ELEVEN of the 79 senior teams taking part in the Tavistock town relays were made up of members of Bere Alston Trekkers. With only seconds separating the teams crossing the line it was a close finish for a number of teams. 

First team home for the Bats was the Eight Deadly Shins who crossed the line in a combined team of 25 minutes 33 seconds, followed by Blazing Glory in 25.56.  The first lady team home were the Blister Sisters in 31.16.

Well done to the other Bat teams: Mixed Double 28.07, We’re Sweaty And We Know It 29.32, Accel-Erators 31.19, Shake, Rattle and Run in 32.19, The Racing ‘Mammas’ 32.19, Pavement Princesses 33.04, The Dashing Divas 33.59, and The Over Active, Under Achievers 34.07.

Saturday, July 18, was a busy time for Bats, with club members taking part in four events. Paul Mingo, Sarah Cohen and Steve Barwis participated in the Dorset Invader Marathon in Rural Dorset. It was the first ever running of the course which proved to be a particularly tough, primarily trail route in very hot conditions.

Paul Mingo finished in 5.32.03, Sarah Cohen in 5.55.12; unfortunately Steve Barwis was unable due to finish due to injury which occurred in the second half of the run.

On Saturday afternoon Janice Fuller and Lisa Birch took part in the Masanga charity fell run which was an eight mile route on Dartmoor starting at Cadover Bridge.  This was not a timed event and was about fun and to raise awareness of the charity.

In the evening lone Bat Andrew Bowden took part in the Haytor Heller.  

The race started on Haytor and began with a sharp ascent, before heading out towards Hound Tor. The terrain was rugged and comprised many tricky uphill and downhill sections. The uphill routes proved challenging for the runners who also had to deal with hot and humid conditions.  Andrew ran a great event to finish in 56.32.

Much later in the evening, three members took part in the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Midnight Madness.  This circular route starts at Princetown Primary School and heads north west across North Hessary Tor and on to Little Mis Tor. The route then heads south to join the road for a short section from Four Winds before following the bridleway past Huckden Tor, Daveytown and Withill.

The route then heads east to join the dismantled railway track near Ingra Tor — the home straight is then along the disused railway track, back to Princetown.  The total length of the route is 16 kilometres.

Well done to Fran Morgan, Rachel Wood and Murray Turner who completed the course in just over two hours.

On July 19, ten BATs crossed the Tamar to participate in the Magnificent Seven — a challenging seven mile road run starting from and finishing in at Saltash in Cornwall, organised by the Tamar Trotters.  

First BAT home was Matthew Head followed by Andrew Bowden and the lady BATs were led in by Julie Page and Sally Dunn (57.32).

The finishing times were: Matthew Head 49.30, Andrew Bowden 53.56, Julie Page 57.32, Sally Dunn 57.32, Martin Head 01.02.30, Emma Dooney 01.07.40, Fran Morgan 01.07.52, Mel Greaves 01.13.19, Jo Vella 01.18.57 and Hilary Head 01.25.21.