After a showery day it was a very pleasant surprise to have a balmy evening for the annual AVR Race The Tram relay race, writes Dave Mutter.

Many AVRs and friends enjoyed a trip to Colyton from Seaton and then the race began. There were three teams and the juniors started by running from Colyton to Colyford in the safer fields then passed the baton to the senior members of each team. Much to the dismay of the tram driver, this year it was the turn of the AVR A team to win taking 14:26. The tram screeched to a halt in 16:10, closely followed by the Red team, 16:36 and finally the blues in 17:18.

The gang descended on Phil Bayliss’s beach hut where Eleanor Wood and her helpers Rick and Andy organised a beach picnic of pre-cooked hot dogs and doughnuts.

Head junior coach Paul Johns presented the following awards at the feast: Junior Boy of the Year: James Knapp, Junior Girl of the Year: Caitlin Bee, Most Improved Runner: Ethan Day and Chris Levene. Perpetual Trophy for Endeavour: Mollie Hansford. A great time was had by all, but, as usual, the real winner was the Devon Air Ambulance with the Tramway donating AVRs �100 donation to this worthy cause.

?On Wednesday, Liam Roberts raced in the Vic Musgrove Fast Five 5km in Telford. He finished fourth in a 17-second personal best of 15:46. This is a good step in the right direction having so far only trained to build fitness and will soon begin to work on his speed to be fully race fit for his main race in September.

?Saturday at 6.30pm, Haytor Rocks on Dartmoor was the venue for the Haytor Heller; six-ish tough miles of rugged moorland running in perfect weather. Graham Newton lead in AVR and took first 60 age group prize with a cool time of 53:21 in 46th place overall.

Eleanor Wood was second lady finisher and first female vet 55, 59th overall in 55:21. Richard Hale was next finisher down the steep grassy downhill slope to the finish with 1:01:58 in 116th spot. Diane Newton finished 255th with a time of 1:32:08.