SIX members of Okehampton Running Club took part in the Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday in glorious sunshine. This is one of the biggest half marathons in the region with more than 5,000 runners taking part.

The race starts and finishes on the Hoe and takes runners through the beautiful grounds of Saltram House with views across Plymouth. For Okehampton’s Mark Hawkins, this race was the whole reason he took up running again in his 50s after a break of 30 years. His niece, who had never run a half marathon before, wanted to run in memory of Mark’s father who died of cancer so Mark got back into running to accompany her, and together they raised £2,460 for Cancer Research.

First ORC home was Matt Bailey with a good run in 1.27.56 and first lady ORC was Beverley Kidson finishing in a great time of 1.52.52 to give her a diamond award in the club award scheme. Other ORC times were; Caroline Wilson; 2.09.25, Janet White; 2.17.30 (gold award), Mark Hawkins; 2.25.36; Sarah Bell; 2.36.56.

Further away two ORCs took part in the Brighton Marathon, again in sunshine. This has become one of the most popular marathons in the country, with a course that winds through the city streets and finishes along the seafront. Fittingly it was also Deborah Cunningham’s seventh marathon which she completed in 4.47.17. Ahead of her was Karen Limon in a time of 4.25.05.

At the Bodmin 5 Tors Race Okehampton’s Mags Jarvis returned to compete in a race she won her age group in last year. This is a challenging 8-mile fell race over rugged terrain and Mags finished in 1.35.43, again winning the FV60 category.