More than 2,000 take part in 35th Seaton Grizzly Race
By Francesca Evans
6th Mar 2023 | Local News
A cloudy but dry day provided perfect running conditions more more than 2,000 taking part in the annual Grizzly Race in Seaton on Sunday.
The gruelling, 20-mile multi-terrain Grizzly took on the theme 'I Fought the Claw' for its 35th year, under the new directorship of Andy West and Steve Haines.
The race was started on Seaton Esplanade by five-time Olympian, Jo Pavey, with the runners heading straight onto the first of two gruelling stretches of pebble running.
After that it was off up Castle Hill and onto Beer, Branscombe and beyond and, for the Grizzly runners 20 miles of hills, bogs, river and more pebbles.
The Cub runners may have been let off the bogs but it was still a tough nine-mile race.
The runners are supported by a huge team of volunteers from host club Axe Valley Runners and many other local community groups and charities.
First home in the Cub was Ritchie Durrant of Pure Endurance in an excellent 1:02.52.
Tenth finisher and first female was Olivia Carthew in 1:11.19.
First male 40+ and first Axe Valley Runner home was Lee Moran in 1:11.13 with first female AVR and 12th female overall, Laura Kerr, in 1:27.20.
All the winners were awarded with a bottle of prosecco from Lyme Bay Winery and a handcrafted plate made Gilly Humphreys.
Guy Sweetman from event sponsor East Devon Sports Therapy Centre, and John Barrington-Rowell, president of Axe Valley Runners, made the presentations.
In the full 20-mile event, Sam Kelly of Exmouth Harriers improved on last year's runner-up spot to take the win in a brilliant 2:14.25.
Molly Smith, previously of Seaton but now with Norfolk Gazelles, took the first female spot in a superb 2:43.28 running her first ever Grizzly.
Four-times World Ironman Champion, Chrissie Wellington, took on the Grizzly and finished as fourth female.
Matt Clist, in ninth spot following a sprint finish, was the first Axe Valley Runner home in 2:29.02 while Emilie Brock scooped the first female Axe Valley Runner prize in 3:11.29.
During the race a memory tree is always provided on Branscombe beach for runners to pause and remember friends lost since the last event.
This year, the tree took on special significance following the recent sudden death of Phil Bayliss, a founder member of both Axe Valley Runners and the Grizzly, and long-term Grizzly committee member.
Axe Valley Runners wore green ribbons in his memory reflecting his deep commitment to the environment and his legacy of encouraging the Grizzly to become a sustainable event as far as possible.
Organisers would like to thank Tesco, Leisure East Devon, East Devon Sports Therapy, Living Options and Seaton firefighters for their support at the finish line.
On Saturday, hundreds of children had enjoyed some short Grizzly races of their own, ably supported by lots of Axe Valley Runners members.
Full results to the Grizzly and Cub can be found at https://chiptimingresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=61&RId=524&EId=2
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