IT’s been a busy couple of weeks for Tavistock AC senior runners. Nineteen participated in the Bideford Half Marathon on March 6 and others taking part in the Granite Trail 10 and 20 mile races in Okehampton, the iconic and tortuous Grizzly in East Devon and the Bath Half Marathon.

Many of those running are in the midst of their preparations for the London Marathon taking place on April 24 so these races were a good measure of progress with the intense training programmes they are putting themselves through.

At Bideford a record 1,300 runners entered and in perfect running conditions some great times were posted. Results: 3,  Jim Cole, 1hr.12mins 19secs; 59, Allan Herdman, 1.27.20 (first in the male 60 category); 118, David Harris, 1.33.04; 141, David Twine, 1.34.32 (second in the male 60 category); 204th, Peter Bazley, 1.38.36; 235, Christopher Garner, 1.39.42; 261, Hannah Colston, 1.41.36; 360, Tracyann Cole, 1.45.42; 428, Beth Watmore, 1.48.30 (second in the female U20 category); 481, Graham De Val, 1.50.59; 579, Paul Marshall, 1.56.28; 632, Nicky Deane-Simmons, 1.57.34; 692, Amanda Warnett; 1.59.38; 729, John Windemeer, 2.03.05; 763, Anthony Shearer, 2.04.55; 816, Caron De Val, 2.07.33; 889, Lindsay Hobbs, 2.11.19; 916, Anita Cawley, 2.14; 1,029, Sarah Wright, 2.26.52.

In Okehampton last weekend two runners from the club took part in the 10 and 20 mile races.

Roger Hewitt completed the 10 mile race which took the runners out from Okehampton Railway Station along the trail for five miles to near Lydford then back again. Roger completed his run in 1.22.59.

Allan Herdman, fresh from his personal best and club record the previous week in the Bideford Half used this event as more of a training run with the London Marathon only 6 weeks away.

He did the route twice to complete the 20 miler and with a time of 2.27.31 saw him finish in 14th place overall, once again winning his male 60 age category.

Kate Rogers and Andy Houghton meanwhile flew the flag in Bath for the ever popular Half Marathon. Kate finished in 1.59.00. Andy, also on a mission to blast the London Marathon showed his great current form with a superb time of 1.36.15, smashing his own club record and coming sixth in his age male 65 category.

Over in Seaton at the Grizzly 5 club members endured the 20 miles or so multi-terrain course along the East Devon coastline. Chris Eastaugh was first home, in 66th position in a time of 2.51.26.

Nicole Heryet was next in 828th with 4.06.25. Claire Pitcher, Adrian Pitcher and Gary Chater crossed the line at almost the same time with 4.37.29, 4.37.26 and 4.37.27 respectively.