THE third Eden Marathon and half marathon took place in St Austell, Cornwall and among thousands of runners were seven Okehampton Running Clubs members in the marathon and three in the half marathon.

Competitors started and finished at Eden's Biomes taking in some dramatic hills and views of both Cornwall's coastlines.

The marathon route was 70% trails and 30% road run in drizzly rain and windy conditions.

First ORC member home was Andy Vallance in 3.07.19, followed by Karen Skye 3.43.20, Lucy Skye 4.09.24, Leanne Rice 4.29.54, Karen Vallance, Lisa Veale and Jayne West finishing together in 4.40.49.

For Karen S, Lucy and Jayne it was their first marathon and together the ORC ladies came second in the women's team event.

ORC's Gavin Punchard was the second vet 40 in the half marathon event with a time of 1.28.34. Chris Aylen finished in 1.57.33 and Sarah Haigh in 1.59.19 in her first half marathon. She started as a complete beginner with the club only months before.

n ORC will be starting another complete beginner's course the first week in November and encourages anyone who would like to give it a try to come along.

The club meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30-7.30pm at the football club in Simmons Park.

For further details visit the club's website at http://www.okehamptonrunningclub.com">www.okehamptonrunningclub.com or call Andy Vallance on 07977 189 821 or email [email protected]">[email protected]

IN temperatures soaring to 27 degrees earlier this month Okehampton Running Club athletes took part in the Burnham-on-Sea half marathon in Somerset. Usually regarded as a fast course over flat terrain, the race took on a slower pace than normal due to the heat.

Making a comeback after a summer marred by injury and illness, ORC Jane Jackson was pleased to get round in a time of 1.55.59. to take the FV55 catagory.

OKEHAMPTON Running Club ladies had a successful day at the Bideford AAC's 10 mile race taking home nine trophies between them. Abby Metherell, Lora Medland and Cathy Carey won the ladies team prize, Jo Camies, Liz Ash and Marilyn Cooper won the veteran ladies team trophy and Jane Jones, Ali Holliday and Katy Speak were the third veteran ladies team.