AS part of Tavistock Carnival week, Tavistock Athletic Club has organised a relay race competition for more than 30 years.

The races, now held on The Meadows, have become a fixture for many local clubs and have raised thousands of pounds for Tavistock Lions good causes. The race is over a 1.1mile course that runs parallel to the River Tavy, crossing Westbridge and Abbey Bridge.

On Thursday a record 118 teams took part – mostly from local running clubs (the furthest travellers were Bude Rats) but also in the junior categories some local primary schools entered and also some local sports clubs. After the fun run (supported by Tavistock Athletic Club running legend Adam Holland) the 33 teams in the junior relays set off. It was a gun to tape victory for the Tavistock AC boys (year 9/10) with a team that contained the fastest two times of the junior relays from Ollie Woodmason and Will Russell. Second team home was yet another team from Tavistock Athletic club to win the year 7/8 boys category. City of Plymouth won both the girls and boys year 5/6 competition. In the 7/8 girls race it was victory for Tavistock Swimming Club. Launceston Road Runners new junior section picked up gold in the year 9/10 girls. In the year 11/12 girls race Tavistock AC picked up their third gold of the junior races.

In the senior and vets women’s relay, trying to hold onto their crown from last year was the Tavistock AC team. An increased field from last year meant that the pressure was on. However, Natasha Farrington came into sight at the end of the first leg, 14 seconds down on Victoria Weir from City of Plymouth and a marginal lead over Rachel Malthouse from TRP. The Tavistock AC ladies were too strong with a 6.30 leg from Joely Bytheway, followed by a 6min 12 second leg from Clarissa Nichols, leaving English Schools’ 800m finalist Emma Ryder to storm round and capture the gold with a 5min 54 leg.

The second Tavistock ladies team took silver in the 41 team field with Sam Lake bringing the team home with a 6.13 run. In the vets ladies’ teams just 34 seconds divided first three teams. It was the strong team of Launceston Road Runners who picked up gold with Okehampton Running Club in second and TAC ladies in third.

In the men’s race City of Plymouth AC got off to a flying start with Dean Smith running the second fastest leg of the day in 4.55. But not far behind was Olly Smart from Tavistock Run Project in 5.02 and Will Dax from Tavistock AC in 5.05. Another fast leg from the Plymouth team put them in control as TRP and TAC battled on, Ed Smart increased the lead to 11 seconds with his 5.36 leg. On the third leg Neil Barkell for TAC closed the gap and the two last leg runners had just five seconds between them as they vied for silver and bronze. Matt Bradley had a stunning last leg of 4.54 to wrap up gold for City of Plymouth. Jim Cole from TRP had the satisfaction of holding off Adam Holland from TAC, but Holland had the satisfaction of running quicker, closing the gap to an exciting 3 seconds. The senior men’s vets race was won by the seventh overall placed Plymouth Harriers.

Race director Martin Exley-Deane said he was delighted with the event.

He said: ‘We have had a record entry of teams, fantastic engagement from the running community and the Tavistock community. Not only that there was spectacular racing across all ages and abilities, it was one of the best relay events that we’ve had. I’m expecting Tavistock AC will be handing over a record amount to Tavistock Lions for their good causes. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their contribution, whether they were running, organising or supporting.’