Early on Saturday the 7th of June, the weather gods boomed in delight and sent a crackling electric light display in East Devon  to proclaim that it was in fact the Umborne Ug race day. From the tumultuous beginning, the weather turned warm and sunny, so by the evening conditions were perfect for the walk and races. At 5pm walkers were set off on a 4 mile circuit around some of the main route, then at 6pm the main 10K started.

Once again runners were treated to a somewhat undulating, mostly off road route that this year had mud a-plenty in the woodlands. Just after the wood and a near vertical field ascent, marshal Rob Summers encouraged runners and offered a “boost” in the form of his home made Little Yardbury farm cider – proper rocket fuel!

Axe Valley Runner and last year’s record time winner Tim Lenton’s strategy to beat fellow club runner Patrick Devine-Wright was to go out hard and hope the wheels didn’t come off. He did, they didn’t and he won in a superb 41:37.

Chris Gill, unattached, was 2^{nd ,} 43:20

while Patrick was suffering by the end of the first climb. He progressively dropped into fourth place before an eyeballs out sprint with Honiton RC’s Kevin Hawker down the final hill saw him finish 3^rd, 44:13

and Kevin won the M40+ prize in a time of 44.21.

In another tight run race Ellie Sutcliffe of Exmouth Harriers just held off Axe Valley Runners Hannah Bridger, who also holds the women’s course record,  to win the ladies race in 49:51.

Hannah was just 6 seconds adrift finishing 2^nd lady, 12^th overall in 49:57.

Exmouth’s Hannah Bown was the 3^rd lady, 17^th overall, in  51:25

and Janet Sealy, unattached, was 1st lady 35+ in 54.08.

The Men’s 50+ award went to Honiton RC’s Steve Davey in a time of 52.34.

There were 3 more successes for Axe Valley Runners as Phil Bayliss came home 16^th and 1^st  M60+ in 51:21,

Carol Austin was the first lady over 45 home, 34^th overall in 57:04

and Angela Kerr was the 1^st lady over 55, 75^th overall in 1:15:35. 

Paul Tolchard, Robin Carter and Janet Woodward back marked to ensure the 84 runners’ safety.

The last race was a 2.5K fun run that was mostly raced by 45 juniors.

Alfie Devine-Wright of Exeter Harriers was the winner in 11:56

with Cameron Bryson of Exmouth Harriers 2^nd, 11:55 and AVR’s Matt Thurgood, 3^rd, 11:56. Katelyn Wells of Exeter Harriers was the first girl, 10^th overall

and here’s a girl to watch in the future, 7 year old Darcie Morton of Beer Primary School was 2^nd girl, 12^th overall in 13:58.

Jasmine Stone of Honiton RC was the 3^rd girl, 13^th overall, 14:02.  

After the racing, runners could relax in a perfect country ambience on a warm summers evening with a sumptuous Bar-B-Que and refreshments courtesy of Umborne Village Hall.

The whole object of the runs, organised by Rick and Eleanor Wood with plenty of local help, was to raise money for the Hall and £1,080 will be finding its way to the Hall coffers. There’s no doubt it was a terrific evening so many thanks to all who helped – 14 marshals, water station helpers, back-markers, course markers, Garry for results, cake makers and servers, bar staff, BBQ chefs, Rob for the PA and especially the local landowners for allowing the race to traverse their land. At the end of the evening, Liz Gosling was presented with a token of gratitude for her long service as a loyal trustee of Umborne Hall.