On Saturday May 4th 100 plus runners took part in the East Devon Round. This was the 5th running of the Trail Running Festival incorporating 4 different events. The full round takes in a whopping 68.5 miles with 3,175 metres of ascent (pretty much every hill in East Devon) and passes Dalwood, Lyme Regis, Sidbury, Honiton and Luppitt, before finishing back at event HQ of Offwell Village Hall.

The East Devon half round finishes in the bluebell Iron Age fort of Blackbury Camp (including 37 miles and nearly 2,000 metres of ascent) and the EDR Qtr encompasses a 14 mile route from Blackbury Camp back to Offwell. The final race is available to those that have completed the East Devon half Round and includes the 2nd half of the race.

The race attracts many locals, with Honiton, Axminster, and Sidmouth Running clubs all represented, a strong Cornish contingent, alongside people from across the UK, as well as a select few international competitors each year (2 x Canadians and 1 x Dutch runner this year.)

Together the competitors ran over 3,750 miles and climbed twice the height of Everest, all in one day. It is always a coming together of wonderful like-minded people achieving extraordinary feats. Justin Montague (Seaton local) returned to win the Full in an incredible time of 12hrs 33mins, chased hard all day by Axe Valley Runner and local legend Rob Collier. Melissa Montague also returned to retain her trophy winning the Full in 15hrs 58mins, followed by previous winner and Cornish favourite Holly Holmes in 16hrs 07mins. Third home was Honiton Running Club’s very own Anna Drake in 17hrs 40mins. The final finishers completed the course around 2.30am in 21hrs 14mins.

Notable local performances in the East Devon half Round were Carla Tunnicliffe winning the half outright, Honiton locals Kevin Clarke and Nick Couch (3rd and 4th respectively), and Hannah Davies (helped or run at the event every year since 2019) coming in 2nd lady. Mark Dallyn (Honiton Running Club came in 3rd in the Other Half with Clare Melbourne (also Honiton RC) winning the ladies in the Other Half. Anthony Hatchard put in a strong performance to win the quarter, with Fiona Laramy (Offwell local) running strong to win the ladies. Lily Purchase and Lizzie Lanning were our youngest competitors, completing the EDR QTR aged 17, and this race also had a strong contingent of Honiton runners in Rachel Hennessey, Helen Williams, Vicky Henwood, Donna Stone and Tina Duckitt.

The event raises money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Rich Wigram NZ Farming Scholarship and Offwell PTFA who host a magnificent Big Breakfast on the Sunday morning for hungry competitors to replenish some calories! It simply could not take place without a whole army of volunteers and helpers, cake bakers and route markers, but also over 50 farmer and landowner permissions – these include the Wyatts, Raymond Pike, Whitlands, Robert Reid, Rob Summers, Charlotte Furnival, Nick Reynold, Alan Derryman, Rodney Pring, Ray Willmington, Barry Simmonds, Rupert Douglas-Pennent, Andrew Luscombe, the Luppitt Commoners, Chris Davey, Fiona Page-turner, Wilf and Liz Tratt, John and Carolyn Earl, Jonathan Paveley and Pauline and John Hopkins. Without their support the event could not take place.

We are also wonderfully supported by a host of local companies including Ganesha Wholefoods, Otter Brewery, Ottery Valley Ice Cream, Heron Farm, Devonvale Flapjacks and Combe Garden Centre.