62 Exmouth Harriers in tip-top running form

Then, on the Sunday, 34 Harriers raced in four events, with the furthest traveller Susan Hill, who ran in the Tokyo Marathon.

Susan ran a superb race, finishing in 2,574th position out of the 35,000 finishers in an amazing time of 4.11.53. This was Susan’s fifth World Major Marathon, having previously competed in London, New York, Berlin and Boston, and Susan is planning to complete the sixth and final Marathon in the series in Chicago on Sunday, October 8.

A further 24 Harriers took part in one of the toughest and most popular multi-terrain events in the South of England. Starting and finishing on Seaton seafront, 20 Harriers tackled the gruelling 20 miles of The Grizzly with four others opting for the shorter nine-mile Cub event - this was the 35th running of the event hosted superbly by Axe Valley Runners.

The first Harrier to finish was Sam Kelly who won the race outright in an incredible time of 2.14.25 (three and a half minutes ahead of the second-placed finisher). It was even more incredible when you take into account that there were more than 2,000 runners taking part and there was over 3,300 feet of elevation gain.

The next Harrier to finish was Sam’s brother James who was 14th in 2.30.13. Keeping it in the family, sister Alice was 49th overall and third Lady finisher in 2.46.42, plus Mum Nicola was 820th in 4.23.10.

Grizzly Results: 1st Sam Kelly 2.14.25; 14th James Kelly 2.30.13; 37th Simon Minting 2.43.41; 49th Alice Kelly 2.46.42 (3rd Lady); 92nd Scott Jamieson 2.56.22; 111th Lee Salter 3.01.57; 199th Hannah Bown 3.17.19; 221st Mark Hawkins 3.19.45; 264th Tim Thompson 3.25.59; 425th Scott Jordan 3.42.30; 518th Terry Mckie 3.54.01; 617th Sam Argyle Lander 4.01.37; 618th Ben White 4.01.37; 620th Emma White 4.01.38; 701st Paula Hawkins 4.09.45; 820th Nicola Kelly 4.23.10; 919th Lisa Hatchard 4.29.51; 952nd Amy Tew 4.33.57; 955th Becky Matthews 4.34.18; 956th Claire Sorensen 4.34.18.

Cub Results: 69th Andy Place 1.30.57; 161st Hayley Johns 1.43.45; 258th May Argyle Lander 1.50.12; 406th Martin Collins 2.05.42.

Five Harriers raced in the undulating Bideford Half Marathon with five miles on the delightful Tarka Trail. Oli White set a personal best time of 1.12.15 in 9th place overall out of 859 finishers.

Cathy Newman was racing in her first Half Marathon for six years and she was the first over 60 Lady to finish in 1.27.08; the fastest 2023 UK Half Marathon by a W60 athlete. Cathy is in tremendous form as she has also recorded the fastest 2023 UK W60 times for the 10km and parkrun events.

Returning to racing after a lengthy break due to injury, Langdon Williams ran a great time of 1.23.26 and was the second M50 finisher, plus Alison White was second W65 in 1.56.37.

Bideford Results: 9th Oli White 1.12.15; 78th Langdon Williams 1.23.26 2nd M55; 103rd Cathy Newman 1.27.08 1st W60; 516th Alison White 1.56.37 2nd W65; 517th Des White 1.56.37.

Five Harriers took part in the final race of the 2022/23 Westward League Cross Country series in Redruth. Rob Ellis continued his excellent form finishing in third place followed by Anthony Hatchard in 28th, Nathan Sheehy in 68th, Jimmy Joy in 69th and Hugh Marsden in 77th.

It was also the six-race series presentations with Rob awarded the trophy for third in the senior men’s category, Anthony second in the M45, Jimmy Joy second in the M60 category and Hugh third in the M60 category.

Westward League XC at Redruth: 3rd Rob Ellis 27.32; 28th Anthony Hatchard 31.17; 68th Nathan Sheehy 36.09; 69th Jimmy Joy 36.10; 77th Hugh Marsden 37.12.

Overall results from Westward League series: 3rd Senior Man Rob Ellis; 2nd M45 Anthony Hatchard; 2nd M60 Jimmy Joy; 3rd M60 Hugh Marsden.