ON Sunday saw seven Bere Alston Trekkers take part in the inaugural Buckland Bounder, which was held as part of the Buckland Monachorum Summer Fair.

The Bounder was a multi terrain six mile (10 kilometre) run, which the organisers warned would be extremely hilly and likely to be difficult underfoot at Doublewaters – BATs would agree, this was not your average 10K!

The scenic route led up from Buckland Monachorum along country lanes up onto the Dartmoor National Park at Roborough Down, across the moor and down onto the Drake’s Trail to cross Gem Bridge, before heading down left into the woods at Lower Grenofen, along the River Walkham and crosses the river at the footbridge at Double Waters.

The route then heads up back over the moor to Burrator where it rejoins the road leading back towards Buckland Monachorum.

The seven BATs were Martin and Hilary Head, Debbie Farmer, Julie Page, Mel Greaves, Jennie Smith (her first event for BATs), Jo Vella and Katie Turner.

... and the Plym Valley

Ten BATs took part in Instinctive Sports Plym Valley Challenge on Sunday. The Plym Valley Challenge was held in aid of St Luke’s Hospice and is seven country miles, multi-terrain run in Plym Bridge woods, allowing runners to enjoy the beautiful scenery of National Trust protected valley and Maristow Estate.

The event started from Tor Bridge High (Estover, Plymouth) following old tram and logging tracks out to Hatshill Wood (below Bickleigh Village) and then returned along the river valley navigating two disused rail bridges, before climbing for a short stretch of the popular cycle route.

The runners then dropped to run along the old canal before turning right over Plym Bridge and then back into the woods and up the hill returning to Tor Bridge High.

The ten BATs were: Emma Dooney 1 hour 14 minutes 14 seconds, Martin Head 1.14.14, Ali Greaves 1.20.33, Lisa Birch 1.20.33, Fran Morgan 1.22.38, Laura Hogan 1.23.16, Marcia Macey 1.24.01, Mel Greaves 1.28.47, Hazel Bickley 1.28.55 and Hilary Head 1.45.33