Torbay AAC athletes pop the Budleigh Blister

Torbay Amateur Athletic Club members Anita Merritt and Janine Callard achieved a superb time of 1hr 49 mins in the inaugural Budleigh Blister, hosted by Exmouth Harriers.

The route is approximately 10 miles which follows part of the stunning South-West costal path and is a mixed terrain route, with stunning views looking back towards Budleigh Salterton before heading back in land via Otterton to the finish.

It’s been a very busy few weeks for Torbay AAC juniors, including the SW cross-country championships at Merryfield, where six runners were asked to represent Devon in the elite races. 

Annalise Little, representing Devon U13s, has had an amazing spell of form and ran her best race yet to finish fourth place in the U13 race - just two seconds behind the winner. We are hoping this result leads to an invitation to run the mini marathon in April. 

Annalise continued her superb form by winning the Westward League at Westward Ho! by over 20 seconds. This makes four wins in four races, which means with two races left in the series, the title of the U13 girls’ event is secure.

Next was Exeter in the Devon Schools Championships, where Annalise sprinted in for third place in the Year 8/9 race, despite being a Year 8 student. Annalise has been selected to represent Devon AA at the Inter-Counties in March and is waiting to hear if she is selected for the SW schools in February and English Schools in March. 

Leon Snell (U15 boys) also represented Devon at the SW Championships, finishing 30th and 8th, securing his place for Devon at the Inter-Counties. 

Marlow Kirby (U15) was 46th at the SW Championships but then went on to finish fourth at the Devon Schools. Hopefully, this place secures his selection to represent Devon in the SW Schools and the English Schools Championships.

Newcomer Issac Hammond (U15 boys) was 42nd in the SW Championships and 11th at Westward Ho! and team-mate Sam Freestone was 41st at the SW Championships, 16th at Westward Ho! (despite losing a shoe) and 11th at the Devon Schools Championships. 

Torbay’s U15 girls have also been racing extremely well. Representing Devon AA, Ella Richards was 19th at SW Championships and 8th in for Devon, while Scarlett Muscott was 20th at the SW Championships and ninth for Devon.

Ella has been invited to represent Devon at the Inter-Counties championships in March. Sadly, although Scarlett was seventh for Devon at the County Championships, the selectors have chosen another athlete for the eighth Devon place at the Inter-Counties.

Ella was third at Westward Ho! making her joint first in the U15 girls league with local rival Elsie Goodspeed. Newcomers Sophia Impey, Bea Bateman and Hope Forrester showed that their recent training is paying off, finishing in 20th, 22nd and 23rd at Westward Ho! and playing an important role in helping Torbay AAC U15s keep first team place after four races. Sophia Impey also represented South Devon at the Devon Schools Championships.

Ella Richards and Scarlett Muscott represented South Devon Schools in the Year 10/11 Devon Schools Championships at Exeter. Both produced impressive sprint finishes to finish third and fourth place - and they have another year in this age group ! Hopefully this will secure their selection to run for Devon Schools at the SW schools Championships and the English Schools Championships.

Theo Glew (U17) represented Devon at the SW Championships, where he finished 19th in a highly competitive race. He was the seventh Devon runner to finish and has been invited to represent Devon at the Inter-Counties in March, along with team-mate Harry Kendall.

Theo had a great finish to hold on to third place in the Year 10/11 race at the Devon Schools Championships. Again, we are hoping this position means he is invited to represent Devon Schools at the SW Schools and the English Schools Championships. 

Harry Kendall ran at Westward Ho! to finish third U17 man and was also 10th in the Year 12/13 race at Devon Schools and team-mate Joshua Bradley Reece was 12th in the Devon Schools Year 12/13 race. Oliver Foulds was 13th at Westward Ho! and 53rd at the SW Championships. Torbay’s U17 men’s team are still placed first team in the Westward League overall. U11 Henry Foulds was 18th at Westward Ho! and Roux Tucker was 20th. 

It’s been a busy few weeks of races but training is really paying off. Great running over some particularly muddy courses.