EXETER Harriers’ teenager Ben Perry held off the challenge of veteran Ceri Rees to win the Ivybridge 3 Tops fell race on Wednesday night.
Perry claimed victory in the Erme Valley Harriers’ organised event by nearly two minutes, clocking 43 minutes and 44 seconds for the tough race, which is approximately 10k but not only includes steep Dartmoor hills but also a couple of stream crossings.
The event, which is part of the Dartmoor Fell Series, starts with athletes running up Western Beacon, which towers above Ivybridge, before then heading up to Weatherdon and Glasscombe Ball and then up Ugborough Beacon before heading back to Ivybridge Rugby Club.
Over-50 athlete Rees, who had come second at the Totnes 10k on Sunday, came home on Wednesday in a time of 45.41 minutes.
Third place went to home athlete Jamie Frost, who clocked 46.32 minutes, with Exeter Harriers’ Stephen Hughes fourth (48.00) and Dartmoor Runners’ Simon Evans fifth and first M40 (49.42).
Westbury’s Hannah Large won the women’s race in 56.22 minutes, with Cornwall AC’s teenager Chloe Clarke second and first under-19 in 56.52 minutes.
Fellow under-19 athletes Sophie Gilvear (Erme Valley Harriers) and Bella May (City of Plymouth) were third and fourth, with Erme Valley’s Becky Prall fifth and first F40.
Erme Valley did win the women’s team event, while Okehampton claimed the men’s honours.
Some 70 athletes finished the main race, but there was one casualty.
“One female runner suffered a leg injury and had to be taken off the moor by Dartmoor Rescue,” said organising club Erme Valley Harriers.
“We are extremely grateful to them and the ambulance team who took her to hospital.
“She is recovering well at home. We would also like to thank our marshals who stayed with her until help came. Also, her friend who sacrificed her race to stay with her. We all wish her a speedy recovery.”
There were also junior races before the main event.
City of Plymouth’s Lucas Sweeney was first in the under-13 race, with Erme Valley’s Bluebell McBride first girl.
Jacob Sweeney looked on course to win the under-11 race, but towards the end he went the wrong way. Erme Valley’s Esme Prall ended up as first under-11 runner home, while Francesca Pickstone was first under-nine girl.
The senior results can be found HERE.
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