A handful of Axe Valley Runners headed to Somerset over the weekend for the Martock 10k, on a scenic and flat course promising fast times – but the sunshine, heat and closeness of the air was very challenging.

First Axe Valley Runner (AVR) home in fifth place, and second M40, was Duncan Staddon in 36:13.   

Ron Seward was first M70, 94th overall, in an impressive 47:06, and second M70 was another AVR, Eric Emerson, in 54:27, 181st overall.  

Ann Coston finished in 52:12, second F50 and 149th overall, with Angela Kerr in 55:28, 197th overall and second F60.  

Other AVRs taking part were Katharine Moran (58:05, 232nd), Fiona Seward (62:56, 273rd), and Shirley Salter (68:48, 320th).   

A total of 384 runners finished the race to be rewarded with a wooden medal.

Giants Head Half Marathon

Mandy Harris ran White Star Running's Giants Head half marathon in Dorset on Sunday in 3:11.18.

With just over 1,500 feet of climbing, it was another tough half in very hot conditions that took in the Cerne Abbas Giant. 

Personal bests galore at sunny Seaton parkrun

Ryan Snell was second finisher at Seaton's parkrun on Saturday, in a personal best of 17:41, with Debbie Whiston second female finisher in 19:39, also second on age-grade in 80.8%.  

Emilie Brock was third female in a personal best of 19:57.

On a sunny morning in perfect conditions, there were also record times for David Cull (20:13), Jeremy Norcombe (22:58), Zoe Trewick (29:05), and Ann-Louise Gridley (31:39).

Up in Teddington, Kevin Feeney celebrated his 100th run at Bushy parkrun, the location of the first ever parkrun nearly 20 years ago.  

Keen to secure the 'where it all started' parkrun challenge, Carol Austin, Martin Kerr and Angela Kerr made the pilgrimage there to run their first Bushy while Kevin's wife, Sarah Shepley, completed her 39th at Bushy.

Aileen and Peter Heal completed Somerville Pavilion parkrun, known for its famous 'curly-wurly' finish.