TAVISTOCK Carnival Week saw the annual running of the Town Relays last Thursday evening.

The event has been organised by Tavistock Athletic Club since 1986 to raise funds for Tavistock Lions’ good causes and over the years thousands of pounds have been raised. Competitive interest in the relays has always been healthy and there are junior prize categories, senior male and female categories, corporate and sports club (separate from athletic clubs) prizes.

In the early years teams raced up and down Plymouth Road, with the change-over at the Bedford Hotel; nowadays the runners use a 1.1mile circuit in the Meadows along the west and east banks of the River Tavy, using Westbridge at one end and Abbey Bridge at the top end – with the start/finish changeover close to the iron footbridge in the middle.

2019 entries were the highest ever with 134 teams taking part across the different age categories. Each team had four runners and there was a big supportive crowd cheering them on. Teams travelled from as far as Bodmin and Bude to take part and they did not go home disappointed.