VETERAN Ceri Rees retained the Burrator Horseshoe Run title on Saturday as he once again held off the challenge of Robert Waddy.
In a bit of a repeat of the 2022 race – apart from the weather – Waddy again set the early pace only for the experienced Rees, who is now in the M50 category, to overtake him.
In boiling hot conditions, Rees finished in 42.14 minutes, with 23-year-old Waddy coming home in 42.49 minutes.
Highgate’s Shaun Dixon was third (43.53), with Plymouth Musketeers’ Ross Macdonald fourth (46.42) and Phillip Brokenshire fifth (46.52).
The tough six-mile-plus fell race takes runners out of Meavy Village to Burrator Reservoir and then straight up the summit of Sheeps Tor and Gutter Tor on Dartmoor before returning to the start.
The race, which, takes place as part of the Meavy Fair, was celebrating its 25th anniversary.
With Tavistock’s Charlotte Walker representing Devon at the British Junior Inter-Counties Hill and Fell Championships, there was a new winner of the women’s race, with Okehampton’s Claire Watkins overtaking Truro’s Laura Pool to win the title.
Watkins clocked 57.36 minutes, with Pool 25 seconds behind. Third woman was Run Venture’s F60 athlete Jenny Nash, with Miriam Quick fourth and Emily Young fifth. The top eight women were all over-40 runners.
Despite the baking temperatures, 111 runners finished the main race.
There were also junior events on the day.
City of Plymouth’s Isaac Lamerton easily won the under-15 race in 13.18 minutes.
East Cornwall’s Eldon Young was second overall to Lamerton and first under-13, with Jack Anthony and Beau Haymes-Greenslade second and third under-13 boys. Matilda Hobbs was first under-13 girl.
Tavistock’s Tristan Bigham was first under-11, with Arthur Moyse second. City of Plymouth’s Margot Goodspeed was first under-11 girl, with Tavistock’s Olivia Walkerdine second.
Tavistock’s George Lake and Fearne Brogden were the under-nine winners.
Results from the main race can be found HERE.
All pictures are low resolution and are protected by copyright so should not be used without permission.