26 Jun SDAC season heats up with big miles and sandy beaches
With the big race season in full swing, members of South Devon Athletic Club have been tackling a variety of events over all the distances, on all the terrains.
Long-distance specialist Matt Dalton has been earning the headlines again. On the renowned Centurion South Downs Way event – a 100-miler over the punishing hills from Winchester to Eastbourne – Matt’s determination to get in under the 24-hour mark saw him finish in an exceptional 23 hours, 57 minutes and 42 seconds.
The following weekend the Jurassic Extinction’s 105-mile course from Poole to Exmouth didn’t quite feel far enough for mega-miles Matt, so he did the route in both directions, taking a total of 78 hours and 31 minutes.
Jamie Duffield led the club contingent home at the Ivybridge 10k in 46m 33s, followed by Rob Foster, Vince Langdon, Neil Jordain, Heather Coverdale, Roger Webb and Matthew Senior.
Duffield was the club’s first runner home again when the mixed-terrain Dawlish Dash attracted five runners from SDAC. He was followed across the line by Vince Langdon, James Nash, Neil Jordain and Matthew Senior.
The Great West Run Half-Marathon in Exeter saw two SDAC runners in action, with Saz Pav and Alison Ford flying the flag on the city streets.
Internal Grand Prix races have given the club’s runners a chance to test their form against their clubmates.
Rob Foster won the Paignton Mile with a time of 6m 01s, held over a course at Clennon Valley with the seafront out of action due to the sea defence works. Mark Carter was second in 6m 20s and Vince Langdon third in 6m 38s. First lady was Saz Pav, in 8m 48s.
Other finishers were Mark Walpot, James Nash, James Spalding, Matthew Senior, Guy Henderson, Neil Jordain, Paul Williams, Brian Marjoram, Roger Webb, Tony Rabicano, Yvonne Patrick Odell and Heather Coverdale.
The annual Beaches Run from Goodrington to Preston and back produced another victory for Jamie Duffield, who scampered across the sands to finish in a rapid 24m 55s. Second was Rob Foster and third James Spalding, with Serena Jury the first woman across the finishing line. Other finishers were Shaun Kirk, Vince Langdon, Marc Walpot, Guy Henderson, James Nash, Kate Foley, Matthew Senior, Roger Webb and Chris Reece.