Bideford Half Marathon celebrates 30th year with record-breaking performances

Bideford Amateur Athletic Club (AAC) marked the 30th anniversary of the Bideford Half Marathon with a fantastic turnout and outstanding performances, including a new women’s course record.

The event, known for its scenic and fast course along the River Torridge, welcomed nearly 1000 runners both local and from across the country, creating a buzzing atmosphere in the town.

Race Results
Men’s Podium:
Ronnie Richmond (Bideford AAC) – 1:07:36 (his sixth consecutive victory)
Simon Fox (Exeter Harriers) – 1:07:36
Dan Mapp (Bideford AAC) – 1:10:42

Women’s Podium:
Kate Drew – 1:16:35 (new course record, beating the previous 1:17:15 which has stood for many years)
Atsede Gidey (Exmouth Harriers) – 1:17:13
Rebecca Ezra-Ham (Tamar Trotters) – 1:17:50

Among the notable competitors was 11-time British age-group triathlon champion Donald Brooks, who finished as the first Vet45 male in 1:15:19.

Bideford AAC Race Director Alan Heard expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the event’s success:

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came forward to help with the 30th Bideford Half Marathon. You did us proud, forming a sea of yellow marshalling vests. I asked a few of the many finishers their thoughts on the course, and I had nothing but praise for the event.

“It was great to see the women’s course record broken – excellent running by Kate Drew. This was a special day for the club, and we are now looking forward to the Bideford 10k, which is going to be another fantastic event.”

Following the success of the half marathon, Bideford AAC is gearing up for the Bideford 10k on Sunday, May 11. This year, the race is proud to be part of the English Masters Programme as a 10k qualifying event, highlighting its quality and competitiveness.

Alan Heard added: “Being selected as part of the English Masters Programme is a real honour for the club and a testament to the high standard of our event. We’re excited to welcome both competitive and non-competitive runners to Bideford for another fantastic race.”

Runners wishing to qualify should sign up for the Bideford 10k as normal and register via England Athletics. Entries for the Bideford 10k are now open. For more details and to sign up, visit www.bidefordaac.co.uk.

A team of talented Bideford AAC athletes traveled to Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday to represent Devon and Cornwall in the British Athletics Cross Country Challenge, a prestigious event showcasing the best cross-country runners from across the UK.

Competing against some of the strongest athletes in the country, Bideford’s runners put in fantastic performances, proving that their hard work and dedication to training continues to pay off.

Bideford AAC Results: U13 Girls (field of 308 runners) Carys Woodhead – 70th (2nd Devon finisher) Lottie Hill – 252nd (6th Devon finisher) U15 Girls (field of 304 runners) Ella Tout – 126th (5th Devon finisher) U17 Boys (field of 290 runners) Finley Cloak – 132nd (5th Devon finisher) Senior Women (field of 266 runners) Jane Cann – 214th (5th Devon finisher) Senior Men (field of 277 runners) Flynn Jennings – 27th overall (2nd Devon finisher) Mark Jenkin – 117th overall (4th Cornwall finisher)

Bideford AAC Junior Coach, Sharon Cloak, praised the athletes for their outstanding performances:

“What an amazing day of racing in near-perfect conditions at Wollaton Park. There was a huge wealth of talent in all age categories, and our team of Blues stepped up to the mark and performed amazingly.

“Well done to all who ran—it’s not just about the results, but all the hard work you have put in to get there.”

Bideford AAC continues to develop and support athletes at all levels, from juniors to seniors, encouraging participation in high-profile competitions like the British Athletics Cross Country Challenge. With more events on the horizon, the club looks forward to building on this success and seeing its athletes thrive in the upcoming race season.

For more information about Bideford AAC and how to get involved, visit www.bidefordaac.co.uk