PICTURED are some of the 16 Minehead Running Club members who tackled the Run Exmoor event at Simonsbath.

There were two events, a ten-kilometre and a ten-mile race, both over open undulating moorland and forest tracks with spectacular views. 

The weather was a vast improvement on the 2015 event, when heavy rain and strong winds caused havoc.

In the ten-kilometre event,Tony Slade was seventh in 57.46, new member Sophie Cross 13th in 63.02, and winter members Helena Willford 15th in 64.49 and Kezia White 17th in 67.17. 

In the ten-mile event, the club’s ladies in particular had a fine day, with Jo Taphouse winning the ladies’ race in 1.24.08 - four minutes quicker than her time last year - Sarah Kent in her first race in Minehead colours coming second in 1.32.24, just ahead of Janet Hewlett in 1.32.27. 

Hazel Hole, on her comeback after six months away from racing due to injury, was fourth lady in 1.33.09,Jackie Evans completed the course in 1.40.43, and Polly Johnson ran 1.43.23 to win the female over 35 section.

For the men, Stuart Creech came in third in 1,16.26, with Matthew Bowden one place behind in 1.18:20. 

Russell Cowling was sixth in 1.20.29, Adam Kent ninth in 1.22.58, in his first run in a Minehead vest, Dave Berry 31st in 1.32.56 and Charlie Pascall 34th in 1.35.36.

On the same day, Janet Ridler and Pip Bennett competed in the Yeovil Half Marathon and in a field of well over 1,000 runners, Pip finished 437th in 1.52.03, and Janet 507th in 1.54.57.

The previous week saw Jo and Matthew Taphouse and Jackie Batten run in the Butleigh Multi-Terrain Race, just over seven miles of racing on country roads and footpaths, with muddy conditions throughout.

Overhead conditions were nigh-on perfect for this Somerset Series race, and despite running three minutes slower than last year due to a bout of illness, Jo took yet another win in the ladies’ section with a time of 56.07. 

Matthew was sixth overall in 49.44 and Jackie was 34th in 60.29.