Runners brave weather for gravel canal paths marathon

Torbay Athletic Club were braving the blustery winds on Sunday at The Grand Canal Canter, hosted by Winding Paths.

The route started at Tiverton Canal Basin and headed along the canal paths for 6.6 miles to Sampford Peverell, where you turn and head back to Tiverton and for the Half Marathon finish line.

For the marathon runners, the course is repeated a second time.

It is a flat course along hard packed gravel canal paths although conditions on the day were challenging with a feisty headwind.

Nick Robinson took on the marathon and fought through injury to finish in 12th place in a time of 4:28:22

The half marathon club finishers were: 23 Debbie Drake 1:59:41, 40 Irene Hewings 2:12:38, 52 Charlotte Philippou 2:28:22.

Tessa Hearfield claimed first place in the fv65 category at Tavistock AC’s long-standing seven-mile road race on its third course since its inauguration in the late 1980s.

It is currently held on Dartmoor on an undulating but fantastically scenic course. The start is at Plaster Down on the western edge of Dartmoor and takes in Pew Tor and the hamlet of Sampford Spiney.

Tessa finished the race in 1:06:36 (266).