THE traditional Brown Willy Run on New Year’s Day was held in positively tropical conditions compared to the weather usually to be found at this time of the year on Bodmin Moor.

This is a seven-mile run, not a race, without any official timing, although there is a prize for the first male and female back, but the fast runners will always take it on with an aim to be at least in the top ten finishers.

Conditions underfoot were good too, with the runners having enough mud on their legs to show they had taken part, but the knee deep variety of bog was absent this year. Okehampton Running Club was out in force with 17 runners, including four juniors taking part. First back was Rob Hicks, a regular here, enjoying his run which brought him home in fifth place, while Paul Crease was another top ten finisher.

Jo Page has run here before with her family, but a 28-minute improvement on last year’s time saw her come home second lady by a mere few seconds to fellow ORC Mervyn Rice’s daughter, Jenny - visiting her family from her home in the Lake District where she is a member of the Helm Hill club.

The rest of the Okehampton runners all took it at their own pace, some running with their children and even the ‘club mascot’ dog Meg taking part.

The following Saturday saw a number of ORCs taking part in various park runs, some to test their fitness after some time off, others just using it as a chance for some speed work. At the Exeter Riverside Park Run Jo Page set another personal best, going under 20 minutes for the first time with a superb time of 19 minutes 52 seconds, to knock an incredible 47 seconds off the time she set in October and be the first lady.

Jo Bradford had not run seriously for several months so was pleased with her time of 23.44, which was a course PB for her and a good base to start from. Jane Jackson tried out the Tamar Lakes park run as a chance for a fast run having done little in that line over Christmas and was pleased to be the first lady in 25.55.

Sunday saw three young Okehampton runners all take part in the South West Cross-Country Championships, held at Aldon Hill near Yeovil, after good runs at the Devon Championships in December.

Molly Marvin enjoyed the good going round a hilly course, having a great run to finish fifth Devon athlete and 12th in the under 20 ladies. Sam Priday was also in good form finishing 12th in the U15 boys and fourth for Devon, giving him a silver medal for the second placed county team. His younger brother Tom put in a great performance in a strong U13 field where he came 56th.