The numbers participating in distance races at the Devon Track and Field Championships are very small in comparison to those at road and multi-terrain races but there are medals to be won there, writes Dave Eveleigh.

Five Exmouth Harriers, most with very little recent experience of the 400m oval were prepared to try something a little different last week-end when the event took place at Exeter Arena.

Carly Miller was first to test herself when she contested the 1500m (just under one mile) on the opening day.

She ran it inside six minutes, recording 5:59 for an inaugural Personal Best and was second senior woman.

Dave Eveleigh then tackled the same distance in the men’s race. He trimmed five seconds off his season’s best in being timed at 5:32 and was first man age 55-59.

In the 5000 metres Ellie Sutcliffe came up with her usual gutsy approach in chasing after the experienced Helen Dyke, but, although second in the race, picked up gold in her senior women’s category. Her time of 18:26 was a new Personal Best.

Rob Orton, in the country for a short period from his home in France, has nevertheless enjoyed training with Exmouth Harriers so much that he has signed on the dotted line to become a welcome new member and he picked up a bronze in the senior men’s category over 5000 metres and was timed at 16:21, believed to be another Personal Best time.

On the second day of events Adam Miller joined in with the Harriers success taking third place in the men’s race and first in the men age 35-39 category over 3000 metres.

His time of 9:51, another inaugural Personal Best, is ripe to have a big chunk taken off it, but it is not unfair to say that the rather windy conditions accounted for more than one rather slow performance on the day!

Also over 3000 metres Dave Eveleigh held off rival Dave King for the first time in four races at this distance to win the men aged 55-59 category in 12:00 while Carly Miller came up with a second Personal Best at the Championships in recording 12:44. In total the five Harriers came away with five Personal Bests and six medals!