TAMAR Trotters’ Bex Ezra held off the challenge of Tavistock’s Nikki Kelly and Erme Valley’s Alison McEwing to win the Bideford 10 on Sunday morning.
Ezra was the only female to go under the hour mark for the 10-mile race in north Devon, clocking a quick 59 minutes and three seconds, which ranks her in the UK’s top 20 this year over the distance.
Kelly, who last weekend won the Tavy 7, took second place in 1:00.43, which was just four seconds ahead of McEwing.
Tavistock Run Project’s Rachel Malthouse was 10th female and third F35, while Plymouth Harriers’ Ami Peyton-Jones was 13th and third F40 and Tavistock AC’s Maarit Green was third F65.
Plymouth Harriers’ Steve Hill was third M45, while Tavistock’s Mark West was third M50.
The race was won by Devon’s Olympic steeplechaser Phil Norman, who set a new course record of 49.58 minutes. Second place went to Bideford’s Ronnie Richmond in 50.30, with his team-mate Shaun Antell third in 51.11.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Plymstock Road Runners’ Carla Tunnicliffe won the multi-terrain Templer Ten at Stover in 1:11.57.
Stuart Hall and Graham Bale had a good battle in the men’s race. Hall finished seventh in 1:03.14, with Plymstock Road Runners’ eighth in 1:03.51. The pair took the top two M55 places.
Erme Valley Harriers’ Sarah Hirons was second F40, while team-mates David and Alison Engledew also picked up age category prizes. Alison was first F60, while David was second M60. Fellow Erme Valley runner Ken Summers was first M70.
Plymouth Musketeers finished sixth in both team events, with Justin Frost leading the men home and Deborah Bennett heading the women’s side.
Across the Tamar, Plymouth Harriers’ Andy Charles finished as first M60 in 3:20.38 at the Cornish Marathon, which was run heavy rain.
Tamar Trotters’ Crispin Brabner was first M50 in 3:25.12, while team-mate Colin Bunting completed his 100th marathon.