THE annual Erme Valley relays took place on Friday at Ivybridge. This year’s relays had a record number of 127 teams finishing.

Twenty two athletes from Tavistock AC competed – not enough for six complete teams of four runners, so Phoebe Lloyd Evans and Nicole Heryet gamely agreed to run twice so that everyone could get a run. The 2.5 mile circuit is run around narrow lanes close to the rugby club and the A38. An extremely testing course, that features a long climb of almost a mile back to the changeover/finish area.

Making a welcome return to running in Tavistock colours was Alistair Peers after leaving the club as a junior in the 1990s. Alistair ran well to turn in a time of 15 minutes 35 seconds and bring the club into the first changeover in the top third of the field. Behind him Phoebe Lloyd Evans ran a strong 16.31 leg for the Tavistock ladies’ team.

Battling it out for the team veteran 60 men’s prize, Tavistock had two teams – and it was Andy Houghton (a vet 70) who had a storming 17.35 time beating club mate Roger Hewitt (18.08). Behind him, ever present Nicole Heryet ran 18.57 and Kate Sharman, making her debut for the club, had a strong run in 19.30.

On the second leg the teams were steadied. Jason Shipton ran 16.40, Dave Chanter 18.54, Adrian Pitcher 19.23, Jenny Sabine an excellent 17.12, Tracey Oxborough 17.44 and Helen Orme — another debutant for the team — in a superb 18.09.

Into the third leg the race was hotting up between the two TAC veteran 60 teams. With David Twine turning in a fast 16.53 and Wally Lake 18.13. So it was all to go for on the last leg. Elsewhere Gary Chater had a solid run in 18.24. Nicole Heryet ran her second leg of the evening in exactly the same time, 18.57, — a super consistent performance. Kate Rogers ran 20.15 and Claire Pitcher ran a steady 20.17.

Onto the final legs, Martin Exley-Deane bought the seniors home in 39th with 14.52. In the vet 60s it was a straight battle between Allan Herdman and Pete Bazley to see who could win the trophy.

Herdman was too fast, using his height on the hills for maximum advantage, running a scintillating 15.47 (for 60th placed team) and Bazley could only muster 17.51 (to come home in 63rd).

Phoebe Lloyd Evans bought the ladies’ team home in 66th with her second run of the evening (16.33). Cathy Dunlop was next home for Tavistock women’s veterans 45 team with a 18.17 run, giving them 73rd place.

Former TAC chair, recovering from injury, Mhairi McCall gamely bought the final Tavistock team in 102nd with a time of 23.49.

Teams are now in training for the Tavy Relays on July 14.