They seek them here, they seek there

Last Friday saw the return of one of the season's favourite short distance races. The Ivybridge Relay is a firm favourite with many pioneers, having had the event cancelled previously due to Covid-19 lockdowns. This year saw 4 teams, each with 4 people taking part in the relay race. Each runner takes a 2.5 miles route, before the next runner takes to the road. This year saw nearly 100 teams take part in the race. The route is a relatively simple one, taking the runners from North Filham, running along Godwell Lane, then taking the road over the Devon Expressway. From here the athletes run along the country lanes, just before the second mile mark the athletes run back over the Devon Expressway and return to North Filham. 

In Team A was Clive Finnimore, Mark and his brother Andy Deacon with Max Evans. Team B consists of Martin Gregory, Louise Chisholm, Carol Beaver and Emma Collins. Team C was Kirsty Webb, Darren Hardwick, Debbie Jones and Darren Hardwick running again for the team. Team D had Linda Cuff, Angela Harrison, Jay Wagstaff and Julie Gregory. 

For many of the athletes who took part in Friday's relay, they donned on their running shoes once more and ran the Tywardreath Trotter 7 mile multi terrain route the following day. With nearly 270 athletes taking part in this race, the Looe Pioneers came out in force to show support for this local run.

The route takes the athletes from Tywardreath in the woods towards St Blazey. From here the route, passing the 3 mile mark, takes the athletes uphill to the highest point of the race, then looping around to Treesmill. Crossing the start point at a right angle, returning to running in the woods and returning to Treesmill, athletes here cross over the railway line. Providing one final loop and finishing the race on the road at Tywardreath. 

Mark Deacon came back first for the pioneers, completing the route in 47:09. Dale Staff returned next in 49:55. Jo Robinson was the first female back with a time of 51:08. Clive Finnimore finished 53:17, followed by Emma Langstaff with a time of 57:15. Alison Catnach came in just under the one hour mark, with a time of 57:39. Grahame Mace finished in 1:04:24, with Darren Hardwick just behind him with a time of 1:05:20. Martin Gregory completed the route in 1:09:32 and Louisa Chisholm came in seconds later with a time of 1:09:48. Kirsty Webb finished the route in 1:14:22, followed by Julie Gregory with a time of 1:32:35 and Jay Wagstaff 1:35:17. 

Last weekend also saw the return of Parkruns, which take places all over the country, are free to enter and are 5K in length. Due to Covid restrictions athletes haven't been able to take part in these runs since March 2020, bringing them back is a significant change for athletes all over the country. To celebrate the return of 
parkruns, Rob Kernaghan opted to run at Mount Edgecombe. Mark Deacon completed the Tamar Trails route, and though this is not a competitive race, he came in third with an impressive run of 19:35. Kathy Saunders and Mark Camp decided to do the Lanhydrock route, a tough hilly route.