IT has been a busy week of racing for Okehampton Running Club members.

On Tuesday, Stuart May took part in the final round of the Run Exe 5k series. There are six races in the series but runners only need to complete four and their times are then added together to work out overall winners and age category places.

Having completed the required four races, Stuart was pleased to find he had come third in the MV45 age category with a total time for the runs of 79min 32secs.

Wednesday saw a beautiful late summer’s evening, when the last of the Okehampton Running Club’s Summer Series races took place. The Sourton Tor race is a traditional up and back fell race starting from the Bearslake Inn near Sourton, where the runners ascend over 300m over open moorland to the top of Sourton Tor.

On a windy, but lovely evening, the runners barely had time to appreciate the stunning sunset from the top, before the fast downhill descent on the other side of the valley to complete the 2.6 miles of the race. First home was Toby Chapman, who had travelled from Taunton to run, finishing in 21.29, four seconds ahead of last year’s winner, James Best, despite going well off course after reaching the summit of the Tor. Greg Millar was the first club member home in 28.38 with Okehampton’s Jo-Anne Turner and Alison Holiday finishing together in 38.51 to jointly claim the Third Lady prize.

The following evening, four Okehampton runners took to the streets of Exeter to run the Michelmores Charity 5k Run. This race is now in its 17th year.

The conditions were very hot but this did not stop Jackie Dawes from running a great race to finish with a new PB of 25.39. Next home was Molly Bell in 27.48, followed by Jane Richardson in 30.50 and Sarah Bell in 36.54.

Sunday saw a good turnout of ORC’s at the Bude Pirate Run with seven members taking part. This off road eight miler incorporates the course of the old Mouth to Mouth Race, but with added milage as it now starts and finishes near Crooklets Beach in Bude.

On such a beautiful day, with the stunning views along the coastline, it would be hard not to enjoy this tough run. Hugh Robinson was the first ORC to finish with a good run in 1.05.40 to come 11th overall, followed by John Binns in 1.20.00. Charlotte Radnor was the first lady ORC home in 1.22.05, with Jane Jackson next in 1.23.38, Christine Fristch in 1.31.38, Katy Speak in 1.33.38 and Mags Jarvis in 1.35.12.