After several years of hanging around in car parks we take up residence in the Beech Centre. Being able to change and have a drink afterwards certainly is a lot better. The only draw back is that all roads lead UP to the finish of runs.
Sadly this year Bob Parsonson hung up his running shoes and resigned his presidency and membership of the club.
Easter
Crewkerne runners (Chris and Roy) joined Frank Chown and John Denning in running a relay from lands end to London.
May
Oke Croak
With the increased interest in Cross Country and a statement from the organisers that it was harder than the Grizzy I decided to have a bash at this event. The terrain was quite rough and boggy in places but had the advantage that it didn't have any beech sections (there isn't many shingle beeches on Dartmoor). A strange thing about this event is that it has two starts (an expert and an elite) and once on the moor you choose the best route. Most people take the same route up to Oke Tor, but then there is a choice. Either go left (South of a East Mill Tor) which joins up with a track which is better under foot but longer, or goes Right which skirts the edge of the Tor and is shorter but can be very boggy. I choose the former route this year but the next year I used the other. It was quite boggy (beyond my ankles) but I was followed by a couple of Chard runners who afterwards told me they went in above their Knees.
Seaborough Hill Challenge
This was the first running of this event which was organised by Sue Saunders, since this was training night anyway most of the club turned out to support and picked up various local prizes.
September
Cycling Weekly Century Ride
Dave Read and myself and I had been mixing cycling and running for the past few months in preparation for this event. This is an event well worth trying , 100 miles does seem a long way on a bike and the bum was a bit sore afterwards but it is not in anyway organised as a race. We decided to start with the 8 hour group, basically you could not check in at half way before a certain time. There was a Tea break at 25 miles near Devises, a Ploughman's lunch at Bath (after climbing Brass Knocker hill) and a lovely flat ride back into Salisbury along the Wylye valley.
October
Snowdon
Mal and Steve and several of us returned to Llanberis to tackle the Welsh Wall. I managed to struggle up Waunfawr without walking, but it was hard work going down the other side.
December
Handicap
This was Richard Charltons chance to be handicapper for the first time. 16 people took part with 3 of the faster runners cutting through the field to win. John Blackledge 1st, Bob Wheeler 2nd and Clive Harwood 3rd. Clive breaks the course record recording a time of 26 mins 32 secs.
For all the photos from this year click here