Sunday 12th April saw the many hours of race director, Adrian Harris’s preparation come to fruition when he started the 279 runners off from Exmouth at 10am; the 22nd Exe to Axe race had begun.
The Exe to Axe is Sidmouth Running Club’s biggest fundraising event of the year and this year it was a sellout with a waiting list; a testament to the great publicity MG Tim Clay does promoting the event.
This run is not for the faint hearted, 22 miles with repeated climbs and descents along the coast path. There is 4,200 feet of ascent predominately in the second leg, Sidmouth to Seaton which 34 runners opted to run setting off at 11am from the flag pole on Sidmouth seafront.
This year the weather kept the runners on their toes, from glorious sunshine, heavy prolonged showers and hail whipped up by strong gusts of wind. What to wear was anyone’s guess! The wind also kept the aid station marshals on their toes too, making sure the gazebos were secure and the cups stayed on the table!
All the runners were very complimentary about the marshals and aid stations. Many of the volunteers are Mighty Greens and this year we had additional help from the Sidmouth Air cadets. SRC are grateful to Kings Garden and Leisure who sponsor the event providing the wide array of savoury and sweet snacks from falafels to bread pudding!
Three relay teams entered with Westbury Harriers finishing first in 3:35:48.
Five Mighty Greens ran the Sid to Axe, including 17 year old Ella Fletcher, who was the overall winner, first female and first SRC runner in 1:47:05. Colin Ryan was hot on her heels finishing second, first male and first SRC male in 1:49:12. Kerry Salter and Sarah Clapham finished in 2:46:11 and Ann Cole, who was running for local charity, Munchkins finished in 3:03:25.
The overall winner of the Exe to Axe out of a field of 279 was Jack Kiff from Exeter who finished in 2:47:10 and the first female to finish was Laura Backhouse from Bradford upon Avon in 3:27:03. Richard Summerhayes was the first to finish out of the 12 Mighty Greens taking part. He finished just in front of Laura in 3:25:16, 1st in his age category MV50 and Amanda Stokes was the first female MG to finish in 4:40:27. Antony Hall finished in 4:08:21, he looked determined as be bypassed Branscombe aid station! Roger Worthington, Alice Gill, Becky Knapman and Naomi Garrick finished in the 5-6 hour bracket; Emily Prince, Clare Bray and Adrian Horne just into the 6 hour bracket and Grahame and Donna Womersley-Westlake who kindly filled in as back markers at the last minute in 7 hours.
All finishers received an ash wood medal hand crafted and printed by Adrian and his wife Alison and all winners received a unique jug from Otter St Mary potter, Emma Kenward. Everyone enjoyed the hospitality from the Mariners Hotel at the end, especially the chips!
