With an elevation of 3316 feet and more than 30 miles of multi-terrain running up hills, down dale, across fields and along the riverside this Lyme Ultra is a challenge for anyone but it is becoming increasingly popular amongst Axe Valley Runners, with some 24 taking part.
It starts up in Somerset in Ham Hill Country Park and winds its way through the stunning scenery of the Liberty Trail, Wayford Woods and Lamberts Castle to finish on the seafront in beautiful Lyme Regis.
AVR scooped second, third and fourth places with some tremendous times. Rich Hardy came in second place in an incredible 4 hours 15 minutes, with Rob Collier third in 4 hours 25 minutes, pushing last year’s winner, Matt Clist, into fourth.
Kerry Board, competing in her first ultra, finished in an excellent 5 hours 40 minutes as fifth female runner. Special mention to Louise Rawlins, who only began running during lockdown in 2020, joined AVR a year later and has now completed an ultra. She even managed her usual trademark cartwheel on the Cobb!
Despite the previous day’s rain, it was dry underfoot but very muggy for the Charmouth Challenge. This eight-mile multi-terrain hilly race included an ascent of Golden Cap, the highest point on the South Coast of England at 191 metres.
There was a good turnout of AVRs amongst the 150 finishers with Andrew Snook coming in fifth place, second M40 in 56:06. Ron Seward steamed in yet again, achieving first in M70+ after finishing in 1:22:30. Ann Coston, a new member of AVR, was second in the F50+ category at 1:27:41. Other AVRs to complete the Challenge were Patrick Rosello, Darrell Farley, Diana Burn and Adele Girdwood.
On a lovely sunny but cool Wednesday evening, 31 AVRs took part in this beautiful 10k off road race which starts and finishes at Forde Abbey and includes a couple of river crossings. Kerry Board was second female in an impressive 54:18 and first F40.
Adrian Strawbridge was fifth overall in 51:41 and took first M40, while Eleanor Wood was first F55 in 58:12, 42nd overall. Unfortunately, a few front runners including Max Richardson took a slight wrong turning, meaning they completed almost seven miles and missed a top ten finish.
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