ALMOST 100 runners made their way to the Bere Peninsula last weekend to take part in the second Bere Pen 10k road race.

The Bere Pen 10k is a scenic three down, three up road run around the Bere Peninsular which passes along the River Tamar. The route starts in the village and winds its way down to Weir Quay.

The first half of the run is a very fast downhill, making it easy for the runners to cover the ground in good time, however, once they reach the flat it is then a hard slog up some steep hills before re-entering the village for a fast downhill to the finish.

This year's event welcomed runners from all over Devon and Cornwall with one making his way from Staffordshire to join in his first club event.

First man home and setting a new course record was local runner Adam Holland in a time of 36.33. Second man home and running his first event in a Bats vest was Ben Neale who, with the London Marathon still in his legs, finished in second place.

Prizes were made to the following for finishing first in their age categories: Male: Adam Holland 36.33 (senior male), Colin Peters 40.00 (V40), Mike Hansen 40.55 (V50), Hans Thompson 42.42 (V55) and Roger Kitteridge 51.36 (V60).  Female: Naomi Flanaghan 47.06 (senior woman), Kerry Bell 52.49 (V40), Marcia Macey 56.29 (V50), Bonny Collingbourne 46.32 (V55, Bonny was also first woman home) and Sheila Houghton 58.02 (V60).

There were also prizes for the first local, unaffiliated lady and man home and these were awarded to Nathan Newton 45.30 and Joanne Page 55.18. 

Running on home turf and sporting new club vests were 17 Bats who all finished in fantastic times and did the club proud. 

The Bats were: Ben Neale 38.39; Steve Watson 45.32; Mike Smith 50.09; Andy Cowden 51.38; Jon Eatly 54.38; Maria Kushnirov 54.43; Martin Head 55.54; Julie Brownlie 56.33; Mike Chipperfield 01:00:17; Emma James 01:0023; Emma Wright 01.02.29; Paul Mingo 01.04.06; Heather Smith 01.04.48; Francis Morgan 01.05.07; Eleanor Butland 01.08.27, Erin Jarvis 01.27.07 and Hilary Head 01.27.00.

Dotty Allan, race director thanked everyone who marshalled on the day, who donated cakes, helped with signage and water stations, the Dartmoor Rescue Group, Scouts, Brownies and Guides, the carnival committee for providing refreshments, Fierek Pottery Studio, Adam Smith (for being an all round star), John Brown Stores, Robin and Jane Musgrave and the rest of the time-keeping team, Debbie Doidge, Bere Alston Bowling Club for manning the car park and the Bats for helping with the race and to those who ran, to Chris Baab, Julian Setterington, Jo Bourton and Phil King, the early birds who turned up to help put up tents, and to the villagers for their continued support.