Electric Erme Racing

Friday June 28th the annual Erme Valley relays took place around the undulating Devon lanes with 94 teams participating. It was a super blend of kids, adults and veterans competing on a 2.5 mile lap with plenty of up and down. Our captains Ben & Debbie Elphick did a superb job of managing our runners and creating 9 teams of 4 runners doing the club proud. 

With many super performances the highlights included; quickest Trotters Oli Reynolds in his first race as a trotter, 7th 13:05. and Chloe Olford 87th 15:34. A fine array of photos were taken - see facebook for the expressions of delight and or suffering.  Full results here https://www.ermevalleyharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Erme-Valley-Relays-2024-Results.pdf

https://www.ermevalleyharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Erme-Valley-Relays-2024-Leg-Times.pdf

Ben said "Special thanks to Nigel Barnett, Nathan Lovely Elphick Abbie Barnett for putting up the Trotters Gazebo area and signs. Thank you to Andrew Fox for turning up as a spare and for supporting on the night after a long trip back. 

Carl Bennett getting off the plane from holiday a couple of hours earlier. A general thanks to everyone for turning up on a Friday night and performing so brilliantly. Debbie and her team doing so well, busy with not only work but chief marshal duties for the upcoming Heller, Ladies 10k duties, reviewing the course and getting it officially measured and dealing with the relays all in the past few weeks"

A mention to Laura Law, who competed despite her daughters fall in the warm up smashing her elbow. Freya Morrissey in her first race as a trotter being triumphant in the ladies Vet 35 team with Claire McKenna, Debbie Elphick, & Jo Randall. "worth it for the wine" was the quote.

The 3rd placed senior male team included Luke & Oli Reynolds, Tim Pratt ("that was hot"), and Jake Gluyas-Harris. The grey haired success included 1st Male vet 50 of Roger Easterbrook, Phil (rapid) Reynolds ("It was as bad as I thought"), Jason Trevenen ("Good battle with Ewan") & Duncan Knight - who is awarded the face of the week award - see photos. 1st Male vet 60 of Alan Boone, Derek Skinner, Neil Rutley, & Tim Synge ("Not the flattest of courses").

James Long recently raced the ClimbSouthWest Jurassic Coast 100km from Weymouth to Exmouth and brilliantly came first in 12:48:30. The arduous route included 3310 metres of climb, epic scenery, and the hazard of holiday makers a plenty.

The south west fell series had the Summer Solstice 10K race from Merivale last week. The 70 runners had a circular anti clockwise course in stunning countryside including Staple Tor, Roos Tor and White Tor. Roger Easterbrook said "The long uphill start was like the Haytor Heller before easier undulating moorland conditions. The low cost event was part of 10 races in the SW fell series.

The leader was too fast for his own navigation and disappeared getting lost, before returning after 15K. The winner Tim Lenton of Axe Valley 39.10 was closely followed by many local club runners, Roger came 7th in 40:44. "I'd recommend the race and the series for the scenery, low cost, good variety, relaxed atmosphere."

On Sunday 30th the Winding Paths Exe Estuary marathon took place. The marathon started on the beach in Budleigh Salterton, following the coast path to Exmouth. It continued along the seafront, before picking up the path along the Exe Estuary to Topsham, where you turned and headed back. Coming back was hard in full sun and not much breeze! said Ruth.

The results were 5.13.12 Tim Synge 10th, 5.13.49 Allen Taylor 11th, 5.13.50 Nigel Barnett 12th, 5.50.58, Ruth Johnson 14th 2nd lady, with Rob dropping out through injury.