ALTHOUGH just a run4fun club, Taunton Running Club was by far the largest club team in the Taunton Half Marathon last Sunday, with 63 runners. 

This was the first half-marathon for a number of club members, some of whom had only joined the club through its couch to 5K programme last November. 

As usual, they were all supported around the course by the Minstrels (All Blacks supporters group) and 12 riders from the club’s cycling groups. 

One of these riders was club skipper Michael Sharpe, not running the race in protest at the £2.50 levy placed on each of the members of Taunton Running Club by the organisers. 

Running for fun, eight All Blacks were on International duty representing Taunton in the Paris Marathon, three others ventured ‘up north’ to take part in the Manchester Marathon and, last but not least, Johnny Rayner ran the Rome Marathon in 04:45.

It was a busy weekend for the club but it’s back to business on Tuesday evening with 10 separate running groups and the 64 runners in the current couch to 5K programme.

Twelve All Blacks will represent Taunton in the London on April 22.

Results

Taunton Half-Marathon: Martin Pearse - 01:28:24; Ross Brayley - 01:32:03; Rob Stones - 01:32:55; Duncan Shaun - 01:35:26; Daniel Brice - 01:35:29; Daimon Tilley - 01:43:20; Peter Shaw - 01:43:27; Matt Pearse - 01:43:44; Lewis Williams - 01:44:18; Adrian Marchment - 01:44:41; Adam Carbis - 01:45:34; Robert Chettleburgh - 01:47:04; Darren Wakefield - 01:48:08; Alex Parris - 01:49:24; James Pither - 01:48:38; Pete Carthew - 01:49:42; Ashley Stewart - 01:50:21; Wayne Brooks - 01:51:22; Mark Parry - 01:50:45; Mike Date - 01:51:25; Samuel Adams - 01:55:07; Mark Smith - 01:55:24; Jamie Hill - 01:56:18; Sarah Rimes - 01:56:39; John Allinson-Smith - 01:57:40; Clare Sanderson - 01:57:48; Mark Raisey - 01:58:06; Tim May - 01:59:39; David Hewton - 01:59:52; Stephen Causley - 01:59:52; Sharon Passmore - 02:03.14; Anna White - 02:03:38; Helen Robson - 02:03:39; Bod Matravers - 02:03:40; Sharon Pearse - 02:04:05; Kevin Willcocks - 02:04:40; Sarah Hart Alexander - 02:05:30; Joy Lake - 02:06:16; Becky Hoyle - 02:07:03; Clare Swanning - 02:07:21; Kerrie Bawden - 02:06:50; Matthew Bawden - 02:06:50; Joanne Routley - 02:08:23; Claire Squire - 02:09:05; Jane Jordan - 02:09:05; Vicky Raisey - 02:10:21; Jenny Palmer - 02:13:51; Nikki Coulthard - 02:13:54; Jane Burchall - 02:14:24; Kristian White - 02:16:09; Louise Hacker - 02:16:46; Abi Hamley - 02:16:47; Kerry Eiserbeck - 02:16:52; Rachel King - 02:17:03; Bryony Shaw - 02:17:15; Claire Hacker - 02:17:45; Trevor Stark - 02:18:23; Caroline Blair - 02:20:10; Samantha Safe - 02:20:10; Flora Bridges - 02:21:02; Nicky Huntly - 02:21:06; Jason Tipple - 02:27:12; Kim Date - 02:36:23; Suzanne Templeman - 02:46:39; Donna Adams - 02:49:35.
Paris Marathon: Chris Poole - 04:18:07; Darren Contreras - 04:30:22; Laura Davenport - 04:36:53; Richard Preece - 04:47:33; Paul Cooper - 05:07:22; Ruth Preece - 05:11:56; Caroline Barratt - 05:11:59; Lorna Cooper - 05:17:20.
Manchester Marathon: Andy Wyatt - 04:35; Ian Stone - 04:39; Haydn North - 05:50.
Rome Marathon: Johnny Rayner - 04:45.

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SEVEN Hydro Harriers were in action at Taunton’s Half /Full Marathon last Sunday. 

In the Half, Adam Whaites took the plaudits finishing in an excellent 1:22:51 (18th from 1,068 finishers). He was followed by Matt Stoodley in 1:28:48 (68th), while Chris Perring crossed the line in 80th place in 1:30:44, Andy White in 134th (1:35:21) and Matt Smith put in a solid run of 1:44:31 (262nd).

