PORLOCK’S Louis Wright was again the first runner over the finish line in the boys’ under 10 race at the second of Minehead Running Club’s series of seafront races.

And an improved time widened the gap between himself and Jacob Brooks and Morgan Wild, both from Minehead Middle School.

Grace Pring and Courtney Wright could not repeat their one two of last month, a spirited run by Crowcombe’s Grace Wright splitting the two Danesfield girls, who had to settle for first and third places in the under 10 girls’ event.

In the under 12s, Charlie Liddle remains top dog for the boys, his 12-second improvement on October just enough to thwart Minehead Middle School trio Joseph Wright, Finley Priddle and Reuben Walter.

A 38-second improvement on last month saw Danesfield’s Liberty Nunn sail home in the girl’s race.

The most impressive effort of the night adult or junior, came from Lucy Crossman from Withycombe in the under 14s.

It is not often at this age that a girl has the staying power to match the boys, let alone beat them, but a staggering 1 minute 20 seconds was the winning margin for Lucy, running for King’s College, over Brymore’s Louie Liddle, his time of 11.15 an improvement on October.

In the senior event, good conditions again with very little wind offered the prospect of a good tussle between the three youngsters who put on such a good show last month’s event.

Only through being a little older and a little stronger did Ben Tull make it look relatively easy in the last 800 metres as he won. It has been some time since youth made it 1,2 3.

Lee Dart from Tiverton, in his first race since being promoted from the Under 14s last year, was unfazed as he stuck with his older companions until the last mile.

First local home Matt Bowden will have been happy with his 20 second improvement on last month, and although not able to keep with the early lead pace, the 13-second gap between himself and the leading trio at the finish suggests he was closing them down.

Terry Fullick knocked over 90 seconds off what was a good last month’s time, his 26.04 for three miles making him first man over 50.

Minehead Running Club’s Janet Hewlett and Janet Ridler led the ladies home, with the gap between them more than halved from last month.

Park Runners, who now compete over a similar course and distance on Saturdays, are welcome to join the Seafront Races, the next of which are on December 7.

RESULTS

Under 10s: Girls, 1 Grace Pring (Danesfield) 5.47, Grace White (Crowcombe School) 5.51, 3 Courtney Wright (Danesfield) 5.58; boys, 1 Louis Wright (Porlock) 5.39, 2 Jacob Brooks (Minehead Middle School) 5.57, 3 Morgan Wild (MMS) 6.07.

Under 12s: Girls, 1 Liberty Nunn (Danesfield) 11.30, 2 Eleanor Pring (Danesfield) 12.42, 3 Kiera Palmer (Castle School, Taunton) 13.31); boys, 1 Charlie Liddle (Brymore Academy) 10.12, 2 Joseph Wright (MMS) 10.14, 3 Finley Priddle (MMS) 11.21.

Under 14s: Girls, 1 Lucy Crossman (Kings College, Taunton) 9.55, 2 Sinead Wright (West Somerset College) 11.45, 3 Tabitha Pye (MMS) 12.07; boys, 1 Louie Liddle (Brymore Academy) 11.14, 2 Curtis Beynon-Pearce (MMS) 12.16, 3 Charlie Wright (Tiverton High) 14.143.

Under 17s: Girls, Elizabeth Towells 26.10; boys, 1 Lee Dart (Tiverton High School) 17.18, 2 Tom Davies 17.43, 3 Sam Tull (Brymore Academy) 19.22.

Senior Ladies: 1 Ruth Bulpin 22.32, 2 Sarah North 23.42, 3 Sophie Cross 24.11

Female over 35: 1 Helen Walter 24.22, 2 Helena Willford 24.59, 3 Jennie Norris 27.12.

Female over 45: 1 Janet Hewlett 21.48, 2 Janet Ridler 22.05, 3 Vicky Fieldhouse 25.05.

Female over 55: 1 Mary Butcher 23.02, 2 Emma Pascall 23.12.

Senior men: 1 Ben Tull 16.32, 2 Luke Fieldhouse 16.42, 3 Matthew Bowden 17.31.

Male over 40: 1 Russell Cowling 18.17, 2 Chris Spink 19.24.

Male over 50: 1 Terry Fullick 26.04.

Male over 60: 1 Nigel Baker 21.47, 2 Charlie Pascall 22.36, 3 Trevor Godley 30.08.