LAUNCESTON Road Runners have enjoyed a hectic few weeks with runners completing all over the South West and further afield.

First up on Sunday, April 27, while several peopled headed to the nation’s capital to run the London Marathon, closer to home Jaine Hynes, Eddie Thomson and Jenny Mills took on the Beacon Beast Marathon and Beastie McBeast Race Beastly Half – both events organised by Bys Vyken Events.

The routes took in the beauty of Lanhydrock National Trust Estate and Cardinham Woods, whilst the marathon also took runners up to the Bodmin Beacon – a 44-metre monument to pay homage to Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert.

Three LRR members tackled the challenging marathon with the times as follows: Jaine Hynes (4:39:10), Eddie Thomson (5:04:18) and Jenny Mills (5:32:10). Joe Thomson ran the half marathon in 1:52:54.

A dozen members ran the 45th London Marathon on the same day.

They were as follows: Ed Horn (second claim member) (3.02.32 in aid of Children with Cancer); Jeanette Johnson (3:09:38); Darren Evans (3:27:46); Richard Foster (3:56:57, Rich was running as the LRR representative having won his place in the club ballot); Peter James – 4:00:38; Angela Brinicombe – 4:44:19; Julie Barriball-Pates – 5:10:03; Emma James – 5:16:07; Tanya Jarvis – 5:22:02; Lavinia Marshall – 5:21:43; Paul Heywood – 5:36:39; Jade Jennings – 5:50:02

Jenny Mills ran the Tamar Trotters-organised Saltash Half Marathon on Sunday, May 4 and she was home in 2:07:14 for first in the F75-79 age group.

Two nights later the Boconnoc 5 race was held around the beautiful trails of the Boconnoc Estate.

Joe Thomson was the first Launceston member around in 33:27, with Chris Fowler (40:04), Ian Grimes (50:42) and Janet Lathom (57:26) also competing.

Sunday, May 10 saw members compete on both sides of the Tamar Bridge at four different events – the British Ocean City Running Festival in Plymouth, the Trevornick and Bideford 10Ks and the Exeter Half Marathon.

In Plymouth, the half marathon saw Michaela Barron (2:04:26), Gill Aze-Thomas (2:27:08) and Lorraine Hawkins (2:31:05) get around, while the 10K was finished by Chris Norris (1:00:06), Adrian Brown (1:02:37) and Jenna Dunmore (1:18:12).

A dozen members completed the Trevornick 10K – the sixth race in the Cornish Grand Prix Series.

However, it is rather different in that it is a multi-terrain off-road event, while the route took in Cubert Common and the South West Coast Path.

The Launceston times were: Jon Kappes – 42:20 (second in the M55-59 age group); Eddie Thomson (46:35); Mike Gilbert (48:28), Peter McAughey (49:36), Matt Pickard (52:05), Nigel Reddicliffe (52:12), Stephen Jenkins (55:25), Katie Fowler (56:09 – third in the F35-39 age group), Mark Simpson (58:38), Linda Pickard (1:05:36), Dave Pickard (1:05:53), John Barnes (1:10:57).

Starting and finishing close to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, the Bideford 10K route takes in views of the Taw and Torridge Estuary between Bideford and Instow and returns to the finish on the Tarka Trail.

Martin Hynes’ time of 48:41 secured third in the M70-75 age group, although Mark Sluggett was the fastest Launceston runner in 47:56.

Ian Grimes (53:58), Elaine Hill (1:02:55) and Janet Lathom (1:04:05) also headed up to North Devon.

Claire Winfield was the sole Launceston Road Runner to tackle the fast Exeter Marathon with the route taking in the traffic-free footpath and cycle track of the River Exe and Exeter Canal.

She was around in 3:55:35 for an impressive second in the F55 category.