In the gruelling two-lap full marathon, Mark Foss and Ian Salter put in superb results of 3:25:04 (42nd) and 3:45:27 (75th), respectively, from 184 finishers.

Andy White completed a muddy Longrun Parkrun last Saturday in 20min 47sec, with Charlotte Norman home in 29:56.

Rowland Lyons finished Valentine’s (Ilford) in 24-57.

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RUNNING Forever’s Jo Carritt was first lady at the Exmoor Endurance Life coastal trail half marathon in 2h 7m, while Dave Marshall completed the marathon in 6h 39m. 

Both endured muddy, foggy and hilly conditions 

Lara Bolduc travelled as far west as you can get to take part in the Cousin Jack Classic which entailed running 28km along the coast path from Cape Cornwall to St Ives. 

She finished in 6h 14m and thoroughly deserved her Cornish pasty at the finish.

Meanwhile, Claire Allison did the Avon Valley 6k on Saturday. That wasn’t enough for her so, on Sunday, she completed her 20th marathon - the Groovy Baby, in Berkhamsted.

Even further away, Hilary White ran the Paris Marathon in 4h 16m and Trevor Stow finished the Rome marathon in 4h 8m. Tourists included Ed Loat at Minehead parkrun, Linda Forsyth went up north to Sheffield to do the Concord parkrun and Hannah Taunton, Gill Taunton and Helen Phillips went to Burnham parkrun.

Meanwhile, 10 members stayed at home to run at Longrun. 

It wasn’t quite so warm in Taunton where five members completed the full marathon - James Beach (3:19), Heather Pearce (3:38), Richard Staunton (4:21), Chris Gunn (4:22) and Chris Buckman (4:56).

In the half marathon, Chris Brown was first male Under 20 in 1h 23m while 45 other members completed the course: Daniel Talbot (1:24), Alistair Bissat (1:26), Samantha Wharton (1:32), Emma Kiernan (1:33), Simon Malley (1:33), Darren Herbison (1:34), Scott Weetch (1:36), Lee Derrick (1:41), Bev Collins (1:42), Pat Date (1:43), Matt Blee (1:43), Sarah Capstick (1:46), Arthur Lewis (1:46), Dave Bullock (1:47), Brian Bandyszewski (1:50), Helen Needs (1:51), Luke Thorne (1:54), Sam Stamp (1:54), Mark Always (1:55) , Sally Tuer (1:55), Duncan Gordon (1:55), Carl Moppett (1:56), James Takle (1:56), Richard Councill (1:56), Lee Macklin (1:57), Kim Cross (1:59), Nadine Prouse (2.00), Rob Murr (2:00), Peta Aspden (2:01), Goff Welchman (2:02), John Allaway (2:04), Lucy Spring (2:07), Becky Dingle (2:10), Helen Moffatt (2:11), Emily Vining (2:11), Samantha Cross (2:13), Charlotte Smith (2:16), Liz Williams (2:22), Peter Stretton (2:25), Eliza Brodie (2:30), Ian Jones (2:32), Lisa Windsor (2:32), Kirsti Nelson (2:34), Sarah Holloway (2:38) and Amanda Smith (2:43).

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TAUNTON Athletics Club were out in force for the town’s Half-Marathon and Marathon events and a host of personal bests were achieved.

Simon Tranter ran under 1hr 20m for the half-Marathon for the first time, while Jon Gilling was first past the post in the V45 category, coming home in an outstanding time of 1.22.07.

First V35 home was Kim Hill in 1.26.52, while, in the Marathon, Lesley Westgate was first V60 home in 4.13.47.

Results

Half-Marathon

5th overall - Simon Tranter 1.19.27; 1st V45 - Jon Gilling 1.22.07; Keith Paul 1.25.41; 1st V35 - Kim Hill 1.26.52; Steve Willis 1.26.53; Craig Whitemore 1.26.55 pb; Simon Patterson 1.28.27; Scott Weetch 1.36.01; Zeke Rawlins 1.38.10; Ellie Steer 1.38.23 pb; Mark Bysouth 1.41.13 pb; Thea Sanders 1.42.34; Liz Tas 1.45.53; Alan Bolon 1.46.18 pb; Robin Green 1.48.18 pb; Nadine Prouse 2.00.01; Suzi Griffiths 2.00.02; Ursula Green 2.02.13; Sharron Kington 2.12.13.

Marathon

Toby Chapman 2.41.10; Patrick Casey 3.41; 1st V60 Lesley Westgate 4.13.47.

Jason Louis took on his first marathon in Manchester and came home in a tremendous time of 3.13.44.