A LARGE contingent of Running Forever club members travelled to Devon for the Bicton Blister (pictured above).

This 10-mile event, organised by Exmouth Harriers, provides lots of hills to test tired legs.

Honours for first club members home went to the ladies this time, with Emma Kiernan (1:13) being third female and Jo Carritt (1:17) sixth.

Andy Staples was next in 1:20, followed by Martin Webb (1:22), Bev Collins (1:25 and second in her age group), Tanya Lewis (1:25) and Damon Butler in (1:26).

Next over the line were Trevor Stow and Ron Foord in 1:30, Dave Porter (1:31), Joanna Hall (1:32), Lisa Denson (1:37) and Becky Coles (1:39).

There was barely time to draw breath before Rob Murr and birthday girl Karen Monteiro (1:40 and 1:41, respectively) joined them, with Claire Allison (2:10) and Eliza Brodie (2:17) completing the club contingent to finish.

Also taking on the hills this weekend were Chris Brown and Ali Bissatt, who were running up and down Brent Knoll in a 5.75-mile race.

Sixth place overall went to Brown (42:49), with Bissatt managing a great 46:17 finish.

After the exotic location of Verona last week, Ray Tutton tackled the Avon Valley Half on Sunday.

Probably not so scenic, but a cracking time of 1:38 on what must have been tired legs after the marathon.

A couple of club members were ‘Running from the Romans’ on a dark Saturday night, as Ali Wasey and Duncan Gordon tackled five dark miles in 1:10 in this Flying Fox event.

Gavin Clegg was also a creature of the night on Saturday, coming fourth in the Quantock Orienteers night race in Vivary Park.

Lee Derrick donned his Santa suit in Bridgewater on Sunday for their Santa Run.

Unassisted by any reindeer, Lee completed the 5k in 23:34.

And there were many parkrun tourists from the club this weekend, with sightings in Burnham, Exeter, Willoughby, Cardiff, Bedford and Wotton.

Thirty-four members ran at Longrun Meadow, with PBs from Samantha Cross and Mile Threlfall, and a 50th parkrun from Mark Alway.

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FOUR Hydro Harriers braved a wet and windy night last Thursday, at the third instalment of the 9-series Weston Prom 5 Mile run.

The first Harrier home in an impressive 31:32 was Ian Salter (65th place from 350), followed by Chris Jones (31:54, 71st).

Rowland Lyons kept up his recent good form to record 37:16 (207th), with James Wright completing the course in 43:02 (286th).

Andy White took the Longrun Meadow Parkrun plaudits with a stunning 19:36 and ninth place from 384 finishers last Saturday.

Having run Weston Prom barely 36 hours earlier, Chris Jones managed 19:57 (20th), with a sluggish Rowland Lyons home in 23:47 (89th).

Michael James came in at 24:54 (112th).

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Somerset County Gazette:

HANDS UP: Participants in Taunton Running Club’s ‘Couch to 5k’ sessions.

TAUNTON Running Club takes its role as the community’s largest running club very seriously and the new Couch to 5K (C25K) sessions are part of its programme to attract more people to run for fun and improve their health and wellbeing.

The new sessions have attracted over 50 new runners to the club that already has over 1,000 registered members.

Members of the C25K sessions go through a programme of very careful steps over a period of eight to nine weeks that includes the club’s Tinsel Run around the town on Tuesday, December 19, and culminates in running 5K (three miles) – those completing the course will receive a certificate and medal to mark their achievement.

Membership of Taunton Running Club (the All Blacks) is free, and clubs from all over the South West will be joining the All Blacks for their annual canal run between Bridgwater and Taunton on Thursday, December 28.

Taunton Running Club’s husband-and-wife Chris and Denise Poole are currently taking part in a challenge to run a mile per day for the whole of 2017, in order to raise funds for Taunton Mencap.

Chris has already run a London Marathon to support Mencap, which helps its learning disabled members to make the most of their lives.

They have managed to complete the first 10 months of the year, encompassing 10k, half-marathon, marathon and ultra events.

So far they have raised £171 of their £250 target; for more information, or to donate, visit the fundraising page here.