NO less than 17 Okehampton Running Club members took to the roads, fells and trails throughout three counties and two national parks in five races on the same day – the Eden Marathon and Half Marathon, the Great West Run, the Exmoor Stagger and the Bovey Beauty.

At the Eden Marathon Andy Vallance made a welcome return to the podium finishing in third overall place in 3 hours 13 minutes 38 seconds — an excellent result following a major health scare last year after which he had to learn to walk again before even thinking about running 26.2 miles over a tough course. In the half marathon Jason Ewing finished first for the club in 1.48.40, followed by his wife Rebecca and Heather Richards who crossed the finish together in 2.10.34.

ORC was well represented at Exeter's Great West Run with another good result for the club from Rob Kelly who finished 50th from more than 2,600 runners in 1.27.14. Christine Fritsch was taking part in her first half marathon and Beverley Kidson last ran the distance five years ago. ORC times: John-Paul Quertier  1.41.18, Chris Aylen 1.57.13, Keri Quertier 1.55.29, Beverley Kidson 1.58.32, Geoff Hill 2.03.07, Dave Slocombe 2.05.29, Christine Fritsch 2.06.39 and Claire Kelly 2.13.42.

On Dartmoor at the Bovey Beauty fell race over 10 miles of beautiful moorland and some serious hills with 560 metres of climbing the results kept rolling in with Rob Hicks finishing second overall and Paul Crease fifth. Karen Skye was the first lady to finish and Lucy was third lady.

Meanwhile in Somerset, Marilyn Cooper was at the Exmoor Stagger – a 16 mile race with a total climb of more than 1,200m from Minehead to Dunkery Beacon and back, finishing in 3.12.26.

Earlier in the month Dave Slocombe completed the second running of the Armada Athletics half marathon from Saltram House and along the Plym Valley in 1.57.41.