Exterminator Race a big hit!

We  were  delighted to sponsor  the first ever 10 kilometre cross-country charity race, the ‘Exterminator' race, organised by staff and students at South Devon College with support from Paignton-based South Devon Athletic Club,  which  proved to be a huge success despite the bleak weather.   We entered a strong team and congratulate partner Patrick Gaskins who came in 4th.

James Bellward of South West Road Runners won the race, establishing a course record  of  just 36 minutes and 6 seconds. Peter Monaghan of Torbay Athletic's Club came second with Teignbridge Trotters' David Tomlin in third. The winning men's team was South Devon Athletic Club.

The fastest lady was Charlene Shorley of Peak Whey, with Wendy Urban of Torbay Athletic's Club coming second and Michelle Moore of South Devon Athletic Club, third. The winning ladies team was Teignbridge Trotters.

The Mill Pond at Stoke Gabriel was the picturesque centre point of this 10-kilometre race, which was run under UK Athletic Rules.

The event presented a fantastic real life learning opportunity in ‘event management' involving around 100 students, and raised over £5,000 for the college charity, Friends of South Devon College, to help improve facilities and opportunities for students and the local community. As headline sponsors,

The race started and finished at South Devon College's Vantage Point site in Paignton taking runners through Yalberton Valley, Aish and Stoke Gabriel Mill Pond before returning to the College campus via an ancient bridle path, Lidsen Lane. It was wet, it was windy, but nearly 200 runners turned out in force to take part in the first ever Exterminator 10k. There was also a 1-mile fun run around the College campus, open to all. Pupils from local primary schools lined up to enter as the organisers offered Sacred Heart School and Stoke Gabriel School the opportunity to use the event to also raise sponsorship money to benefit their schools. All finishers received a memento T-Shirt and there was prizes for the outright top three men and women, veteran age group prizes, plus men's, women's and mixed team prizes.

Due to its success, The Exterminator Race is now plannned to become an annual fixture, and the provisional date for 2010 is Sunday 16th May. For more information contact 01803 540395 or visit www.southdevon.ac.uk/exterminator.