Reindeer Run

Otterton Reindeer Run 2016

The Otterton Reindeer Run has now been going for over 10 years and is one of the most popular races on the local calendar, as could be seen by the numbers that turned out to run it last Saturday. Such is the popularity of this race that you have to turn up at least an hour before the start to find a parking space in the village otherwise you are left with a long walk to the start. It is a wonderful start to the festive season; the atmosphere is just amazing and it is really an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It is very much a village event with sponsorship from local businesses and it is the principal fundraiser for the local school. As well as the 10k race there is also a 3K race for the children which is hugely popular as could be seen by the endless queue through the Church signing on in the morning. Christmas theme fancy dress was very much the order of the day and competitors did not disappoint with an array of costumes.

The race starts at the Church and heads up to the top of Maunders Hill before a long downhill road section takes you into a field where the race divides with the 3k taking a more flattish route back and up along the river to finish on the village green whilst the 10K runners start the first of the three hill climbs before finding themselves on the White Bridge and a short road section before taking the muddy track back to the river. You follow the river back to Otterton where you go under the road bridge and onto the old railway line which you follow for half a mile and then around a field back to the river over the bridge and across two fields to the finish.

The Mighty Greens had 30 runners at the start line with the first club runner home being Theo Burgess who seemed to have forgotten his.

Photos by Kyle Baker Photography and Kit Woodcock

Jayne Drew had another excellent run and our very own Dynamic Duo Paula Farrand and Bert Dykema continued to impress. It was good to see Adrian Organ back running again after being missing for quite a while. Ruth Burrough and Fumiyo Kagawa who were part of the 2016 beginner’s course back in January along with Sarah Powell, (who unfortunately missed the race through injury) and newcomer Carol Hounsell rounded of the year in style by completing their first 10k off- road race.

 

Thanks go to Christine Nicholls, Jill Trivett and Jo Earlam for running with and encouraging them around the course.

 

Our club ambassador Jo Pavey signed on with husband Gavin and children Jacob and Emily looking resplendent in their club hoodies. Jacob ran the course with Jo while Emily enjoyed the run in the buggy pushed by Gavin. A genuine family event.

10K results: Theo Burgess 15th in 43:47, Tim Mitchell 43:53, Jayne Drew 48:07, Jon Hanson 51:27, Rob Edwards 51:55, Adrian Organ 52:37, Graham Sheppard 54:08, Paula Farrand 55:44, Bert Dykema 55:44, Karen Farnham 56:29, Jon Ball 58:09, David Millen 59:41, David Wright 1:05:10, Cathy Keast 1:06:41, Don Cawthera 1:07:02, Monica Read 1:09:07, Debbie Marriott 1:09:12, Sue Cunningham 1:09:38, Carol Hounsell 1:11:23, Caroline Ball 1:12:02, Jill Trivett 1:12:41, Jo Earlam 1:22:01, Ruth Burrough 1:22:10, Fumiyo Kagawa 1:22:12, Christine Nicholls 1:24:11, Terry Bewes 1:24:13, Arthur Vince 1:26:00. There were 208 finishers.

3K results: Jacob Pavey 21:07, Jo Pavey 21:22, Emily Pavey 26:01. There were over 200 finishers.

Sunday saw the Devon County cross country championships in Exeter which was a flat and fast course. Naomi Garrick came 19th in the women’s race in 21:32, Kate Marriott 8th in the girls under 15 in 15:25 and Toby Garrick 9th in the men’s under 17 in 17:26.

How would you like to join the Mighty Green family? you are never too old. In the Reindeer run we had runners from 6 years to 72 years. A beginners course starts on January 4th see the club website or phone 07734 581782 for more details.