ONE of the largest community events in Tavistock took place on Sunday — the Tavy 13 and Primary Schools’ Challenge — attracting a large number of runners from across West Devon and East Cornwall.

Organised by the Tavistock Athletic Club, the event boasts three separate events combined into one big running extravaganza. The Tavy13 half marathon has been going since 2010 in its current format, but with a change of course last year which has been much lauded by the runners.

Whilst the half marathon runners are out on the course, the Primary Schools Challenge, organised with the support of Okehampton Community Recreation Association, takes place. Primary children from local schools had run a mile a week for the past 12 weeks and the Primary Schools Challenge is their final mile so that they also completed the half marathon distance.

A fun run also takes place on the day.

The weather forecast had been dreadful — heavy rain and storm force winds were predicted. But to the delight of all the runners the forecasters were wrong again and only the strong winds out on the half marathon course proved a problem.

Chris Rimmer, from Plymouth Harriers set a blistering pace for the kindly described as ‘undulating’ course and led from gun to tape in a cracking 1hr 16min 42 secs time. There was a battle for second place between Marc Smerdon from East Cornwall and Andy Vallance from Okehampton, with Marc getting ahead on the flat and fast downhill finish (they finished in 1:21:40 & 1:21:55 respectively).

As for the ladies it was former Tavy runner Maddie Horton who comfortably led the way home in 1:26:11, from Sarah Hirons from Erme Valley in 1:35:08 and Paula Simson from Plymouth 1:38:04. Full results can be found at www.tavy13.co.uk

But it was not just about the front runners. There were runners conquering all sorts of challenges. Paul McKenzie from Bobs Cafe in Tavistock Pannier Market was raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and Jeremiahs Journey and came home in 1:58: 13 in his first half marathon.

He said ‘I’ve never done anything like this before – it’s been such a challenge, I didn’t know if I could do it but wanted to achieve it for family reasons.

‘The course was superb, well organised and I had so much support from everyone. It’s been a brilliant event.’

l Turn to pages 20 and 29 page to see pictures from the Primary Schools Challenge.

The Primary Schools’ Challenge had a record number of 394 entries from 12 schools around the Tavistock area and some children from St Mellion and Delaware taking part.

Children had run a mile a week over the past 12 weeks with the final mile run taking place during the Tavy 13 event.

Whilst the main race was out on the moor, the children went off in three main groups, led by the year 2s and under and completed by the year 5 and 6 group.

Primary?Schools’ Challenge organiser Mhairi McCall from Okehampton Community Recreation Association (OCRA) said: ‘This year has been the best ever, participation has been magnificent with many primary schools having up to half their pupils take part.

‘Whilst the Government continually highlights concerns about obesity, our local primary schools are doing a fantastic job of engaging pupils in activity and sport. The way they’ve taken to the Primary Schools’ Challenge proves that.’