THE relatively flat Barnstaple marathon/half marathon in North Devon was a popular destination despite the rain and high winds for several Okehampton Running Club members this weekend. They came back with some excellent results. 

Rob Kelly won his first ever with a superb time of 2 hours 51 minutes 04 seconds in a hotly contested marathon that came down to a sprint finish for the three podium finishers.

ORC Barnstaple marathon results: Rob Kelly, first place overall, personal best, 2hrs 51mins; Andy Vallance, sixth, 3.02; Paul Carter, 27th and third male veteran 50, 3.17; Roger Voaden, 28th, 3.17; Graham Bryant, 34th, 3.24; Katie Littlejohns, fourth lady and first senior lady, PB, 3.27; Karen Vallance, PB, age category club record, 3.48;

Andy Thorne, 3.55; Emma Dean, first marathon, 3.59. Half marathon: Steve Sincock, second MV50, 1.27; Jo Page, fourth lady and first senior lady, PB, age category club record, 1.31; Claudine Benstead, first FV60, 1.33; Mags Jarvis, second FV60, 1.59.

Six ORCs ran in the Exmouth 10k. Jane Richardson was first ORC home in a superb PB and platinum time of 57 minutes 32 seconds; Vicky Bond 58.26, PB; Vanessa Keast 1 hr 07 mins PB; Cheryl King, Lynsey King and Jo Teixeira 1.11.00.

For most of the group this was only the second attempt at this distance after they completed the couch to 5k last year with Okehampton Running Club.

Mike Westland competed in the Lee Valley Velo Park series 10k race on a one mile circuit at Olympic Park. Mike finished first in the MV60 category in an excellent time of 49.48mins which was 22nd place out of 133 runners overall.

Okehampton’s long distance runner Jane Jackson took on her fifth ultra of the year, running Endurancelife’s North York Moors Ultra. Unfortunately, she took the wrong route twice, adding two extra miles, missing the cut-off with six miles to go. However, having completed the marathon course she was awarded a marathon medal.