TAVISTOCK Athletic Club held their annual race in the Christmas break representing the last race of the century.

The four-mile course was the same as in previous years across Whitchurch Down and 32 club members, family and friends turned out for the event, aiming primarily to work off some of the festive season's excesses.

The start of the race was staggered based on individual handicaps with the last runner starting 20 minutes and 30 seconds after the first runner had departed.

The handicaps were based on individual standards and recent performance but also reflected the wide age range of the field which included under 13s through to runners in the vet 65 category.

The first runner to finish was club member Tom Lake with a running time of 28 mins 54 secs recording his fastest ever handicap respresenting an improvement of five and a half minutes on his last year's time,

He was followed home by Steve Groombridge making a return to running after a long period of injury in a time of 26 mins dead.

In third place was Hugh Flannery who recorded the fastest time of the day finishing in 24 mins 17 secs, just beating Adam Musgrave who finished in 17th place in a time of 24 mins 18 secs.

The first lady finisher was Jenny Urquhart in overall sixth place in a time of 28 mins 58 secs. Jenny also recorded the fastest ladies' time despite a 12-mile training run on the previous day.

At the presentation after the race Tom Lake was awarded with the men's trophy with Jenny Urquhart receiving the ladies trophy.

Tavistock Athletic Club train on Tuesdays at Tavistock College from 6pm for all age groups and at the Alexander Centre on Thursday from 6.15pm (seniors only). Anyone interested in running is welcome to come along.

Full results of Christmas Handicap:

Handicap Finish Actual

time time

Lake Thomas 16.00 44.54 28.54

Groombridge Stephen 20.00 46.00 26.00

Flannery Hugh 23.00 47.17 24.17

Bazley Peter 12.00 47.53 35.53

Slattery Sam 15.00 47.57 32.57

Urquhart Jenny 19.00 47.58 28.58

Lees Robin 13.30 48.15 34.45

Lees Steven 13.30 48.17 34.47

Charlton Ruth 16.00 48.26 32.26

Charlton Clive 17.00 48.26 31.26

Dunford Rhys 5.00 48.46 43.46

Witcher Jean 5.00 48.47 43.47

Stocker Huelga 18.00 49.00 31.00

Hewitt Roger 18.00 49.12 31.12

Shephard Andrew 17.00 49.23 32.23

McKinnnon Frances 18.30 49.34 31.04

Musgrave Adam 25.30 49.48 24.18

Gent Tim 21.00 50.10 29.10

Musgrave Robin 24.30 50.10 25.40

Fraquet Steve 18.00 50.14 32.14

Lashbrook Dave 10.00 50.49 40.49

Tomes Michael 25.00 51.10 26.10

Jones Llew 14.30 53.09 38.79

Musgrave Mark 13.00 53.15 40.15

Musgrave Kate 13.00 53.16 40.16

Haskins Ben 22.00 54.13 32.13

Dawe Robert 18.00 54.22 36.22

Dawe Simon 18.00 54.23 36.23

Griffiths Jo 18.00 55.03 37.03

Musgrave Anna 18.00 55.03 37.03

McFarlane Helen N/H