TAVISTOCK athletes travel the short distance on Friday to compete at Ivybridge in the prestigious Erme Valley Relays. The relays are held over a twisting hilly road course of 2.4 miles with four runners to each team. More than 70 teams were entered and included all the top clubs from Devon and teams from East Cornwall. Tavistock, who are beset with injuries at the moment fielded two teams, with their strongest quartet comprising Richard Drage, Andy Vernon, Pete Freedman and Jim Cole. The B team comprised of Tim Brooks, Tony Symons, Martin Exley and Richard Drage, who had the dubious honour of running the final leg having completed the first leg for the A team. Torbay showed their current form, setting a scintilating pace for the other teams to follow. With solid legs from Drage (13 mins 9 seconds), Vernon (13.47) the Tavistock team was 50 seconds down on the leaders at the halfway stage but Freedman (12.50) showed his current triathlon strength and powered the team into second place just 10 seconds down on Torbay. It was left to Cole to produce the third fastest leg of the day, 12.38, and bring the team home 20 seconds ahead of Torbay ? to retain the top spot won last year. The B team performed creditably with Brooks (14.39) and injured Symons (15.02) and Exley (14.09) handing to Drage (13.44) to bring the home in 10th overall. Tavistock now look forward to hosting the town relays in Tavistock Meadows on July 19 ? the 1.1mile course is open to all (four runners to a team), with local businesses, schools and sports clubs all entering teams. Details can be found at http://www.tavistockathletics.com">www.tavistockathletics.com.