A lone Musketeer in the form of Sarah Horton represented the club at the little known Sourton 10km.
This is rather more than the official 10km length and it feels longer as it is a hilly multi-terrain run on Dartmoor.
Intrepid Sarah did very well, as we’d expect. She joined some hardy runners and her injured husband Glenn in a well organised race run by the village community at Sourton, between Tavistock and Oakhampton.
The race, staged to raise village funds, starts on a disused level railway line and diverts onto the moor and rises gradually on and on and on, up grassy fields and moorland.
Tired runners were then faced with uneven stony and muddy track high up with fantastic views across the valley above the village.
They then gingerly descended wet grass tracks and followed a stone wall on the level, but uneven moorland hillside grazed by sheep before looping back onto the former railway line and to the finish.
The organisers were blessed with the dry weather. It was only shortly before everyone finished that the heavens open and most retreated to the village hall for welcome home-made cakes drinks and other food.
Though largely unknown in Plymouth, the race has been going for 8 years and is a good introduction to off-road racing. Unsurprisingly most runners came from Tavistock and Oakhampton.
David Tomlin (Teignbridge Trotters) was first home in an impressive time of 43.44 given the conditions. With the same course as last year, Andy Vallance (Okehampton Running Club) was second with 44.31. Andy held off the challenge of James Best (Tavistock Athletics Club) who came in third at 44.45, at only 16 years old. Jo Meek (Tavistock AC), beat her course personal best set last year to lead the female runners home in a time of 46.03 and was sixth overall. Sharon Daw (Mud Crew 51.16), was second lady home with Helen Heard (Bude Rats 51.37), coming in third female.
It would be good to see a few more keep Sarah company next year – not that she’s promised to run it again! Last year only two Musketeers did it.
By Guy