OVER the last few months Eurobel have been sponsoring half marathon races in the South West. Sunday saw the last of these at Torbay, with over 800 runners taking part.

Rod Andrews, from East Cornwall Harriers, for the third time in succession won his vet category (over 60). He finished this race in a slightly slower time than we expected from him, 1:28:21, but he had been taken ill earlier in the week.

Other runners from ECH taking part were Len White, who was the first ECH back in a consistent time of 1:28:21.f Jacky Tyler finished fifth in the ladies race in a time of 1:30:16, and Doreen Paine, who only ran in the Potteries Marathon last weekend, finished under the two hours in 1:18:16.

he overall winner of the men's race was Ahmed Amraoui, from SWVAC, finished the new course in a time of 1:11:52. The winner of the ladies race was this time Cathy Newman, from Exeter Harriers in 1:18:16.

Earlier in the week three members of ECH took part in a new Midsummer's Day race near Truro. This race, called "Meet you Max", took competitors over a 10k multi-terrain course, and managed to attract 149.It was good fun with all finishers getting a T-shirt and a pasty.

The overall winner was Dave Buzza (CAC) in a time of 37:31, and he led the road runners team home to victory. The rest of the team was made up of Shaun Milford (NqRR, 37:54), Tony Wright (NqRR, 40.18), Chric Monk (NqRR, 40.36), and Neal Williams (FRR, 41:40).

The winning ladies team, was also make up of road runners. First Jacky Tyler (ECH,47:55), second Pandora Stone (ECH 49.12), Katherine Trehane (CAC, 49:23), Anne Maskell (TRC, 49:36) and Carolyn Jones (Unattached, 50:39). Len white, was the only man from East Cornwall Harriers to take on the new challenge, and finished in a time of 50:16)

Other runners:- NqRR, Pat Lockett 42:26, Graham Dobson 42:37, Ricky Hitchens 43:53, Paul Bullock 44:20, Frank Wheeler 47:41, Kevin Walker 49:18, Danny Petit 49:32, Paul Burns 49:41, Colin Martin 53:11, Jeni Chappell 54:44, Leslee-Anne Dawe 55:11, Chris Young 61:44, Brian Moore 63:00, Julie Walker 64:28, Christin Bolam 64:42, Val Hawken 71:35, TRC Colin Hoult 49:31.

The island Race is a relay around the 4,500 mile coastline of England, Scotland and Wales. The project is the longest and most national to mark the millennium and will raise millions of pounds of charity. It started on 12th May and will finish on 19th August, 100 days in total.

This week saw it enter Cornwall and local runners from East Cornwall Harriers, gave up their time on Wednesday and Thursday to help carry the baton from Torpoint to St Mawes. They were running along side Royal Marines from the 42 Commando division, following as close as possible the coastal path.

The charity they were running for is Mercy Ships, which act as floating hospitals delivering humanitarian aid to the poor and needy in port cities around the world. If you would like to give a donation please contact Trevor Ford 01503 250300.