Sixteen Honiton Running Club (HRC) members took part in the Bideford Half Marathon last Sunday, writes Judy Davey.

This particular event is sold as a ‘swift half’ as it is fairly flat. The race starts in Bideford and goes out on the main road towards Great Torrington before runners are turned back at the half-way point onto the Tarka Trail.

The road section is undulating, but the Tarka Trail is dead flat. This means it is a well-known course for runners to obtain a personal best time.

The race was won by Shaun Antell in a time of 1:8:39. First back for HRC and leading the Honiton ladies home was Sherrie Hair, who came 113th in 1:31:01, winning a bottle of champagne and trophy for winning her category.

Mark Newson was next back coming 135th in 1:33:13. Jo Davey, in her first ever half marathon, stormed around to come 158th in 1:34:42.

She was followed by her mum, Judy, who came 191st in 1:36:40, which was also new personal best by a full three minutes and she also won her category.

Steve Davey completed the Davey trio, finishing two places and five seconds behind Judy.

Richard Harvey was next in 218th place in 1:38:29 and he was followed by Richard Harris who came 240th in 1:39:39.

Emilie Tones came 301st in 1:42:04 and Vernon Gillard was happy with his 322nd and 1:42:53 having recently returned from eating and drinking too much on an all-inclusive holiday!

Jennie Sleeman came third in her category, finishing 505th in 1:51:05. Darren Roberts came 560th in 1:53:27 and Pip Vanham came 942nd in 2:11:11.

Tony Peek suffered injury around eight miles and finished with his wife, Dawn, coming 1129th in 2:25:28 while Dawn finished 1122nd in 2:26:01.

Rachel Mandrupson came 1148th in 2:29:13 and Vanessa Glyn Jones completed the HRC line-up taking first prize in her category, coming 1187th in 2:36:11. There were 1,263 finishers.