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06 Sept 2025

Bideford Blues battle brutal Bay conditions

Ella Tout racing in the rain

Ella Tout racing in the rain

Torbay Fast 5000 is a rainy success

The weather was beyond rotten but still no deterrent for two hardy juniors from Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, showcasing North Devon talent at the opposite end of the County.

Taking on the Torbay Fast 5000 at Paignton Velopark on Sunday, the Bideford duo both ran superb personal best times, with Finley Cloak finishing in 16:22 and Ella Tout clocking a tremendous 19:41.

The race was in serious doubt all weekend, with the organisers from City Runs constantly monitoring the forecast to ensure the safety of all participants. In the end, it was a great success, despite the wind and rain.

The men’s race was won by Ollie Thorogood from South West Road Runners in a time of 15:27, while Atsede Gidey from Exmouth Harriers was the first woman to cross the line in 16:53.

Praying for much better weather in their showpiece spring event, Bideford AAC plans are being finalised for the Bideford Half Marathon on Sunday, March 9.

The club has issued the following public notice: ‘The traffic into Bideford will be heavier than usual as competitors arrive in the morning for the race start at 10.30am, possibly impacting other road users.

ROAD CLOSURE 1: a section of the A386 (Kingsley Road and the Quay) will be closed to traffic from Chanters Road to Bideford Old Bridge for the race start for approximately 15 minutes from 10.30am

The race continues on the A386 towards Great Torrington; we kindly ask drivers to take care when travelling along the route as there will be runners along the side of the road until Landcross.

ROAD CLOSURE 2: a section of the A386 will be closed to traffic between Landcross and Rakenham Lodge from 10.40am to 12.15pm with a diversion in place (Bideford to Torrington road).

More information on both closures is here: https://one.network/uk/devon

The race then returns on the Tarka Trail; we would like to make the public and community aware there will be several runners on the trail from about 11am to approximately 1.30pm.’

And finally, in much sunnier conditions, Bideford trio Adrian Prust and Sabrina and Kieran Hodge completed the Alicante 10k and Half Marathon in Spain.   

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