(Main race photos courtesy of Helene Buse – others contributed by Dennis Elliott and Rick Wood. Photos can be enlarged by left clicking once and then left click again for full screen picture)
The Umborne Ug 10k celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Saturday evening (May 30th) at Umborne Hall at 6pm. The 10k run had its highest number of runners in 10 years with 91 keen runners from far and wide – even two men on a walking holiday from the Czech Republic – all excited to tackle the challenging, hilly, yet stunning run.
Through secret bluebell woods with fantastic views over the Umborne Valley with encouraging marshals along the route, off they set. The winner in a new course record of 39.01 was the amazing James Denne,
followed in second place by Torbay AAC’s Arran Tocknell and in third position our own Axe Valley Runner 17 yr old Jake Smith in 40.57.
Matt Clist was 5th in 41.51 with young 17 yr old Ollie Caute a minute behind in 42.51.
James Trewick was 11th in 46.43.
The first lady home was Gemma Collier of Gloucester AC in 50.47,
followed in second place by AVR’s Clare Hansford home in 52.11
and third, close behind, was Janet Sealy in 52.36.
Tim Lenton was the first male 40+ home in 43.15 not quite up to the record time of two years ago which was broken by the winner James.
Male vet 50 was Honiton’s Steve Davey who only arrived by home from a holiday abroad a few hours earlier
and male Vet 60 yet again was the evergreen Phil Bayliss in 52.46.
There were plenty of fine performances from the other Axe Valley Runners with Joshua Hopson 19th in 51.34,
chased in by Justin Sloman in 51.43,
Tim Sibley just holding off Clare Hansford in 52.04.
Simon D’Albertanson puffed and stormed to the finishing line in 32nd in 54.08
followed by the recent 5 marathon man Geoff Woodward 40th in 56.35 just holding off another 17 yr old Cameron Hill who was just ahead of the female vet 45 Margaret Pearce – yet another prize for her!
The other 5 marathon man Steve Reynolds was only 2 minutes behind Geoff in 58.34 in 47th place.
John Greenhalge, leaving wife Amy on kiddy duty, was welcomed home by his daughter in a time of 58.50 in 49th place with yet another 17 yr old Stephen Morbey
only 9 seconds behind in 50th with father Alan only 25 seconds behind his son.
Birthday boy, Richard Dodge raced in to the singing of Happy Birthday in 60.03
with Chris Hill 60.14 chasing him
ahead of Sam Miller clearly loving every minute in 61.50 with Anna McLoughlin 61st in 62.55.
Mark Harding-Perrott came 63rd in 63.38 with Angela Kerr home in 65.33.
In his first tough 10k race down in Devon was Henry Smith pleased to be back in 67.30 just outsprinting the ever-improving Yvette Hill in 67.34. Graham Newton decided to inspire his sister Janet Cullum by running with her as they both finished in 68.22, nearly 13 minutes off her previous Ug time.
Then there were another 7 AVR’s all enjoying their big challenge – Sue Venn 73.38, Craig Tiley 73.59, Mum Susie Thoennissen running with daughter Rosie in 73.59,
Martin Kerr 74.20,
Lesley Adams 77.07 and Emma Ellynn 77.14,
making an amazing total of 34 Axe Valley Runners for which the organisers were extremely grateful – such loyal support.
The 2.5k Fun Run was easily won by 13yr old AVR junior Arun Hawkes in 11.04
with Matthew Lissenburg of Poole AC 2nd in 11.56 and 3rd was AVR Junior Ethan Huntley in 12.20. The girls’ race was won by 7yr old Ella Shaw of St Joseph’s School Launceston 4th overall in 12.28 and in 2nd place was our local AVR athlete, Ella Magrane, 6th overall in 13.14 and third in her first race for a while was Beer Primary’s Darcie Morton. There were 3 other junior AVR’s – Josh D’Albertanson was 9th in 14.02, Holly Eyre 11th in 14.09 and Sammie D’Albertanson 13th in 15.18. There were 36 runners in the fun run including 2 walkers John Barrington-Rowell who has been blind for over 10 years who was guided around by Stephen Atkins.
In addition to these two races there was a 7k walk with dogs all of which received a bonio on finishing – that’s the dogs not the owners!
Events like this cannot happen without the superb support of so many people including local landowners for allowing us to pass over their land, the 20 marshals and water station helpers, timers, back markers and Garry Perratt for yet again doing all the results.
The weather just about held off for all the runners to finish and the marshals to return to the hall, despite the disappointing forecast. The runs were followed by a BBQ, hot drinks and delicious home-made cakes and a bar – so thank you to all those people who helped with this. This massive team effort raised £1194 for the Village Hall Fund. Thank you everyone.
