Early last Saturday morning several members of Honiton Running Club made their way to Malmsmead on the North Exmoor coast for a series of races through the Doone Valley and along the North Devon Coast Path, writes Judy Davey.

The races are organised by the Trail Events Company and the location elected enjoys some of the most stunning scenery in the UK.

The distances offered are a 10k, half marathon, marathon and an ultra.

Unfortunately, due to vandalism and some signs being removed, some of the distances were longer than advertised.

Wayne Trump elected to run his first ever Ultra Race - 30 miles beginning at 7.30 am.

Wayne had a magnificent run and out of 88 runners he finished 10th in a time of 5.26.04. The race was won by Andrew Jones in 4.24.54

Five other members elected to run the half and, due to signs being moved, rather than 13 miles it became 16-and-a-half miles.

That didn’t stop Fran Bond being the first Honiton Runner home.

Not only was she the first female, she finished fifth overall in a time of 2.45.24 – and this represents a tremendous achievement.

Mark Dallyn was next home, finishing 22nd in a time of 3.02.09. Wendy McDermott came in next having had a brilliant run in 3.29.39 and finishing 72nd.

She was followed by Jennie Sleeman in 107th place in 3.43.26. Claire Rouse suffered a knee injury on the way round, but resilient to the last, she finished smiling in a time of 4.07.59 in 164th. There were 211 finishers and the race was won by Mike Wood in 2.27m.

Howard Bidmead decided to run the 10k, but, due to the signage being tampered with, this became 11k.

It didn’t stop Howard having a storming run, though, and he finished in 13th position in 1.00.15 and first 060.

There were 186 finishers and the race was won by Peter Haigh in 52.59.