Please follow link to find a folder of collated 2022's photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rdPuC-o2LcAfCVWkY8-TR-5-u09cRV0r
The 3rd running of the East Devon Round took place on Sat April 30th from Offwell Village Hall. This is a 66 mile ultramarathon, combining coast path, trails and private ground and racks up 3,000 metre of climbing (equivalent to 3 x Ben Nevis). This year it attracted people from as far afield as Canada, Scotland, N.Ireland but also many locals from Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Axminster and even Offwell. Having set off to a glorious sunrise at 5:30am, the runners pass through 9 checkpoints (including Lyme Regis, Blackbury Camp, Sidbury, Luppitt and Combe Raleigh) before returning to Offwell Village Hall. The fastest time this year was an astonishing 10hrs 59 mins and the slowest and an equally incredible 20 hrs 5 minutes (1:35 am). We also put on the East Devon Round Half which has a truly special finish at Blackbury Camp and incorporates 35 miles of running and 5,500 feet of climbing, and also the East Devon Round Quarter which takes in the northern section of the whole loop, starting and finishing in Combe Raleigh, and incorporating St Cyres Hill, Dunkeswell and Luppitt.
Whilst the event is put on for the love of the sport, and the incredible feats of comradeship, endurance and human strength witnessed each year, we are also pleased to raise some money for various causes. This year we raised a total of £1,000 for a combination of the Rich Wigram Farming Scholarship, Offwell Primary School, Combe Raleigh Playgroup and also a contribution to the upkeep of the Coast Path per runner. We are incredibly grateful for all the landowners for granting the necessary permissions for the run, and also our team of 75 marshals that all make the event go so well, and who also helped clear the course by 5pm on the Sunday. The event has been supported from the start by Ganesha Wholefoods, Rod and Ben’s Organic Soups and Stews, the Ultramarathon Running Store and also this year by RunVenture on Honiton High Street. Further support was received by Dalwood Vineyard, Otter Valley Ice Cream, Heron Farm, the Axminster Waffle House and Hollismead Dairy.
The easiest way to try and summarise the event is to use what competitors have fed back to us,’
‘Ultra experience at its best’
Coming along on Friday night was like meeting up with old friends. Then having a delicious feed and a beer was spot on. The route was beautiful, brilliantly marked and a real challenge. The aid stations were so well stocked and super friendly. Then receiving a medal, t-shirt, bottle of beer and more food was a perfect end.
You have a really special race, and I feel privileged to be able to take part in it. We are already planning on heading down next year.
As a local it was so nice to run such a stunning (but tough!) route that highlights the natural beauty of East Devon. The ethos of the event as a ‘ultra running social’ and charity fundraiser rather than commercial enterprise is also refreshing
Oh @eastdevonround, you, your countryside and wonderful people have stolen my heart. Alasdair, Tim and Esme have created a wonderful event with such a great ethos, profits going to charities, caring for the trails and paths, providing a full weekend of fun for me and my family with camping, food, cheer and amazing prizes!
The legs may be bruised, the energy reserves completely depleted, but there are many reasons I came back this year and as soon as the aches have subsided won’t hesitate to come back next year. You guys have created absolute gem of an event…The course – an absolute monster of epic technical trails through stunning vistas, carpets of beautiful bluebell covered woods, hills with super tough climbs but rewarded with horizon busting views, the sea, the Undercliffs (worthy of a mention all of its own with towering cliffs and tropical rainforest like nature,), the villages full of supportive locals and marshals alike. The people – the dedication and effort by all you guys, the route marking, the aid stations, the unwavering support and the fact that you all care about every single competitor shines strong and bright, you are all incredible. Finally the competitors – ultra running lends itself to friendship, to bonds being formed as we each battle our way through ridiculous distances, the East Devon Round lends itself beautifully to creating these bonds, through the warmth of it’s welcome and it’s embracing care of every competitor from start to finish. It is remarkable how many have returned and a testament to the spirit of the East Devon Round. As one of my fellow club members put it…this is the ultra friendly ultra marathon. A massive thanks to you all for making it happen
East Devon Round Quarter
This was won in a time of 2 hrs 11 mins by Matthew Walton, and considering he also took a fair old fall on Rhododendron Walk damaging his face, arm and legs, this is even more respectable. David Brown produced a sterling performance to come in 2nd in a time of 2hrs 28 mins. Natalie NcDougal won the ladies race in a time of 2 hrs 38 mins. Special mention to Jean Hughes who completed this course aged 75 – you are an inspiration Jean. Thank you to the Mitchells for giving me a GPX to use next year! It is great to have true locals do the route, including the Mitchells and Kathy Layzell, as even for them, not all of the route is usually accessible. Ian Morris is the first person to complete all 3 East Devon Round distances and as always not only ran, but also then went out and helped at Checkpoint 8 (Luppitt).
East Devon Round Half
We had 23 finishers of the half, with only 1 non finisher. My highlight was seeing the competitors finish by the iron age fort of Blackbury Camp, complete with the wall-to-wall bluebells. I suspect for many of the runners, after the 2022 route changes, with the addition of Borcombe Woods and Morganhayes and all their flint tracks and ups and downs, for many of you reaching Blackbury Camp was also a highlight! James Kelly of Exmouth Running Club breezed in (5hrs 49 mins), followed by Lizzie Dyson of Haldon Trail Runners 6hrs 23 mins). The next 2 male places went to Andrew Ruffer (6hrs 31 mins) and Rob Leonard (6hrs 45 mins), whilst 2nd lady went to local favourite Lou Bennett of Honiton RC in 7hrs 25mins, complete with her entourage of Steve Davey, Paula Ferris and Hadleigh Davies. Jenny Lailey (Dorset) completed the female top 3 in 7hrs 59 mins. Previous Honiton RC marshals of the race (Steve Davey, Rachel Hennessey, Rebecca Stevens, Jennie Sleeman and Mark Dallyn) made for a strong club representation, many of whom then went out and helped route clear over the weekend too.
East Devon Round
Out of the 34 that toed the start line of the full, we had 27 finishers, 3 Tim Howarths (53 miles, 9,000 feet), 2 halfs and 2 DNFs.
Ben Stone (AVR) and Steve Adams (Ottery St. Mary) took off at a pace that no one else could follow, with the pair running neck and neck for 35 miles. Ben managed to gain 5 mins by Blackbury Camp, and over the 2nd half of the race he extended his lead to 20 mins finishing in an incredible time of 10 hrs 59 mins. Steve put in an incredible performance to follow Ben in 11:19, both beating the previous course record of 11hrs 46 mins set by Patrick Devine Wright (AVR) in 2021. These performances put these runners as some of the best ultra-marathon runners in the country. Philip Kirk put in a fantastic day’s run to finish 3rd 13hrs 2mins. Offwell favourite, over from Canada to stay with his sister, Giles Malet claimed 6th place in 13hrs 38mins, and Giles has been out running with Honiton RC during his weeks here and also helped mark the course. Holly Holmes of Cornwall won the ladies race with a commanding performance of 13hrs 57 mins and 7th overall with Jodie Lee (Brixham) 2nd, and Moe Mooney (Scotland) 3rd.
Next Year’s event East Devon Round 2023 April 29th 5:30am