Training Update and Handicap

Posted on 10/03/202610/03/2026 by Keith Reed

Well done to all our athletes who ran at the weekend.
We hope you will all have recovered for Tuesday’s training
The session is a HEADTORCH RUN OUT TO BITTAFORD AND BACK (Summer Handicap Loop)
or a Speed session (short intervals) @ Woolcombe Rd
There will be the usual other routes as well

Last weeks final Winter Handicap did produce the close finish as predicted.
Congratulations to Nigel Grottick on winning the series.
You can see the results and final standings here >>>

BREAKFAST RUN – SUNDAY 22nd MARCH

Meet Station Yard, South Brent @ 8.30am or Shippley Bridge @ 9.00am.
The longer run will be led by Alison from Brent and the shorter run/walk will start at Shipley Bridge running to Avon Dam and return.

Afterwards, breakfast or coffee and cake in the Station cafe. Family and friends welcome.

Remember one the events included in March is the Plymouth Mile races on Tuesday 24th.
These are as series of races on the track which will be graded for all abilities.
Why not try and get a pb. We hope to get a good few along to take part
Details are here >>>
There will also be a social gathering after.
There will be still a session form the club

A really busy weekend for all our athletes

Posted on 10/03/202610/03/2026 by Keith Reed

As expected it was a really busy weekend for all our athletes. On Saturday we had three
of athletes in the Devon teams at the CAU Inter Counties Cross Country in Nottingham.
Luke Hayes had a great run in the U17 Men’s race finishing 96th overall and 4th Devon scorer.
His time for the 6K course was 20.47
We had two in the U13 girls over a 3K course, Freya Norris was 253rd in 14.21 (6th Devon scorer)
and Harriet Rogers who was a late call up was 290th in 14.55 (8th Devon scorer)

On the Sunday there were a number of races. Simon Fitze made the long trip to Cambridge and produced probably the best club
run of the year so far as in the Half Marathon he achieved a time of 1.14.55, which is a pb and vet 45-49 age record.

Peter Allen also did well closer to home with a great time of 1.20.29 at the Bideford Half Marathon whilst Barry Neal
was enjoying the Lisbon Half Marathon where he ran a time of 1.39.21. Graham Reed set a new pb over 10 miles in Chippenham
Graham’s time was 57.17 and he was 13th

At the Granite Way we had three runners in the 20 Miler. Faith Taylor-Tippett was 2nd female and 1st Fv35 in 2.21.10
Dave Rayfield was 22nd in 2.29.38 and was 1st M55 and Hannah Clayton was 27th in 2.31.21.
We also had two runners in the Cardiff 20 mile trail race. Alison Engledew finished in 3.04.54 and Andrea Mitchell in 3.05.54

We had a good turn out in the Grizzly races as always.
In the Cub Races over 9 miles we had the following runners

77th Francesca Walker 1.36.41
82nd Lynne Whitfield 1.37.52 (1st Fv55)
210th Alan Makeham 1.52.08
249th Richard Lane 1.56.05
250th Lindsay Lane 1.56.05

We had two in the 20 mile version over hills and bogs.
Emma and Tom (pictured above) finished together in 330th and 331st place.
Emma was 2nd in age Cat in 3.39.23 with Tom just 6 seconds slower.

Also on Sunday we had 13 juniors competing for Devon in the Regional Sportshall event
held at Taunton. The Devon teams did well in a quality event and our athletes did us all proud.
Thanks also to our parents who helped out as team managers.

Upcoming opportunities to get involved in officiating or coaching

Posted on 18/02/202618/02/2026 by Keith Reed

The SW region are putting on the Officials Come and Try Day on 29th March at Exeter which also incorporates an Open Track and Field meeting and an officials lunch and briefing on the new rules plus two coaching sessions put on by EA Regional coaches.

Details are below

Exeter Officials Development Day – Sunday 29^th March:

EA, the SW Regional Council & SW Athletics Academy are excited to be bringing a development day to Exeter on Sunday 29^th March! A big focus for the day will be around officials and we will be hosting “come and try” officiating sessions for potential new officials. No experience is required to attend. There will also be an update session for officials of all levels ahead of the age group changes being implemented from April 1^st. To book your place please click HERE or use the QR code on the flyer.

You will also find details of the competition being held by South West Athletics Academy in the afternoon. Again, athletes can book on to their chosen events using the QR code in the flyer. New & existing officials are encouraged to stay and support this competition in the afternoon

The day will also feature coach clinics for athletes and coaches. A sprints and sprint hurdles technical camp that is being hosted by Neal Edwards. You can book your place by clicking HERE. An endurance session for coaches and athletes is also being organised and details will be provided soon. Coaching sessions will run from 10am-12noon.

Zoom Session:

On Monday 2^nd March (6-7pm), EA & the SW Regional Council are hosting a virtual session for Track & Field Club within the region. Club volunteers are encouraged to attend this virtual session ahead of the “officiating come and try day” being held at Exeter Arena on Saturday 29th March. The purpose of this virtual session is to understand clubs requirements around officiating. The session will give an overview of what to expect at the come and try day itself. During the session, we will encourage clubs attending to think about how to recruit athletes, parents/guardians & volunteers to attend the Come and Try Day. There will also be opportunities to network with other club volunteers around how you recruit, reward and incentivise club officials. This will be an opportunity for track and field clubs to come together and learn about the come and try day, network with one another. Please register your place on the link below:

https://englandathletics-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/c3AguBGIRhadZm1Bo1slcA

There is also an coaching assistant course at Brickfields / Foulston Park on 11th April

The Coaching assistant course provides an introduction to coaching and covers H&S and safeguarding etc. There’s a couple of hours of self learning / online modules to do before attending the course. On the day is when you do the practical elements etc as well as planning sessions.

We really need junior coaches who are qualified to help out at sessions on a Thursday

After you get this qualification you can then move on to become an athletics coach and focus in which ever areas interest you (throws, endurance, hurdles etc) or follow the ‘off-track’ pathway and become a Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) – which is probably more relevant to what we need at Erme Valley (for seniors) but this is a more involved qualification and involves a 2 day in person course as well as online modules. More details are shown here >>>

Would be great to have a few seniors with some coaching qualifications as I think we’re very light on this at the club at the moment and would allow us to support members with training plans etc as well as coming up with ideas for group sessions.

If you are interested the club will pay the fees for the course. Booking link is shown here >>>

Entries for the 2026 Ivybridge 10K are approaching 100 and still coming in steadily
The race will take place on Saturday 23rd May with the usual 6.30pm start from the Rugby Club.
We are expecting the usual bumper entry so enter early.
We have kept the prices the same as in 2025 so with the unique race T-shirt as a memento it is fantastic value
(Much cheaper that others taking place in this area)
For more details go to our race page here >>>