TORBAY Athletic Club runners travelled far afield to deliver some outstanding results last Sunday.

Eight members went to Bideford to compete against a strong field of nearly one thousand serious club runners in the hotly contested half marathon.

Some teams made the long trek from Cardiff and Lagan Valley AC near Belfast.

Partially run along the scenic but flat Tarka Trail on a cold but sunny morning, five Torbay members achieved personal best times, including young Arran Tocknell, who came a very commendable fifth.

Two other members travelled even further to run in the Bath Marathon which has now grown to several thousand runners, and attracts international class athletes from around the world.

Against top-class talent such as this, both produced extremely creditable runs, Adam Carlson coming 21st and Lee Turner 30th.

A marathon drive to the Llanelli Half Marathon produced impressive times for three more members, whilst two extreme endurance men tackled the legendary South Devon coast 'Grizzly' race which offers over 20 miles of off-road track, beach and cliff running, and even a dip in the sea near Branscombe.

Bideford Half Marathon: 5th Arran Tocknell 1h 14m 28s (Personal Best by 4 minutes); 28th Nigel Fenn 1h 22m 27s (PB by 4 minutes); 36th Stephen Wilbraham 1h 24m 02s; 66th Tim Peters 1h 27m 15s (PB by 5 minutes); 197th Ben Epps 1h 38m 12s; 226th Ray Brown 1h 41m 40s; 338th Tessa Hearfield 1h 45m 17s (PB by 90s); 606th Rose Jordan 1h 58m 53s (PB)

Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon: 499 Debbie Drake F45 01:47:30; 589 Irene Hewings F45 01:50:41; Andrew Parks 1h 51.

Bath Half Marathon: 21st Adam Carlson 1:09:59 (@ 10k 32:54); 30th Lee Turner 1:11:55 (@ 10k 33:13)

Grizzly Race: Chris Leaman 3h 48m 17s; Neil Fisher 4h 31m 04s

DONNA BELL was the sole runner from Dawlish Coasters at the tough 20 mile off road Grizzly which took place at Seaton. This race attracted 2,000 runners who negotiated pebble beaches, bog and lots of energy sapping hills, on a sunny but cold day. Donna, who was running her first Grizzly, clocked a fine time of 4hrs 24mins.

Ducan Crake was also the lone Coaster at the Bath half marathon with 15,000 other runners. This race is run around the city streets on an undualating course. Ducan came home in 1hr 47mins.

Six coasters travelled to Bideford for the town's half marathon, on a cold, windy day. Around 900 runners finished the race. Pete Hayward led the Coasters home in a time of 1:46, with Steve Jones next in 1:48, Shelagh Parker in 1:51, Gary Herridge in 2:02, Eloise Anderson in 2:04 and Zoe Anderson in 2:17.

Two other Coasters travelled to a cold and windy Redruth for the Duchy 20-mile road race, on a mainly rural course. Simon Bunday clocked a time of 2hrs 52mins, with Kev Thompson not far behind in 2:57.

BRIXHAM HARRIER Vivien Mifsud completed the Malta half marathon as part as her build up to the London marathon.

It was the 25th anniversary of the Malta marathon with over 1,400 competitors taking part.

She came second in her category in a time 2hrs 3mins 57 seconds in rather hotter conditions than should be the case in London next month.

WITH the recent spring sunshine came a busy fortnight for members of Newton Abbot Athletics Club.

With competitions as diverse as the penultimate winter sportshall series, the last of the Winter 3K series, Devon Schools Cross Country, and also a road race in Plymouth, members had a variety of competition to enjoy.

In the Sportshall event at Dawlish, the club were represented by 14 young athletes.

Under 13 girl Chloe Livingstone again won her shot put with over a metre to spare on the rest of the field and under 15 girl Shachar Head's third place guaranteed her a top-three series finish.

Making their season debut, under 13 girls Fiona Clenahan and Imogen Sewell competed well in their various events with Clenahan placing third in the two-lap hurdles.

The youngest of the talented Tinkler clan, Rebecca, won the under 11 two-lap hurdles, and will also be in line for a number of top-three series placings which will be presented at the final meeting this Sunday.

Under 13 girl, Jess Prior finished fourth in the standing long jump and second in the two laps.

Other girls gaining their first taste of the range of sportshall events available were Aimee Symons, Danielle Page, and Imogen Sewell, who all earned valuable points for the team.

Of the boys Seb Ford won his standing vertical jump with a personal best of 44cms, Under 10 Jack Hawtin was third in the speed bounce. Ford joined with Ciaran Cope, Jake Mitchell and Ryan Symons and the young quartet finished third in the Circuit Relay.

At the annual Plymouth Hoe 10 mile road race, the course had to be altered slightly, although the two laps of the Hoe and Barbican were retained and a field of nearly 600 runners enjoyed near perfect race conditions.

First Newton Abbot athlete in was Ken Tinkler (1.19.21) who ran well for a top half finish, road race regular Sue Hewings battled hard for a time of 1.23.23, and the Newton contingent was completed by Deborah Fallshaw 1.34.37.

The final Ironbridge Runner 3k series took place at the Exeter Arena. The athletes again enjoyed a cool windless night ideal for racing and the Newton athletes on show did not disappoint.

Graeme Tinkler, in the B Race, was quickest Newton Abbot athlete on the night with a top class run of 10 mins 33 secs, Kieron Dore returned from injury to clock 11.53 in the C Race, Ken Tinkler ran 12.25 in the D race.

Newton's best representation came in the E race with Anne Darby, Sue Hewings and Claire Gillard fighting a well fought race, and in the F race Kathryn Emmersson ran a well paced 15.36. Such is the popularity of the Iron Bridge Runner 3k series that there are now six 3k races with a mile run for the under 11s.

Sue Hewings and Ken Tinkler have both made flying starts to the club's road race grand prix and will now take some stopping in the quest for the road race prizes at the end of season presentations.

Not to be outdone by his busy dad, Graeme Tinkler took part in the South West Schools cross country at Truro, Tinkler finished 41st overall and 6th out of the county squad and is now waiting by the phone for a call from the county squad for the National Schools finals in Manchester later in the month.