The Umborne Ug 10k celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Saturday evening at Umborne Hall, writes Dave Mutter.

The 10k run had its highest number of runners in 10 years with 91 keen runners from far and wide - even two men on a walking holiday from the Czech Republic.

The winner, in a new course record of 39:01 was James Denne and he was followed home by Torbay AACs Arran Tocknell with third spot going to 17-year-old AVR athlete Jake Smith in a time of 40:57.

Matt Clist was fifth in 41:51 with another 17-year-old, Ollie Caute, a minute behind in 42:51.

James Trewick was 11th in 46:43.

The first lady home was Gemma Collier of Gloucester AC in 50:47, followed by AVRs Clare Hansford in a time of 52:11.

A close third was Janet Sealy in 52:36.

Tim Lenton, who set a new best for the race two years before, was the first male 40plus home in 43:15.

The first Male Vet 50 was Honiton RCs Steve Davey who only arrived by home from a holiday abroad a few hours earlier!

The first home in the Male Vet 60 category was the evergreen Phil Bayliss in a time of 52:46.

There were plenty of fine performances from the other Axe Valley Runners involved with Joshua Hopson, 19th, in 51:34, chased in by Justin Sloman, 51:43.

Tim Sibley just held off Clare Hansford in 52:04 and Simon D’Albertanson stormed to the finishing line, finishing 32nd in 54:08, followed by the recent five marathon man, Geoff Woodward, who bagged 40th spot in a time of 56:35.

Woodward just held off 17-year-old Cameron Hill who in turn finished just ahead of the female vet 45 Margaret Pearce - yet another prize for her!

The other five marathon man, Steve Reynolds, was only two minutes behind Geoff in 58:34 to take 47th place.

John Greenhalge, leaving wife Amy on children duty, was welcomed home by his daughter in a time of 58:50, finishing 49th and 17-year-old Stephen Morbey came in nine seconds later to finish 50th.

Young Morbey beat his father Alan to the line by 25 seconds!

Birthday boy, Richard Dodge raced in to the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ finishing in a time of 60:03 with Chris Hill (60:14), chasing him ahead of Sam Miller (61:50).

Anna McLoughlin finished 61st in 62:55, Mark Harding-Perrott came 63rd in 63:38 and Angela Kerr was home in a time of 65:33.

In his first tough 10k race down in Devon, Henry Smith was pleased to be back in 67:30, just outsprinting the ever-improving Yvette Hill who finished in a time of 67:34.

Graham Newton decided to inspire his sister Janet Cullum by running with her and they crossed the line together in 68:22. This took 13 minutes of Janet’s previous best time for the race!

There were another seven AVRs involved with Sue Venn (73:38), Craig Tiley (73:59), Mum Susie Thoennissen running with daughter Rosie in 73:59, Martin Kerr (74:20), Lesley Adams (77:07) and Emma Ellynn (77:14), making an amazing total of 34 Axe Valley Runners taking part in the event, something the organisers were extremely grateful for.