THE biggest road race in Wales took place – the Cardiff half marathon – and among the 8,811 starters were five runners from Tavistock Athletic Club.
The races route is very scenic, taking competitors past the castle and waterfront. It is also a flat and fast course, giving the perfect opportunity for achieving a personal best – which is exactly what two TAC athletes did.
Club coach Megan Fell, had trained hard, and knocked a massive nine minutes off her time for the distance, while John Marshall, who nearly missed the race altogether, due to transport problems and traffic queues, improved his time by 14 seconds.
TAC times: Martin Gibbs 1hour 39mins 53secs, Paul Marshall 1.41.29, Megan Fell 1.42.14, John Marshall 1.43.37, Samantha Marshall 1.55.10.
Nearer home, Newton Abbot race-course was the start and finish for the Dartmoor Vale 10k, half marathon and marathon. The day was cool but still ideal racing conditions.
In the 10k race, Neil Barkell excelled, coming home in fifth place in 36.56. Later came Sheila Houghton, second in her age category, in 52.51 and Claire Pitcher in 53.21.
The 13.1 mile half marathon route took competitors through Kinsteignton and Chudleigh, was undulating throughout and included one particularly nasty hill. Nicole Heryet was first TAC runner to finish, in 1.44.01, followed seconds later by Andy Houghton, achieving a UK Athletics diamond award for his time of 1.44.47 and coming third in his age-category.
Hazel Walker ran hard and gained a well-deserved PB in 1.56.50.
Ann Woodhouse came fifht in her age-group and finished in 2.21.30, followed by Jane Carroll in 2.59.42.
But the highlight of the weekend for TAC was provided by club runners in the marathon.. Running twice round the half marathon route, they had double the hills to contend with, and all three runners put in excellent performances, each coming first in their respective age-groups. Because the race had been selected as a Devon championship, this means that all three are now county championship marathon gold medalists!
Rupert Warren finished fifth overall in 2.57.25, Trevor Williams knocked over five minutes off his previous PB to finish first male 65+ in 3.47.53, and club athlete of the month, Ray Bennett was first male 70+ in 4.04.50.
Present TAC members cannot recall club runners ever gaining three gold medals in one championship race before, and all are agreed that many congratulations are due to all three athletes.