Hill Run at the Village Fair
This years race had double the entry of last years inaugural race and was staged in the midst of the July heatwave. News of the race had spread via the FRA fixtures booklet and website and we had a visit from the Haldon Trail runners, two of whom set blistering new records in both male and female categories. The race is a traditional ‘out-and-up’, ‘back-and down’ fell race and the outward climb to the top of Easdon Tor, on a mixture of road, footpath and open moorland, was like a furnace. The double summit of Easdon involves a triangulation pillar with a short saddle to the turning point at a cairn. The marshal manning the cairn failed to find his post and the runners further down the field lost their way hence the significant split in finishing times. The return leg of the course involved a breakneck descent through boulder-strewn bracken followed by a somewhat milder series of forestry tracks. Most runners were back in time for a quick go at ‘whack-the-quack’ and a pint at the Ring O’Bells. Despite the unexpected detour all runners seemed to have enjoyed their outing on Easdon Tor. See you next year! (3rd Sat in July)
Quickest were Gareth Hurst of Haldon Trail Runners/Royal Marines AC in 27:14 and Emma Hitchins of Haldon Hill Trail Runners in 30:48. Both new records!
18 Finishers
Rees Jenkins
