What a load of Hippos
Released On 21st Sep 2025
The Honiton Hippo
From Jo: There was a fantastic turn out for our next club championship race - The Honiton Hippo, although I have no idea why!! “Fun” they said, “it will be a laugh” they said, they lied!!! Although this one did split us, some with a clear “yes” I would do it again while others were a definite “no”!!!
We were so lucky with the weather today - warm at times & dry. Well that “dry” didn’t last long did it?!!! We were warned that yesterday’s rain had left the course in a great condition with the final river crossing being “high”!!!
At the start many of us (with the exception of myself” ) seemed to have a real buzz about them & gave the impression they were all looking forwards to this one. Not me. Let’s be clear, I was not looking forward to this one & have no idea why I even entered, oh yes, because the Bham trail run got cancelled .
Now for a trail runner, Gareth Davies, to name just one, this race had everything they love - hills, steep hills. Mud, woodlands, challenging under foot & water crossings. Unlike Da Riush Broniszewski who was loving every minute & taking in all the glorious scenery, other amongst us (me) could not risk taking their eyes off the path in front. Thank you to Da Riush, the vast majority are his photos that he took while keeping me company all the way around. He was a true gentleman & extremely patient!!
Given the terrain all club members posted some great times &, again with the exception of me, crossed the finishing line with smiles on our faces . Special mention goes out to Alison Griffiths & her team who nailed this one. They all took it in their stride way better than me!!
Now I think you get the picture here - I am NOT doing this one again (Gareth, not even for charity) but I feel many others will enter again next year. Lesley Nesbitt a great one to keep in our championship race list. “Really” I hear you all shout…. Really, today was the last championship race I do. Now we are nearing the end of the season, I can just enter the ones I actuallly like - dry, roads races
Helen Nesbitt. Just for you many of us stopped in at The Otter Valley Ice Cream place on the way home were we all had smiles on our faces as we sunk our ice creams . A great way to finish a challenging morning!!!
From Ali: What a glorious sunny fun morning running the Honiton Hippo today with great company. Big hills, big puddles and 2 river crossings the last one was very deep 😂 and we even came in in number order. defo one to repeat.
Weekend Running
From Helen: Sunday 10 miler complete - Odcombe/West Coker/East Coker Loop well done all, thanks for the company lovely chocolate cake after.
From Lesley: Thank you Louise for your company on our inbetweeners 10 mile run from Goldenstones. Jeffing 10:2, well mostly except a couple long 2 mins when I didn't hear the changeover buzz ! Very enjoyable run and lovely chocolate cake from Helen in the cafe after.
School X Country
From Adam: Primary Schools Cross Country Races - tomorrow, 22nd September,Yeovil Rugby Club
Any help, any time between 2.00 and 5.00 greatly appreciated.
Next event Monday October 6th - Yeovil Showground
Thanks Adam
Cheltenham Half
From Graham: A massive well done to Amy who ran the Cheltenham half marathon in 1hr 29mins 52sec!!
Conquest of Avalon 50 miler
From Ann: Wow What can I say about this weekend apart from crazey.i swept for the Conquest of Avalon 50 miler great race lovely scenery and great company and run by a great man. Then today was the last of the big feat series a marathon crazey yep and it worked out at over 27 miles i managed to do it under 5 hours on 3 hours sleep. Safe to say this race was super hard mentally and physically at mile 9 I was super emotional thinking im never going to do it ,I felt sick my body hurt in every place you could think of but I done it and im stronger than I ever thought . Thank you Sarah Pailing for dropping me of and taking me home and lovely food and Tristram Clark was a pleasure to run with you on the conquest 50. Matthew Bambury also done the last of the bigfeat series aswell and took me very much appreciated. Oh I did forget to say the horses scenery and people at bigfeat were amazing.
From Mags: Well done to Andy Farrant for smashing today's Conquest of Avalon 50 miler. He came joint 4th overall.
Torbay Half
From Margarita: So today I did the Torbay Half Marathon. This is a hilly two laps from Paignton to Torquay...it was cold to start but soon warmed up. Nice to see George Paton sprint past me on his second lap. Trevor Strelley did the 10km, which was only one lap but still full of hills.
RED Bumble Bee Chalange
From Adrian: Early am start this morning. Headed down to a lovely event at exmouth with Running events Devon. Lovely friendly people. First half marathon. People running all sorts of distance meant on my own for pacing. Until Jack Lax joined me for the fourth and final lap ( he killed me by upping the pace by 1min/mile )but it meant I got a far better time the I hoped and a better time than my pacing coach Richard Clayton had set me. Thank you both along with all the Yeovil Town RRC track coaching team.
Park Runs
From Margarita: Torbay Velopark parkrun for me today for my 49th parkrun. I'm doing my 50th at Three Brooks parkrun next week if anyone wants to celebrate there may be cake.
From Donna: Another tourist parkrun for me Upton House for my 'U'. This is a nice parkrun. One large loop then small loop then large loop again. Slightly undulating.I did the 1st mile in 9.39min but realised I couldn't keep that up.
From Taryn: At St Mary’s parkrun Bridport today - saw Paul and Rachel Gilbie too.
From Mafalda: So this morning I joined the lovely Rachael Jones to go up to Frome for The Old Showfield Parkrun. We were happy to see June Moule and Adam there also. It is a 3 and 3/4 lopping course, with a slight incline that we need to do 3 times. The rain kept at bay and Rachel kept me on my toes. I managed my first parkrun under 37min since April 2023 . Of course we deserved a nice breakfast on our way back home Thank you all, specially Rachael for driving and Adam (you know why). It was a lovely morning in lovely company.
From Ali: Street parkrun this morning followed by breakfast at Alfredo’s in Somerton. A dry morning and good conditions under foot with a view of the tor.
From Steve: Thoulstone Parkrun. Up a gravel path hill and then two laps of an energy zapping field avoiding the sheep. Only 95 runners but some fast runners in the 50 age group!! Nice coffee shop to rehydrate in.
PUB RUN – ASH – (18TH SEPTEMBER 2025)
From Mark: There was a bigger than usual turn out for the Pub Run tonight, being Phil’s birthday. The not so fast group comprised Louise, Linda, JC, and myself, and we ran a clockwise loop followed by an optional smaller loop around Ash. So, leaving the pub, we ran along Martock lane down into Martock, then up the main street to the petrol station. We then ran Coat road out to Coat. Turning right we ran eastward to the traffic lights at Stapleton Cross, and carried on up the hill back into Ash. JC and myself did the optional anti-clockwise loop around Ash and back to the pub. Phil ran alone, and there was a walking group comprising Denise, Mel, Rachael, David, and Mike. Guy and Ann ran fast. Thanks Phil for organising.
