NEWTON Abbot was the latest venue for Tavistock Athletic Club success last Sunday as ten club runners took part in the Teignbridge 10, a relatively flat and fast ten-mile race which incorporated Devon AA?s ten-mile championship. Two medals were collected and four new club records broken.
Results for Tavistock athletes were: 9th, Richard Drage, 56:58; 10th, Martin Exley, 57:21; 14th, Steve Groombridge, 58:47; 65th, Andrew Vernon, 1:07:07; 87th, Michael Lewis, 1:09:27; 132nd, Keith Bowles, 1:14:49; 168th, Trevor Williams, 1:19:27; 169th, Annette Roberts, 1:19:38; 217th, Sally Pike, 1:29:12; 261st, Helen Bond, 1:39:45.
In the county championship Richard won a gold medal in his M45 category with Steve picking up a bronze in the same age group. Richard, Trevor, Annette and Sally all broke club records in their respective age groups.
It?s been a busy few weeks for Tavistock AC and there is no let up as the track and field season gets underway this Sunday with a warm up meeting at Brickfields hosted by City of Plymouth AC.
On April 18 Exeter Harriers play host to the Great West Open, another track and field event at Exeter Arena. Juniors and seniors will be out in force at these two events in preparation for the first Devon League meeting and the track and field county championships, both of which take place in May.
And it is marathon season for many Tavistock athletes. This weekend Chris Eastaugh and Allan Herdman hop over the channel for the 34,500-strong Paris Marathon.
There will be a large contingent a fortnight later in the London Marathon: Steve Groombridge, Martin Exley, Tony Symons, Peter Bazley, Roger Hewitt, Keith Bowles, Annette Roberts, Anna Johnson and Marion Playle all secured places this year and have been in serious training since January for this prestigious event.
Finally, a new beginners? group starts up on Tuesday, April 20. The club will open its doors to new runners, including those who may never have run before. So many of the current and now more seasoned crop of runners started in the beginners? group and have never looked back since. More details will be published in the Times and on the club?s website shortly. For more about Tavistock AC click onto http://www.tavistockathletics.com">www.tavistockathletics.com