RUNNERS from across South Devon got their first run-out of 2012 at the weekend when they took part in the First Choice 10k in Exeter.

A fast, flat course that follows cycleways and footpaths alongside the Exeter Canal and River Exe attracted runners from various clubs.

Torbay AC had a record 38 runners turn out for the event, with two athletes in the overall top-10, plus several category winners.

Lee Turner was second overall, while club-mate Pete Monaghan came sixth (1st V45).

Russell Cleave recorded a personal best in 14th position with a very impressive sub-36-minute run, almost two minutes faster then his previous best time.

Other personal bests included Nigel Fenn, Dean Titchener, Stuart Sweatman, Stuart Parkes and Richard Postlewaithe.

Category winners were, Pete Monaghan V45, Wendy Urban V45 and Anne Lucas V60.

RESULTS: 2nd Lee Turner 33.32; 6th Peter Monaghan 34.55; 14th Russell Cleave 35.58; 20th Nigel Fenn 36.29; 36th Martyn Breslan 38.47; 51st Kevin Fine 39.50; 55th Dean Titchener 40.10; 58th Stuart Sweatman 40.25; 61st Wendy Urban 40.43; 67th Richard Postlethwaite 41.03 ; 70th Stuart Parkes 41.16; 71st Chris Fry 41.17; 79th Tim Peters 41.41; 80th Steven Monaghan 41.44; 84th Catherine Fewings 41.56; 91st Glynn Hughes 42.26; 94th Thomas Shoolbraid 42.27; 140th Greg Fine 45.05; 145th Anthony Raine 45.14; 150th Trystan King 45.21; 152nd Raymond Wilson 45.25; 175th Ray Brown 46.51; 186th Gerald Barlow 47.23; 208th Linda Philippou 48.32; 210th Stephanie Townsend 49.02; 233rd Simon Langler 49.49; 250th Irene Hewings 50.38; 272nd Anne Lucas 50.40; 254th Serena Litherland 50.42; 294th Eric Barber 52.29; 299th Janine Callard 52.41; 302nd Debbie Drake 53.02; 303rd Colin Wilson 53.13; 315th Michaela Lane 53.59; 316th Phil Perkins 54.09; 323rd Tessa Hearfield 54.52; 325th Andrew Park 55.06 ; 343rd Anita Merritt 55.53; 369th Sally Shoolbraid 57.53.

AN impressive 33 Teignbridge Trotters also travelled to Haven Banks in Exeter for the First Chance 10k.

Due to a mix up in the chip timing, some times accredited are up to a minute slower than those actually achieved.

In perfect conditions there were nine personal best times recorded by Trotters. The first of the PB's was set by Daryl Milford who in a high quality field finished eighth in 35.08. Next came Dave Tomlin in ninth place in a time of 35.29 followed by promising youngster Adam Caunter 19th in 36.24.

RESULTS. 8th Daryl Milford 35.08; 9th Dave Tomlin 35.29; 19th Adam Caunter 36.24; 20th Garry Smart 36.27; 32nd Lance Mason 37.44; 87th John Crocker 41.44; 104th Carrie-Anne Hewings 42.22; 116th Andrew Ludlam 43.06; 127th Wilf Taylor 43.44; 171st Craig Churchill 45.52; 173rd Helen Anthony 45.44; 179th Peter Royle 46.06; Neil Pallant 46.42; 201st Becky George 47.15; 202nd Jacki Woon 47.35; 229th Gary Caunter 48.55; 245th Caroline Clark 49.12; 253rd Graeme Baker 49.40; 258th Kevin Besford 49.48; 275th Jon Martin 50.20; 276th Jo Haynes 50.20, 281st Lorna Martin 50.46; 282nd Stephen Wallace 50.52; 287th Katrina Duignan 51.03; 298th Sharon Bowman 51.34; 303rd Tamsin Cook 51.35; 305th Angela Gregory 51.46; 318th Katy George 52.29; 328th Derek Blackford 52.54; 361st Eleanor Taylor 55.07; 405th Sarah Seymour 58.42; 426th Rachel Pallant 60.26.

FIVE ladies from Newton Abbot running group FIT2run also took part in the First Chance 10k.

Leading the way for the ladies was Fionna Winter in 49.11 (a personal best for her) with Tanya Rendle hot on her heels in 55.42. Newcomer Joanne Webber finished in 59.02 – first ever race – while Karen Wilkins arrived in 1.04 and with another newcomer, Sharon Ellis, finishing in 1.10.

FIT2run are hosting another beginner's course tonight from 6.10-6.55pm. Contact Marika Dowse for further information. The FIT2run ladies meet on a Tuesday and Thursday evening at The Rec in Newton Abbot from 7-8pm. Please contact Marika Dowse, Group Leader on pinkgym@gmail.com.

TWO Haldon Trail Runners also completed the First Chance 10k, Martin McEneny running a strong race to finish in 41.51 with Nicki Ashworth producing an excellent time of 47.44.

SEVEN runners from Paignton-based South Devon Athletic Club also competed in the First Chance 10k.

Colin Peters led them home, taking 31st place in 37.34, followed by Neil Downer, who was 53rd in 39.42. John Drennan was 240th in 49.10; Roger Webb 295th in 51.22; Eileen Severn 387th in 57.04; Andrew Hammett 494th in 69.59 and Leonora Richards 498th in 72.22.

FIVE Dawlish Coasters were among over 500 finishers at the First Chance 10k, with Eric Foster the first home in 47.36.

Foster's wife Jan claimed second vet in her age category with a fine time of 50.36, while newcomer Carly Greene was next in 60.41. Sue Brown finished in 62.37 while David Moreland recorded a time of 64.46.

Simon Bunday was in action at the Plympton 10k where around 240 runners attended, along the banks of the River Plym and through the grounds of Saltram House, Bunday finished the course in 48.27.

Three Teignbridge Trotters also went to the new speedway track in Plymouth the new home of the January Jaunt 10k organised by the Rotary Club.

John Caunter was 82nd out of 232 finishers in a time of 49.21 closely followed by Mark Wooton 84th in 49.46 and wife of John, Tina Caunter 124th in 53.56.