What to do on a gloriously sunny Sunday that felt like spring had well and truly sprung?

IThere was only one place to be: Dalwood. The canny villagers had prepared three runs of varying difficulty and length, starting with a 1.5 mile fun run, a nearly four mile Mini Challenge and then the beast itself; the 10 mile Dalwood Three Hills Challenge (Well 3� hills actually). Needless to say on all runs there were hills and mud a plenty, with the associated glorious vistas of East Devon – perfect.

AVR’s Ethan Day ran very well in the fun run finishing 4th in 10:29 and then was very busy handing out finishing water to the senior competitors – well done Ethan. Caleb Sinclair was seventh in 11:09, Elisa Wood 12th, 13:23 and Lisa Gregory 13th, 13:29.

Congratulations to Josh Coates for winning the Mini Challenge in 23:58 and also very well done to Mollie Hansford, the first female finisher, fifth overall in 29:02. May Wood was ninth in 33:05 and Harry Moore, who has been suffering with a blood problem ran well to finish 12th in 62:50, seven minutes quicker than last year.

Full report on www.midweekherald.co.uk

The Three Hills Challenge was won by Michael Robinson of Tamar Trotters in 1:07:55. Alex Todd was the first AVR home, fourth overall in 1:12:47. Sam Anning had a really terrific run, finishing 1st over 50, seventh overall in 1:15:45 as did young Andrew Watson in his first 10 mile run he was ninth in 1:17:47, he will only get stronger over the next few years. A rather wet Garry Perratt decided three hills wasn’t enough, so he ran a pre-race course check and then blasted around to 13th spot in 1:19:41, with Phil (Evergreen) Bayliss just nine seconds adrift, winning the over 60 category. Robin Britton was 23rd, 1:27:29 and Eleanor Wood had another great run, finishing first over 50 lady, 27th overall in 1:28:39. Chris Driver was gutted when Eleanor passed him going up the notorious Danes Hill, but he clung on to be 30th in 1:30:05. Jon Day ran from Seaton to the start intending to use the race as a training run, but after a while his competitive juices started to flow and he roared through the field to finish 32nd in 1:30:58, with Geoff Woodward one minute and one place behind. Dave Thomas was 37th, 1:32:38; Robin Carter 41st, 1:32:56; Clare Hansford in a rare race moment, 49th, 1:36:41 and Wayne Tooze 60th, 1:39:46. Dave Mutter was able to get his squeaky decorators’ knees moving and overtook quite a few on the final ascent to be 65th in 1:42:09, with Alison Bowskill 66th, 1:42:28 and Richard Hale, in his first race since last July is at last getting injury and illness free and completed 76th in 1:46:17. If Jacqui Stokes hadn’t spent an age emptying her shoes of grit after a particularly boggy section she would have been a lot higher than 83rd, 1:48:11. Andy Sayers was 91st, 1:50:04 and Helen Eke 92nd, 1:50:12. Newly Brunette Kelly Dack and Rhea Lawrence had a good finishing sprint with Honiton RC’s Pete Lyus. The girls burned him up with Kelly 98th, 1:53:58 and Rhea just behind. Tracey Stone was 106th, 1:57:31 and Dave Braunton 110th, 2:01:09. Gill Day beat her off road PB by 10 mins, finishing 112th in 2:04:00 and Diane Newton won the over 60s lady’s category, 122nd overall in 2:22:00.

So ended another cracking day out in Dalwood, with many of the competitors enjoying the inch thick bacon sarnies or a celebration drink in the Tuckers Arms.