

• The club invites people to come and try a couple of free sessions on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, meeting initially in the language block at Tavistock College at 6.15.

For more details visit http://www.tavistockathletics.com">www.tavistockathletics.com or phone 01822 612577.