TAVISTOCK Athletic Club were out in force at the weekend with twenty-three runners competing in the annual DML 5K held in Saltram Park. The event got off to an excellent start for the Tavistock runners with a number of Juniors competing in the fun run. Rafe Lawson was making his debut appearance for the club and lived up to the family tradition with a strong and determined run. Laura Aspen, a more seasoned Tavistock Junior, was boxed in at the start but moved to the front of the field. In the final stretch Laura was caught by another Junior but with a determined final effort re-took the lead and won the race in overall first place. In the main race the Tavistock men?s contingent covered an impressive age span of forty-three years. The scenic course was undulating with a challenging uphill finish. The first Tavistock runner home in overall 4th place was yet again Richard Drage in a time of 16mins 53secs. Richard was followed by 18 year old Adam Holland finishing in an excellent 7th place in a time of 17mins 24secs. Adam was followed by Steve Groombridge finishing in 10th place in a time of 17mins 48secs. The next Tavistock runner home was 13 year old Tom Lawson. This was Tom?s first 5K race but he was completely unphased by running in the senior men?s category and finished in a very impressive 25th place in a time of 19mins 5secs. Fiona Dunn followed Tom in in overall 28th place in a time of 19mins 29secs. The remaining Tavistock runners finished with the following positions and times: Chris Eastaugh in 33rd place in 19mins 53secs, Robin Musgrave in 35th place in 19mins 58secs, Allan Herdman in 40th place in 20mins 13secs, Dave Chanter in 42nd place in 20mins 21secs, Jake Rendle in 54th place in 21mins 01secs, Peter Bazley in 57th place in 21mins 08secs, Phil Worth in 63rd place in 21mins 31secs, Adrian Bower 21mins 49secs, Tony Shearer in 79th place in 22mins 16secs, Nicola Heryet in 80th place in 22mins 16secs, Andy Smith in 84th place in 22mins 30secs, Tom Worth in 87th place in 22mins 35secs, Trevor Williams in 127th place in 24mins 13secs, Dotty Allan in 175th place in 27mins 17secs, Marion Playle in 193rd place in 28mins 27secs, Julie Eastaugh in 194th place in 28mins 28secs, Sarah Aspen in 199th place in 28mins 58secs and Shenda Johns in 204th place in 29mins 42secs. Of the above particular mention should be made of Juniors Jake Rendle and Tom Worth who were also running their first 5K races and finished in excellent places in a field of predominantly senior runners. The success of the Tavistock runners was highlighted by the number of first places with Richard Drage winning the Men Vet?s 45 category, Steve Groombridge winning the Men Vet?s 50 category and Fiona Dunn registering an excellent 1st place in the Ladies race.
