The first Woodland Relay of the season took place last Monday, hosted by Sidmouth Running Club.

The course was a very pleasant 2.2 miles with a nasty sting in the tail. It began at the top of Peak Hill and runners were taken down to the golf course and back up again. A total of 23 teams of four took part, entered by the Met Office, Sidmouth Running Club and Axe Valley Runners as well as Honiton. Honiton turned out eight teams. Honiton’s mixed team, consisting of Warren Oak, Fiona Prew, Julian Gigg and Helen Davy, took home the first prize and Honiton boys also won their race. They were made up of Reuben Heeler-Frood, Iain Ross, Sam Urquhart and new member Henry Riddle.

The Honiton men’s, ladies’ and girls’ teams all came second. Axe Valley girls won the girls’ category, but did borrow Honiton’s Morgan Davy who ran their first leg.

Honiton’s Kevin Hawker was the fastest runner of the night, with Sam Urquhart being the second fastest Honiton runner and eighth fastest overall. Cathy Ansell, for the Met Office, was the fastest female runner. She put in an almost unbelievable performance running two legs and posting the second and fifth fastest runs of the night.

John Burgess, Vernon Gillard and Jerry Evans took part in the undulating Crewkerne 9 road race. John and Vernon were both pleased with their runs.

When the sun came out and when the wind was behind it felt very warm.

John was a few seconds quicker than 2009 coming 53rd in 1 hour 11 minutes. Vernon was 35th in 1:05. Jerry pulled up with a calf strain and turned round and headed back in, but regretted it because he had nearly reached the half-way point and the problem eased off.

The race was won by Luke Scott of Taunton AC in the time of 48 minutes. There were 107 runners.