SUNDAY saw the fifth running of the Herepath Half trail race.
Organised by Running Forever Running Club, this 13.7-mile run takes place on the Herepath, an ancient trade and communications route dating from the ninth century and takes the runners over the highest point on the Blackdown Hills.
One-hundred-and-sixty-six runners set off from Thurlbear School to take on the challenge, with marshalling and support along the route provided mostly by the RFRC members.
First runner home was Tom Mellor, of Hydro Harriers, who took 1.35.55 to cover the multi-terrain half-marathon which follows forest tracks up to Staple Hill, the highest point on The Blackdowns at 315m - a feat he also achieved back in 2014.
There was a close race for the female prize, with Kirsty Bailey, of Denmead Striders, finishing in 1.54.03 to pip host club runner Samantha Wharton by 15 seconds.
All finishers received an engraved champagne flute and were greeted by a selection of amazing cakes provided by the Thurlbear School PTA.
Running Forever RC chairman and Herepath Race organiser Peter Hall presented a cheque for £1,000 from race proceeds to the PTA.
The Herepath Half meant there wasn’t much opportunity for the Running Forever athletes to race elsewhere this weekend.
Daniel Carrington made his escape back to East Anglia to record an excellent 1 hour 14 in the Fen Ten, while Yvonne Loat took up the challenge of the Calne Clock Change Challenge 10K, earning a stonking medal in 72 minutes.
It was the Exmoor Trail Running Challenge on Sunday with full, half and 10k distances on offer.
It looked a bit hilly so well done to Helen Moffat and Lara Bolduc for their 3.51 finishes.
TRAIL: Kirsty Bailey (196), of Denmead Striders, and Samantha Wharton (151), of host club Running Forever, battle it out on the course.
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TAUNTON AC runners were among those taking on the Herepath challenge.
Jon Gilling finished third overall in 1.37.35, James Heal eighth in 1.44.24, Ellie Steer in 1.58.15, Mark Bysouth in 2.01.07 and Zeke Rawlins in 2.08.59.
The Dartmoor Vale half, in Newton Abbot, also attracted a large number of runners, with Taunton AC’s Kirstie Booth and Kim Hill flying the flag for the club.
With time running out for a qualification time for the London marathon championship places (1.30 half qualifying time), the girls joined forces to test themselves on this challenging hilly course.
Hill, already having the qualifying time, paced Booth perfectly up to the last 5k, which she ran in 20 minutes.
Booth crossed the line with her chip time recording 1.29.59 and first lady home.
Hill came home in 1.31.53.
Herepath Top 80
1 Tom Mellor (Hydro Harriers) 1.35.55; 2 George Gibson 1.36.26; 3 Jonathan Gilling (Taunton AC) 1.37.35; 4 James Warren (Somerset RT Tri) 1.38.59; 5 Josh Harris (Weston AC) 1.39.49; 6 Ross Stacey 1.42.05; 7 Lewis Bacon (Running for time) 1.42.42; 8 James Heal (Taunton AC) 1.44.24; 9 Phil White (Somerset RT Tri) 1.45.01; 10 Mark Foss (Hydro Harriers) 1.45.33; 11 James Beach (Running Forever) 1.46.08; 12 James Angus (Crewkerne RC) 1.46.18; 13 Nick Brooke (Dorset Doddlers) 1.46.46; 14 Darius Norton 1.46.49; 15 Adrian Cornford (Crewkerne RC) 1.47.32; 16 Pete Marshall 1.47.47; 17 Laurent Boon 1.48.03; 18 John Howard (Langport Runners) 1.48.42; 19 Joe Orme 1.48.59; 20 Mark Brown (West Country Triathletes) 1.49.19; 21 Adam Pawley 1.49.59 ; 22 Been McGreal 1.51.14; 23 Joe Wharton 1.51.56; 24 Sam Davis 1.52.31; 25 and first female home Kirsty Bailey (Denmead Striders) 1.54.03; 26 Samantha Wharton (Running Forever) 1.54.18; 27 Adam Pattemore (Crewkerne RC) 1.54.22; 28 Lee Pattemore 1.54.32; 29 Simon Mailey (Running Forever) 1.54.42; 30 Matthew Sanders (Chard RRC) 1.55.43; 31 Sarah Trim (Running for Time) 1.55.57; 32 Nick Weaving (Wells City Harriers) 1.56.01; 33 Damon Bridge 1.56.42; 34 Elizabeth Robinson (MudCrew Running) 1.57.03; 35 Andy Simmons (Taunton Running Club) 1.57.33; 36 Ellis Steer (Taunton AC) 1.58.15; 37 Suzanne Davis (Cheddar RC) 1.58.20; 38 Timothy Alcock 1.58.22; 39 Deborah Watson 1.58.35; 40 Paul Lambert 1.59.17; 41 Keith Thompson (Running Forever) 2.00.00; 42 Eleanor Wood (Axe Valley Runners) 2.00.11; 43 Shaun Howells (Langport Runners) 2.01.02; 44 Mark Bysouth (Taunton AC) 2.01.07; 45 Darren Frost (Crewkerne RC) 2.01.51; 46 Andy Nation (Trail Running Association) 2.02.06; 47 Cat Greed 2.02.13; 48 Luke Merchant (Wellington Weavers) 2.02.32; 49 Pete Tame 2.02.42; 50 Jack Barnett 2.02.45; 51 Steve Hughes 2.02.57; 52 Carl Burgin (Purple Patch Runners) 2.03.30; 53 Dave Acheson 2.03.49; 54 Craig Foley (Wells City Harriers) 2.04.04; 55 Mikos Taylor 2.05.30; 56 Paul Freeman 2.05.43; 57 Ian Banks 2.05.53; 58 Mary Butcher (Minehead RC) 2.06.13; 59 Jim Donovan (Teignbridge Trotters) 2.06.27; 60 Mike Hoskin (Erme Valley Harriers) 2.06.28; 61 Chris Perring (Hydro Harriers) 2.06.37; 62 Stuart Ratcliffe (Mo Messtins RM) 2.06.42; 63 Kevin Garner (Minehead RC) 2.06.43; 64 Neil Basil 2.07.18; 65 Peter Telford 2.07.37; 66 James Walker 2.07.51; 67 Graham Bowpitt (Running Forever) 2.07.53; 68 Zeke Rawlins (Taunton AC) 2.08.09; 69 Si Walsh (Cheddar RC) 2.08.43; 70 Adrian Male (Chard RRC) 2.08.58; 71 Chris Rawlings (Crewkerne RC) 2.08.59; 72 Justin Cole (Somerset RC Tri) 2.09.06; 73 Harriet Mangnall 2.09.10; 74 Jonathan Murray-Smith 2.09.21; 75 David Lane 2.09.25; 76 Lorna Templeton 2.09.48; 77 Ian Boyland 2.09.51; 78 Neil Tague (Town and Country Harriers) 2.10.19; 79 Simon Gent 2.12.11; 80 Charlie Pascal (Minehead RC) 2.11.54.
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