Torbay AAC hosted the 2nd running of the Torbay Relays at the Velopark last Friday evening. Race Directors Mike Davies and David Pressley with the help of junior and senior club members ensured the event ran smoothly. With 63 teams taking part from clubs all over the South Devon area, it is now becoming a popular and well established event. The weather was perfect for spectators and organisers, but a little on the warm side for athletes. Torbay AAC had just two teams, a Mixed and a MV50 Team mainly due to many club members helping with the event. It was the MV50 team who came in first for the club and 20th overall with a combined time of 47 mins 15 secs. The mixed team came in 27th overall with a combined time of 48 mins 7 secs. Individual results were as follows: 20th TAAC MV50 Team – Nick dance 12.43, Ian Hayward 11.40, Dave Maxwell 12.03, Anthony Raine 10.49; 27th TAAC Mixed Team – Steve Weeks 10.40, Fiona Holden 12.16, Mark Smith 13.00, Fay Cameron 12.11.

On Sunday Two Torbay AAC members took part in the Plym Trail Summer Series Half Marathon organised by First and Last Running which gives the opportunity each season to run either a Marathon or Half Marathon on a Saturday or Sunday (or both). Starting at Clearbrook Village near Tavistock the race starts with a short uphill climb before turning around and heading downhill through the village and on to a cycle route with beautiful scenery along the former railway line over viaducts and through a tunnel to the turnaround point at Coypool at the bottom before running back uphill to the finish. First back for the club in 12th position was Mark Luscombe 2:21:41 closely followed in 13th place by Gemma Radcliffe 2:25:05

On Bank Holiday Monday 10 Torbay AAC Athletes braved the heat at Lustleigh to compete in the Annual Village Show 10k Multi-terrain race. The race takes competitors across fields, along tracks, woodland paths and country lanes with a number of tough long hills. Torbay AAC Ladies Team finished 2nd overall with great performances from Sara Crozier, Cassandra Harrison and Kav Solder. The Mens team of Anthony Raine, Ian Hayward and Martyn Breslan finished 3rd place overall. Podium places were awarded to Cassandra Harrison who was 2nd in her 35-44 age category and Sara Crozier who was 3rd in her 45 to 54 age category. Full results were M17. Anthony Raine 0:47:48; M30 Ian Hayward 0:51:58; M40 Martyn Breslan 0:54:26; M54 Dan Bickford-Beers 0:57:14; M69 Ray Brown 1:03:29; W11 Sara Crozier 0:57:15; W23 Cassandra Harrison 1:02:24; W33 Kav Solder 1:06:07; W35 Tessa Hearfield 1:07:08; W44 Anita Ley 1:11:41.

Torbay AAC’s Brian Lewis ran the 15.4 mile Great Escape on a very sunny and hot Dartmoor on Saturday, 160 runners started, but sadly due to the heat only 143 finished, Brian finished an impressive 47th in 2:52:54.