Running a 10k cross country race on a hot midsummer’s evening in the heart of West Dorset with the promise of strawberries and ice cream at the end was irresistible to six members of Honiton Running Club (HRC), writes Judy Davey.

Forde Abbey 10k takes runners across the stunning country estate through woodlands and meadows with two river crossings and plenty of hills, starting and finishing on the lawns of this former cistercian monastary.

The temperature was 26 degrees at the start of the race on the final Wednesday of June and no-one was expecting a personal best (PB)!

First home for Honiton was Richard Harris, 35th in 50:42 followed two minutes and two seconds later by Mark Newson, who came 45th.

Mark had run a marathon the previous weekend and was suffering from an injury. Pippa Westall came next, finishing 74th in 57:31; Darren Roberts was 113th in 1:03:45 and Asilah Jarrald and her sister Lorna Jarrald crossed the finishing line together in 1:16:24 coming 208th and 209th respectively.

This was a tough hot run with a plague of flies to add to the challenge, but everyone agreed the strawberries at the end were worth it! There were 271 finishers.

Last Saturday, on the hottest day of the year so far, six HRC runners went to Charmouth to take part in the Charmouth Challenge eight mile fell run. There are three very challenging hills including the climb up to Golden Cap which is the highest sea cliff on the South Coast 191 m above sea level. However, runners are rewarded with spectacular views over Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Mark Dallyn has had a bit of a rest from racing, but did amazingly well to come 95th in 1:18:06. Jo Davey attempted the race for the first time and was first HRC lady back coming 106th in 1:19:54.

Howard Bidmead loves this race, and was pleased with his placing of 123rd in 1:22:49.

It was also Paula Ferris’ first Charmouth and she enjoyed, it coming 130th in 1:23:28. Sharon Wells came 182nd in 1:30:37 and Mandy Ward completed the HRC line-up to come 281st in 1:46:28.

There were 344 finishers and the race was won by Chris McMillan in 53:32.