ON a bright, but cold and windy Sunday, 20 Bere Alston Trekkers made the short trip to Plasterdown to take part in Tavistock Athletic Club’s Tavy7.

The Tavy7 is a popular autumn fixture and follows a wonderful course around seven miles of scenic and gently undulating Dartmoor lanes near Tavistock and is a favourite amongst the BATs.

Paul Ashton led the BATs into the finish in a time of 53 minutes 51 seconds, followed by Gary Fielder 54.18, Martin Head 54.19, Andrew Bowden 54.50, Andy Cowden 55.44, first of the lady BATs Lisa Birch 59.10, Tanya Argue hour 00 mins 38 secs, Jim Medhurst 1.00.39, Shaun Hingston 1.04.10, Debbie Ashton 1.04.19, Natasha Hingston 1.07.45, Sally Dunn 1.08.49, Mel Greaves 1.08.50, Heather French 1.08.55, Hazel Bickley 1.08.56, Frances Morgan 1.09.55, Hilary Head 1.14.56, Ali Greaves 1.15.38, Dominika Nawalany 1.17.49 and Kelly Shaw 1.25.35.

Despite the strong winds, a number of the BATs achieved personal bests.

The second event of the weekend for the BATs was slightly further from home. BATs Pam and Dave Adams travelled to Dublin with former BATs Mike and Heather Smith to take part in the Dublin Marathon.

This marathon is a single lap course, starting and finishing close to the city centre, and with the support of the crowds of cheering spectators provides ideal conditions for marathon running.

The event attracts a wide field of both Irish and international participants, and is now the largest marathon in Ireland and the fifth largest in Europe. Official times were not available as the Times went to press, but provisionally Dave and Mike finished in a time of 3hrs 37mins, Pam 4h 54m and Heather 5hrs.