Otter Rail and River 10k 2019.

The Otter River and Rail 10k race was organised by Tipton St John Playing Field Association in conjunction with Sidmouth Running Club and was sponsored by Otter Brewery, Harrison-Lavers and Potbury’s and Michelmores Solicitors.

This year the Sidmouth Running Club as a whole supported the Charlie Gwillim fund raiser and ran as Charlie’s Angels. Charlie at 27 years of age was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and she is being looked after by her fiancé Rob, who is her full time carer. The SRC was working closely with her business Devon Embroidery, prior to her illness on some new ideas for club kit and she had spent a lot of time on its development.

Fifteen minutes before the start, a very lively warm-up session taken by Honiton Running Club’s Paula Ferris was enjoyed by the competitors. With many traditional warm up techniques put into a dance-like routine and all to music. This added to the jovial atmosphere of the day.

With warm, but cloudy weather and bone-dry conditions underfoot, this scenic off-road multi terrain10km race got underway at 11:00hrs sharp. Forty one SRC members took off from the village playing field of Tipton St John. The competitors ran around the edge of the cricket field, through the carpark and on down-stream along the River Otter to the village of Harpford. A well earned water stop with energy giving Jelly Babies awaited them on arrival. They then enter into Harpford Woods proceeding along a footpath until the old railway line. Here, the route takes a turn to the left and up a flight of steep steps back to Tipton along the old rail route. At Tipton village centre they turn right into a narrow footpath and through fields with a shot spell on the road to Fluxton. At Fluxton they head up hill and back to Tipton along the road. When back at the village it was a short run along the river and into the village playing field to be cheered enthusiastically over the finish line by Terry Bewes.

Results: Toby Garrick 35m19s coming 3rd overall and 1st SRC runner to cross the line. David King 52nd and 1st M65 in 49m14s. Katherine Hilton came 58th in 49m14s and taking the prize for 1st local Woman and 1st F45. Stuart Coles 66th in 51m12s. Naomi Garrick 70th, 51m36s. Sarah Ginsberg 71st, 51m37s. Tim Swarbrick came in 85th position in 53m43s beating Hamish Spence, who almost finished his race face down in the first field of wheat! Hamish managed to stay on track and crossed the line 87th in 54m04s. Allen Kay 98th, 54m54s. Christine and Karen Farnham left it to the last few yards to decide as to which one would take 100th place, even then it was a photo finish and Christine got it by a whisker in 55m24s. Karen Farnham had to be content with the knowledge that she was the 1st of the 100’s (101st) in 55m26s. Graham Sheppard 109th, 65m26s. Sarah Clapham 115th, 57m12s. Richard King 122nd, 58m13. Michael Ginsberg123rd, 58m14s. David Millen told me that he would be taking it easy during the race, that would wouldn’t be breaking any records. This lasted all of about 100 yards, when David’s more competitive stride took ahold and carried him into126th place in 58m31s. Shaun Tipton 131st, 59m18 making him the last Mighty Green to beat the 1 hour point. Colin Flood 136th, 1h01m22s. Becky McDonald 141st, 1h01m44s. Paula Farrand 156th, 1h03m00. Jane Hemsworth 143rd, 1h01m50s. Jennifer Bentley heard as she rounded the last corner before the sprint to the finish line, a fellow SRC member calling out, “Come on Bert, you can catch Jenny”! Jenny crossed the line in160th place in 1h03m14s, just ahead of a puffed-out Bert Dykema who really tried to catch JB but took 163rd place in 1h03m18s. Carolyn Sinclair 171st, 1h04m06s. Bridget McEleney-Smith 176th, 1h04m40s. Kat Hall 179th, 1h05m21s. Dave Wright 182nd, 1h05m43s. Lesley Hook 184th, 1h06m11s. Jason Chipps, 209th, 1h10m34s. Bruce Odlin 214th, 1h11m23s. Emma Grainger 219th, 1h12m35s. Julia Hadrrell 228th, 1h13m58s. Sue Cunningham 229th, 1h14m06s giving her the 1st in the F70 category. Jon Ball 238th and Caroline Ball 239th, both crossed the line in1h17m34s. Not far behind Jon and Carolyn were Tania Puddicombe 239th and Sarah Burston 240th, both managed a last minute burst of energy and sprinted over the line, TP in 1h17m45s and SB in 1h17m46s. Ann Cole 252nd ran with Doreth Lawrence 253rd both arriving back together in 1h23m28s with Tristan Chipps 256th in 1h27m56s.

The Jackie Box Fun Run.

   Taking part or helping out in the Tipton Jackie Box Fun Run on Saturday were 8 juniors all of which were proudly wearing the Mighty Green writes Kerry Boyle.

Three had participated in the recent FUNdementals in athletics course who were Elsie Wiltshire, Seth Lancaster and Dominic Hall, the 5 others all have parents or siblings who are Sidmouth running club members. The more experienced of the group started off steadily, knowing that it was a mile and not to sprint off too fast across the playing fields at Tipton. The next part along the river was harder to negotiate through the cow field and rabbit holes, but despite a few trips and ankle twists they picked themselves up and all completed the run back along the old train track to the Tipton playing fields. All of the children received a medal and a large sugary snake for their fantastic efforts! Elsie Wiltshire a local from Tipton received a haul of medals winning first girl in her age group (under 10’s) and first local girl. Fraser Felton-Smith also wearing the mighty green was first Tipton boy and also finished first in his age group (under 12’s). Oscar Burston was 2nd in the under 10’s followed by Seth Lancaster who was 5th in the same age group. Also completing the race for Sidmouth was Georgia Felton-Smith, Jake Burston and William Hall. Congratulations to all, you did yourselves and Sidmouth running club proud!