A DOZEN members of Okehampton Running Club were amongst those to take on the Black Dawg Backyard Ultra on Saturday, August 8.

The event in its third year and organised by ORC’s Rob Gooding, is going from strength to strength, raising vital funds for North Devon Hospice.

Participants took on as many 6.2km laps as they could, only being able to complete a max of one loop per hour, every hour until they were either timed out (not back within the hour) or the offering from the on-site pizza van became more appealing than running.

There were some phenomenal distances achieved by the ORCs: Claire Watkins (six laps), Lucy Gooding (six laps officially- timed out on seventh), Paul Trace (seven laps), Matt Grint/Rob Russell (nine laps; longest run for Matt and Rob), Rob Kelly (11), Emma Jewell/ Izzi Davison/ Rob Gooding (12 laps; longest run for Emma), Chris Turner (15), Ian Duffield (14-timed out on 15th), Deane Andrew (18- timed out on 19th; third place overall).

Elsewhere on Saturday, several ORCs ran in the Sticklepath Horseshoe, a 9.6-mile self-navigation fell race across the moorland of North Dartmoor.

Runners need to pass through six checkpoints (Skaigh Warren, Belstone Seat, Belstone Tor, Belstone Tor, Steeperton Tor, Cosdon Beacon, and Skaigh Warren again), however they may take any route they wish to get to those checkpoints.

Paul Crease, Claire Thompson, Lorna Critchlow, Chris Todd, Danny Heggs, Lou Duffield and Keeley Phillips were all in the field.

Claire said it was a great fell run with stunning views and some tough climbs. All the marshalls were so lovely and encouraging. And as a reward at the finish, they were offered yummy flapjack and cider.

Results still pending at time of report.

Meanwhile, Sophie Casavieille-Lacaze and Paul Evison competed in the fifth race of the Exeter City Runs series. Consisting of six races, one each month starting in April, runners take on great flat, traffic-free 5km course consisting of footpaths and cycle tracks around Exwick Playing Fields and the River Exe Flood Relief.

Any runner who completes four or more of the races receives a series medal, with their fastest four times determining the winners of the series.

Sophie and Paul both had amazing runs with Sophie gaining a new PB of 19:50 and Paul finishing in 24:06. The final race of this series is on September 1.

This week, in preparation for the Dragons Fire (a challenging 2-day event covering over 100km), Emma Brock hiked and ran 50.5 miles, with 13,800+ ft of elevation over three days. Day one took her over knife-edge Crib Goch. Day two and three took her over the less visited, but equally as stunning and rugged Rhinogs and South Snowdonia.

Lastly, on Sunday, Sophie was competing again, but this time on the track at the final Devon Open Track meeting. Sophie put in yet another outstanding performance to win the U16 1500m, setting a new PB of 5:02.

Okehampton Running Club boasts 150 members of all age and abilities who share a love for running.

They meet at the Pavilion in Simmons Park at 6:20 every Tuesday and Thursday with new members always welcome.

There are six groups for different abilities running each night, so there should be one to suit you. Each group is taken out by a qualified leader to help guide you in your training.