LAST weekeend saw the first race in Tavistock Athletic Club's brand new Grand Prix series. Club member Paul Marshall has given a lot of time and thought to improving the scoring system, making it fairer for all.

Paul has also completely revised the clubs' award scheme, based on world age rankings, so that performances from athletes of all ages can be compared. Whereas previously, runners achieved bronze, silver, gold or diamond awards, Paul has added two extra awards, fitting between gold and diamond – platinum and ruby.

After all Paul's hard work, for which the club are most grateful, it was good to see 14 TAC runners competing in the 10k January Jaunt — an out and back race starting at Coypool in Plymouth and climbing up to the top of the hill in Saltram Park.

The star club performance of the day was by Christine Le Flem who not only won her F65 age group but did it in style by gaining the clubs' first diamond award of the year.

Five athletes gained platinum award times: First TAC to finish was birthday girl Caroline Steven who flew round the course and won her age category. Seconds behind her was Peter Bazley who finished first in his M55 age group with David Twine only half a minute following, to finish second in the same category. Andy and Sheila Houghton also won their M65 and F60 groups.

Gold award times were recorded by Paul Marshall who finished third M55 and Tony Shearer, fourth M60.

Silver times were gained by Kate Rogers, who was first F50 to the finish, and by John Windemer.

Hazel Walker made a welcome return to club running in her first race for a year. She recorded a bronze award time, and also played her Grand Prix 'joker', thus doubling her points gained and so taking an early lead in the series.

Helen Alcock ran a bronze award time, whilst Caron De Val missed the same award by just one second. Sarah Dorrell was the final athlete of the TAC contingent, finishing a few minutes later.

Times were as follows: Helen Alcock 58minutes 4seconds, Pater Bazley 45.34, Caron De Val 60.21, Sarah Dorrell 68.48, Andy and Sheila Houghton 48.14 and 56.21 respectively, Christine Le Flem 56.44, Paul Marshall 48.40, Kate Rogers 54.49, Tony Shearer 51.21, Caroline Steven 45.12, David Twine 46.17, Hazel Walker 54.53 and John Windemer 55.51.

Running a longer distance over considerably tougher terrain were Paul Waldron and Claire and Adrian Pitcher. They ran the 10-ish miles of Oh My Obelisk! from Dawlish to the Obelisk monument in Haldon Forest and back. The route was mostly set on green lanes, country lanes and forest tracks and features plenty of mud and hills. Paul finished in a creditable 1hour 42minutes 35 seconds, while Claire and Adrian ran together and finished in just more than two hours.

A few thousand miles away from Tavistock, Gary Chater competed in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in sunny Florida, USA. Despite the 5.30am start to avoid the heat, the race was nevertheless a warm one, and Gary did well to finish in the top ten percent of entrants in comfortably under two hours, with a finishing time of 1.57.06.

Round four of the Armada 3k winter series took place in Central Park, Plymouth. Six TACs took part, five junior members and one senior and most achieved personal best times.

The Herdman family, juniors Harry and Francesca and dad Allan have run all four races in the series. Francesca knocked 18 seconds off her round three time to finish in 13mins 55secs. Once again Harry beat his father, this time by five seconds, finishing in 11.43 to Allan's 11.48. Jude White was next TAC home in 13.06.

U15s boy William Dax was first TAC to finish, running very strongly in a time of 11.11, just one second in front of Emily Attfield and both gaining personal bests.