TAVISTOCK Athletic Club was once again well represented in the Torremolinos Half Marathon in southern Spain last month.

This year the running squad was truly international, comprising three English athletes, one Spaniard, a Dutchman and an Irishwoman, together with two team coaches.

There was some confusion upon arrival at Malaga airport where the team was mistaken by border officials for one of the top ranking teams that were scheduled to appear and were whisked through Customs with a special escort.

This was the 26th running of the Torremolinos half marathon with Tavistock AC having participated in almost all of them.

The start/finish is located at the heart of the business and office district of the town.

The first mile of the course loops back through the start/finish and after leaving the town the course rises steadily into the foothills of the surrounding moun-tains. After the descent there was a five mile level run along the promenade where TAC runner and Spanish born Antonio Simonez produced a couple of spurts to try and overtake some of the runners ahead.

The final three miles then meandered through the older, medieval part of Torremolinos show-casing the Moorish architecture and narrow streets.

Irish born Rebecca O'Deane completed the run in a superb time of 1 hour 27 minutes 32 seconds, breaking her own previous personal best and finishing third lady overall.

First home for the club was Dutch born Arsen Mohne in 1.24.59.

Jon Donson just pipped Charles Lloyd to the finish post by a few seconds.

Manager Ron Chiteous professed himself satisfied: 'Overall it was good team performance, Becca O'Deane's run was the highlight but all did very well within their own parameters.'

He thanked junior coach Nigel Bendle who assisted him on the trip. The Tavistock athletes thanked Ron and Nigel Bendle for their support and guidance.