There was an excellent turnout of Okehampton Running Club members at the Bideford 10k on Sunday. Twenty-seven ORCs lined up with nearly 800 other runners for this fast 10k which goes out to Instow on the road and then returns to Bideford via the Tarka Trail.

The conditions were near perfect with little wind on the estuary, but it did mean it became quite hot in the closing stages. For several of the runners this was their first race since completing various marathons.

The first ORC home was Jean-Paul Quertier, pleased with his time of 42 minutes 26 seconds, closely followed by the first lady ORC, Katie Littlejohns in 42.47. Katie, recently voted female highest achiever at the club awards, had a great day, running a personal best to claim the senior women’s trophy and setting a new club age category record. Jane Jackson also won the FV60 category and several members set new PBs with three runners completing their first 10k race.

Other results: Charlotte Radnor; 47.37, Mike Westland; 48.43, Chris Fullford Brown; 50.07, Jackie Dawes; 51.12, Jane Jackson; 51.21 (1st FV60), Nicola Smith; 51.21 (PB), Lucy Brint; 51.42 (PB), Caroline Wilson; 51.44 (PB), Emma Dean; 52.09 (first 10k), Ged Fitzgibbon; 52.38, Claire Stanbury; 52.55 (PB), Mags Jarvis; 55.47, Deborah Cunningham; 56.44, Emma Kelleher; 56.44 (first 10k), Michelle Walker; 57.04, Debs Crome; 57.48, Rachel Haydon; 59.01 (PB), Ruth Bushell; 1.0.43 (PB), Jessica Corcoran; 1.01.35, Janet White; 1.02.48, Molly Bell; 1.02.51, Jane Richardson; 1.04.55, Angela Hatten; 1.08.32 (first 10k), Claire Sprague; 1.08.32, Sarah Bell; 1.09.03.

With two marathons being held on Sunday, Okehampton’s long distance men were equally divided between the multi terrain Imerys Trail Marathon, and the Exeter Marathon. This new race is held on a three lap, traffic free and flat course on the footpaths and cycle tracks around the River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal. Despite the hot conditions there, Roger Voaden again showed what great shape he is in by coming fifth in another excellent time of 3hrs 09mins 00secs with Paul Carter finishing in 3.13.05 and Andrew Thorne in 4.20.00.

Meanwhile, down in Cornwall, the Imerys runners also felt the heat over what is always a tough and hilly course. Okehampton’s Rob Kelly, on his third trip to this race, enjoyed tackling the course again to finish in 3.43.16. Jeremy Tandy thrives on these tough marathons and put in a amazing run to finish in 3.44.15, setting a new PB by 29minutes. Chris Turner completed his first Imerys marathon in 3.56.19.