TAVISTOCK AC’s Nikki Kelly and Tamar Trotters’ Bex Ezra-Ham both claimed victories at long distance West Country road races at the weekend.
Kelly backed up her victory the week before at the Tavy 7 by claiming the top women’s honours at the Bideford 10 Miler.
She clocked 60.35 minutes for the popular north Devon event. Her club colleague Hannah Smith was fourth as Tavistock AC won the women’s team award.
There were also female age category runners-up prizes for Tavistock’s Hannah Worth (F40) and Helen Kula-Przezwanski (F65).
In the men’s race, Plymouth Harriers’ Jack Dee came third in 53.20 minutes. He was only beaten by Bideford’s Ronnie Richmond and Tiverton’s Christian Hewitt.
City of Plymouth’s Fraser Holman was fourth in 53.33 minutes, while Alex Peyton-Jones was second M45.
Meanwhile, Ezra-Ham stormed to victory in the women’s event at the tough East Cornwall Marathon on Sunday.
Ezra-Ham actually came eighth overall in a gun time of 2:56.57 (chip time, 2:56.55).
The men’s race was won by Sam Mitchell in 2:48.12, with City of Plymouth’s David Robinson second for the second year running in 2:48.33. Robinson was also first M50.
East Cornwall Harriers’ Susie Hooke was fourth female in 3:23.36, while Tamar Trotters’ Ayesha Gillespie was fifth.
Erme Valley Harriers’ Helen Chapell (F55) and Alison Engledew (F65) won their age categories.
Further afield, City of Plymouth’s international Poppy Tank warmed up for the cross country season by beating the entire field at the Las Vegas 7.02 race in America.
The event was part of the Las Vegas race weekend, which also featured a marathon and half marathon.
The 7.02 mile distance for the shortest race of the weekend is because that is the area code for the city.
Tank finished the race in 38.04 minutes, beating the first man, who finished more than two-and-a-half minutes behind her.
The City of Plymouth athlete had been in the USA doing some training in Utah, where she went to university. She is among a strong field of entries for the senior women’s race for this weekend’s opening Cardiff Cross Challenge event, as is Tavistock’s Charlotte Walker