Six members of. Axe Valley Runners (AVR) kick-started their Easter weekend by taking part in the Fast Friday 10k, organised by City Runs with the route using the riverside paths in Exeter.  

The flat, two-lap course and the excellent conditions ensured some very fast times with the winners, Jim Cole of Tavistock and Katie Knowles of Newquay, finishing in 32.08 and 36.46, respectively.

First AVR home was Terry Emmett in eighth and second M40 finishing in a superb 34.35. Matt Hewer was 37th in 39.05 with Tim Sibley coming home in a personal best of 42.04, despite recovering from a virus.  

Carol Austin was third F60, 163rd overall, in 50.20; Angela Kerr, 207th and second F65, in 56.08; and Sam Summers, 254th in 1:14.07.  

Special mention goes to the female winner of the recent Seaton Grizzly, Molly Smith, who was a brilliant third placed woman in 37.08.  She held the fort for the Smith family as her brother Jake and parents, along with a few other AVRs, succumbed to injury or illness and did not start. 

Momentous milestones at Seaton parkrun

Seaton parkrun event director, Carol Austin, celebrated her 250-milestone run on Saturday.

Carol began her parkrun journey in Birmingham where she ran the second ever Cannon Hill parkrun before joining the core team of volunteers there.

After moving to Seaton she joined with Tony Smith to become event directors as Seaton joined the parkrun phenomenon.  

Regular volunteers Tim Sibley and Martin Kerr hit their 100 milestone volunteer stints.

A whopping 341 runners including many visitors enjoyed the lovely weather on Easter Saturday.

First finisher was Joel Seward in 16:55 who had a fabulous battle with the eventual second placed visitor with our own Ritchie Durrant finishing in third place in 17:09. Andrew Snook was fourth finisher in 17:47.

First AVR woman home was Deborah Whiston in 20:03 and the top age grade score of 93.1% was secured by Eleanor Wood in 22:27.

AVRs also travelled far and wide for their parkrun fix this Easter weekend with visits including Brighton, Monmouth, Macclesfield, Penrose and Long Eaton.