AVR’s Duncan Staddon in 2017 Bicton Blister top 20 finish

Published: 12:47 PM November 30, 2017 Updated: 11:36 AM November 7, 2020

AVR members at the Bicton Blister - Credit: Archant

It was a cracking day for a cracking run at the Bicton Blister (10 miles) and Bicton Lite (5 miles) with 579 runners completing the mostly off-road route around the scenic Woodbury Common, writes Dave Mutter.

There was considerable AVR success with the men’s team of Duncan Staddon, Terry Emmett, Matt Hewer and Chris Polley finishing third and the ladies’ team of Karen Eyre, Eleanor Wood and Kerry Board also finishing third in their race, in which they were also the first over-40 team home.

The Blister was won by Jim Cole of Tavistock Run Project in 1:00:01. The AVR times were: Duncan Staddon, 14th, 1:07:30; Terry Emmett, 19th, 1:08:30; Matt Hewer, 21st, 1:08:48; Chris Polley, 75th, 1:18:44; Emma Kiernan (second claim AVR), 44th, 1:13:10; Graham Newton, first M65, 79th overall, 1:18:57; Karen Eyre, second F45, 83rd, 1:19:36; Eleanor Wood, first F60, 100th overall, 1:20:52; Jon Day, 101st, 1:21:08; Simon Davey, 119th, 1:23:16; Steve Hawes, 159th, 1:26:56; Kerry Board, 164th, 1:27:27; Richard Jackson, 175th, 1:29:14; Richard Hale, third V65, 193rd, 1:30:22; Roger Bramley, 207th, 1:31:39; Caroline French, 229th, 1:34:30; Chris Hill, 259th, 1:37:33; Yvette Hill, 306th, 1:43:07; Sandra Mortimer, 351st, 1:47:40; Dave Mutter, 372nd, 1:51:51; Gill Day, 409th, 2:03:06; Diane Newton, 411th, 2:03:28 (a new personal best by a full five-and-a-half miles) and Esme Markham, 422nd, 2:06:06.

The Blister Lite was won by young Ben Sheridan in 31:38 and many AVRs posted excellent times, as follows: Tom Perry, eighth, 34:44; Amy Catley, 27th, 44:09; Hannah Williams, 34th, 46:18; Elaine Houriham, 55th, 50:05; Helen Holmes, 56th, 50:05; Kirsty Farrington, 71st, 52:48; Janet Woodward, 106th, 57:07; Vicky Austin, 116th, 59:03; Emma Grigg, 117th, 59:04; Aileen Heal, 135th, 1:03:25; Caroline Barrett, 136th, 1:03:59; Denise Burges, 137th, 1:07:57 and Sam Summers, 138th, 1:14:51.

The races were based at Bicton College, which did a roaring trade in post-race refreshments, and was put on by Exmouth Harriers – congratulations to the Harriers and all the excellent marshals posted around the course.