23 Jun The Holmans keep their cool as the trails heat up!
It was all about the generation game for the Holman family at the scorching Umborne Ug on midsummer’s day.
Three generations of the family took to the lanes and trails to represent South Devon Athletic Club around the East Devon village for the races organised by Axe Valley Runners.
Ben Holman was first across the line in the Fun Run, while his sister Poppy was second female in the race, and mum Katy was third.
In the main race, over six hilly miles in temperatures soaring towards 30 degrees, two more generations of Holmans figured in the results.
Rob Foster was the best of the SDAC contingent in 57m 55s, followed by Shaun Kirk (60m 23s), James Spalding (63m 36s), Kate Foley (65m 08s) and Guy Henderson (67m 35s).
Then came George Holman in 76m 22s and dad Mark in 78m 14s.
Roger Webb slashed five minutes off his previous best time on the same course to finish in 79m 20s.
Eight SDAC members survived the soft sand of the 25th Dawlish Coastal Dash, organised superbly again by Dawlish Coasters.
Runners start on the prom at Dawlish Warren before heading down on to the sand for a tough first loop. The course then takes them back along the sea wall towards Dawlish for a second loop which ends with a fast, downhill finish.
Jamie Duffield led the way, finishing the four-mile course a fine fifth overall in a rapid 23m 23s. George Holman was the next SDAC runner home in 32m 26s, followed by Guy Henderson (33m 12s), Vince Langdon (35m 12s), Heather Coverdale (38m 40s), Roger Webb (39m 57s), Mark Holman (40m 58s) and Alison Ford (41m 47s).
JD may have been rapid, but the most eye-catching performance came from Vince Langdon, whose prowess at vaulting the obstacles along the sands drew plaudits. One onlooker who watched him leap acrobatically through Groyne Four remarked: “It was like watching a young Olga Korbut in her prime!”