Great Links Tor Fell Race
Wednesday evening saw a great turnout of ORC Seniors and Juniors heading to Bridestowe for the Great Links Tor Flyer, the next race in the SW Fell Runners Summer Series.
The Juniors raced first starting from the moor gate and heading towards Great Nodden. Brilliant running saw Alistair Taylor and Thomas Spears winning their age categories with Eleanor Taylor, Art Lane and Jake Lane close behind!
The Senior race includes one of the most challenging ascents of the series. The route starts with a climb up Great Nodden before dropping down into the valley to cross the river via a ford. From here the challenge is find a straight line up to Little Links Tor across very undulating, tussocky and at times boggy ground – there are sections of trod if you can find them! After a very sustained incline it gets steeper still as you head onwards to Great Links Tor. With most of the ascent done, the runners are rewarded with a lovely fast track down to Arms Tor before contouring across to Brat Tor. From there it’s a fun and very steep flying descent to High Down before the final section back to another ford and a fast track to finish at the campsite behind the Fox & Hounds Pub.
In a strong field, Luke Stannus had a brilliant race finishing first overall in 34:54 knocking two minutes off the course record. He was followed by Tom Poland in 41:06, Joe Lane in 43:04, Charlie Temperley in 44:00, Euan Ripper in 46:42, Ian Ripper in 48:53, Danny Heggs in 50:49, Lou Duffield in 58.46 and Sarah Dean in 1:21 (all times provisional as official results are pending). Luke, Tom, Joe and Charlie also won the men’s team prize.
Great running by all!
Devonshire Heartland Way
Our Club Coach, Robert Richards, challenged himself to complete the Devonshire Heartland Way in a west to east direction across the county of Devon using its ancient footpaths, bridleways and some minor roads. The route intersects and links two more Devonshire paths, namely the Tarka Trail and Two Moors Way, both of which Robert has completed. Robert had a delayed start allowing for a storm to pass early on Friday morning before leaving Okehampton to follow the trail to its finish north of Exeter in Stoke Canon. The route took him via Sampford Courtney, North Tawton, Zeal Monachorum, Colebrooke, Yeoford, Crediton, Shobrooke, Newton St Cyres and Brampford Speke. The whole 72km adventure took him 11hrs 40mins. Robert will enjoy few days rest then it’s back to club duties next week.
New Club FV75 Record
On Saturday morning, Jane Richardson set a new club FV75 record for 5km finishing in 28:49 at Teignmouth Promenade Parkrun. She was first out of five in her age category commenting that it was so good to have company! Brilliant running Jane!
ORC Couch to 5km Programme
A reminder that the next Okehampton Running Club Couch to 5km programme starts on Tuesday 10th September. We look forward to welcoming you at the Hub in Simmons Park at 6.20pm ready to start at 6.30pm.
