The weather Gods were kind and it was a cloudy, still day providing perfect running conditions for the 2000+ runners who took on the challenge of the Grizzly and Cub races on Sunday.  

Biggest congratulations must go to new Race Directors, Andy West and Steve Haines for a brilliant first event under their guidance.  

The race was started by five-time Olympian, Jo Pavey, with the runners heading straight onto the first of two gruelling stretches of pebble running.

After that, it was off up Castle Hill and on to Beer, Branscombe and beyond - 20 miles of hills, bogs, river and more pebbles. The Cub runners may be let off the bogs but it is still a tough nine-mile race.

The runners are supported by a huge team of volunteers from Axe Valley Runners and many other local community groups and charities, which is what makes the Grizzly such a special event for Seaton and East Devon.  

Midweek Herald:

First home in the Cub was Ritchie Durrant of Pure Endurance in an excellent 1:02.52. Tenth finisher and first female was Olivia Carthew in 1:11.19.  First male 40 and first AVR was Lee Moran in 1:11.13 with first female AVR and 12th female overall, Laura Kerr in 1:27.20.  

All the winners were awarded with a bottle of prosecco from Lyme Bay Wines, and a beautiful handcrafted plate made Gilly Humphreys. Guy Sweetman from event sponsor, East Devon Sports Therapy Centre and John Barrington-Rowell, President of AVR, made the presentations.

In the full event, Sam Kelly of Exmouth Harriers improved on last year’s runner-up to take the win in a brilliant 2:14.25. Molly Smith, once of this parish but now with Norfolk Gazelles took the first female spot in a superb 2:43.28 running her first ever Grizzly. It was great to see four-time World Ironman Champion, Chrissie Wellington take on the Grizzly and finish an outstanding fourth female.

Matt Clist, in ninth spot following a sprint finish, was first AVR home in 2:29.02 while Emilie Brock scooped the first female AVR prize in 3:11.29.

During the race, a memory tree is always provided on Branscombe beach for runners to pause and remember friends lost since the last event. This year it took on special significance following the recent sudden death of Phil Bayliss, a founder member of both AVR and the Grizzly and long-term Grizzly committee member. AVRs wore green ribbons in his memory reflecting his deep commitment to the environment and his legacy of encouraging the Grizzly to become a sustainable event as far as possible. 

Big thanks must also go to Tescos, Leisure East Devon, East Devon Sports Therapy, Living Options and Seaton firefighters for all their support at the finish line.  

On Saturday, hundreds of children had enjoyed some short Grizzly races of their own ably supported by lots of AVR members.  

Midweek Herald:  

Honiton Running Club members were also out in force at the event and first back for HRC was Alasdair Moffett who stormed back to come 99th in 2 hours 58 minutes. He was followed by Tom Bornet in 153rd place and 3:09. Tim Wigram absolutely flew round knocking several minutes off his previous personal best time.

He came 258th in 3:25. Anna Drake is a relatively new HRC runner and she led the ladies home for Honiton coming 531st in 3:53. Rebecca Stevens, Gareth Henwood, Louise Bennett, Johnny Bennett, Paula Ferris and Hadleigh Davies all ran the race together finishing 708th in about 4:09. Nick Couch ran quite a bit of the race with the group before pulling away to finish 612th in exactly four hours.

Other Honiton runners were: 326 Pete Nicholls 3:32, 360 Steve Davey 3:35, 409 Step Boyes 3:41, 456 Jake Heath 3:46, 613 Sam Phillips 3:48, 771 Pippa Westall 4:16, 772 Rachel Hennessey 4:16, 790 Lisa Briggs 4:19, 1001 Richard Harris 4:39, 1099 Simon Bates 4:54, 1284 George Oldfield 5:41 and 1289 Kathy Layzell 5:43.

Midweek Herald: