The Honiton Hippo

The Honiton Hippo takes its name from the remains of a hippopotamus that was found when building the Honiton by-pass in the 1960s and the Hippo certainly lived up to its name. Mud, Mud glorious Mud, and a load of cold water thrown in as well for good measure was the order of the day. The Hippo is a true 7.5 mile multi-terrain race with sections of small lanes, woodland paths, meadows, off-road tracks, on-road, the Land Rover Experience circuit, two river crossings and more mud and water.

With the recently completed long races, The Grizzly 20 mile, Delicious Dart 16 miles and the Exe to Axe 22 miles, Sidmouth Running Club members were in need of rest and recovery and this year the club only managed to enter 3 seniors and one junior in the race. It was a glorious sunny morning that greeted us at the start and with the temperature rising, by the time we got to the first river crossing perhaps we spent too long enjoying that refreshing paddle before setting off again.

In the 1.75 mile multi-terrain junior race the Hippo Calf, Alecia Ranson finished 3rd overall in the girls under 13 category.

Sidmouth times: Janice Ranson 1:27:52, Sue Collman 1:27:55, Terry Bewes 1:27:55.

Thank you Honiton Running Club for a brilliantly entertaining race and all that food and drink at the end.

There were 233 finishers.