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A small cluster of Musketeers entered and conquered the famously tough and aptly named ten-mile Bicton Blister multi-terrain race on Woodbury Common near Exmouth.

Due to aftermath of the floods the first major hurdle was getting to the race start. The flood diversions made that difficult and caused Guy and Craig to get lost, but then that does not take much.

Despite an array of electronic gadgetry with navigation aids we managed to drive in ever- decreasing circles round abandoned cars and fire fighters pumping out flooded remote houses without getting anywhere.

Eventually, we arrived somewhat breathless to register half an hour before the start, which is early for Guy, but late in Craig’s terms.

It was a brave decision not to cancel the race, but the right one, especially when refugees from the cancelled Harepath race boosted numbers to about 400.

The route is renowned for being very tricky underfoot, with rarely a level and even path, after all the Royal Marines train there and if it is good enough for them…!

So when the tough at last got going – the Musketeers found it the wettest race ever. Puddles became much deeper and rivers and streams and ditches swelled to at least thigh depth.

There was no point in avoiding puddles in the first few metres as is instinct, instead we waded in at the first opportunity, taking the direct route.

Trail shoes became caked in mud and soaking wet and shorts soaked from splashing through deep puddles, it was a case of following those who dared and survived.

Craig and Marie and Guy completed the race and, dare I say it, enjoyed the challenge. Though Craig said it was not as adrenalin-rushed as mountain biking, his previous pastime.

Mind you there was plenty to keep us on our toes with steep slopes or stream beds strewn with rounded pebbles and crevasses ready to trip you up like ball bearings. And very narrow gorse-lined twisting animal tracks on the edge of a steep slope.

The sense of achievement was great, mixed with relief that it was over. Race HQ is at civilised Bicton College with subsidised Costa Coffee bar with hot food and large rooms for meeting and registering and changing. But no showers to wash and warm up in.

Maybe a larger Musketeer line-up will make the trip next time and we would all benefit from the famous Musketeer camaraderie.

By Guy Boswell

A lone Musketeer in the form of Sarah Horton represented the club at the little known Sourton 10km.

This is rather more than the official 10km length and it feels longer as it is a hilly multi-terrain run on Dartmoor.

Intrepid Sarah did very well, as we’d expect. She joined some hardy runners and her injured husband Glenn in a well organised race run by the village community at Sourton, between Tavistock and Oakhampton.

The race, staged to raise village funds, starts on a disused level railway line and diverts onto the moor and rises gradually on and on and on, up grassy fields and moorland.

Tired runners were then faced with uneven stony and muddy track high up with fantastic views across the valley above the village.

They then gingerly descended wet grass tracks and followed a stone wall on the level, but uneven moorland hillside grazed by sheep before looping back onto the former railway line and to the finish.

The organisers were blessed with the dry weather. It was only shortly before everyone finished that the heavens open and most retreated to the village hall for welcome home-made cakes drinks and other food.

Though largely unknown in Plymouth, the race has been going for 8 years and is a good introduction to off-road racing. Unsurprisingly most runners came from Tavistock and Oakhampton.

David Tomlin (Teignbridge Trotters) was first home in an impressive time of 43.44 given the conditions. With the same course as last year, Andy Vallance (Okehampton Running Club) was second with 44.31. Andy held off the challenge of James Best (Tavistock Athletics Club) who came in third at 44.45, at only 16 years old. Jo Meek (Tavistock AC), beat her course personal best set last year to lead the female runners home in a time of 46.03 and was sixth overall. Sharon Daw (Mud Crew 51.16), was second lady home with Helen Heard (Bude Rats 51.37), coming in third female.

It would be good to see a few more keep Sarah company next year – not that she’s promised to run it again! Last year only two Musketeers did it.

By Guy

17 Musketeers represented their club with honour in the Plymouth 10km which attracted 1,129 runners.

They were probably outnumbered by the numbers marshalling – all shamelessly bribed with free race entries.

Those less money-minded citizens did fantastically well, especially in the age categories and there cannot be many clubs who were so high up the age ratings for such a relatively small entry – quality rather than quantity shines through.

1) Rich M led the Muskie pack at 72nd finishing in 41.40 in 48th in age group.

2) Stan K 153rd, 45m 1sec, 20th in age.

3) Craig F 169th, 45.32, 103rd

4) Miranda K 288, 49.06, 8th.

5) Jenny K 313th, 48.06, 7th

6) Annette 428th. 51.43,7th.

7) Vic H 451st, 53, 7th.

8 ) Johnny K 498th, 54.09, 19th

9) Donna B 535th, 54.5, 12th.

10) Sam G 553rd, 55.19, 20th.

11) Michael P 614th, 56.09, 26th.

12) Anita C 629th, 55.57, 8th.

13) Ian L 743, 58.51, 68th.

14) Tracey C 746, 58, 21st.

15) Doug L, 933rd, 1h 3m, 80th.

16) Kerry F 934th, 1h 5m, 171st.

17) Kathryn G 1,078th, 1h 13m, 24th.

It is a shame there was not more of a goody bag for those who did so well, but were not among the prizes. Even marshals got t-shirts.

Among those with personal bests were Kerry, by virtue of this being her first ever race for the Muskies, Johnny also and congratulations to those who I have not mentioned as I did not speak to everyone and some people ran under different names or did not run, but some ran for them instead, very confusing!

By Guy

Hi All

Just to let you know we have now started a circuit training session at the club. It takes place every Monday night. Arrive for 6:45pm with a 7pm start.

The first race of this year’s Devon V Cornwall challenge took place over 10 tough country kilometres.

Ieuan, Lucy, Maggie, Craig, Thommy and Jenny tackled the challenging course and survived. Craig was first Muskie home followed by Jenny.

The race began in the beautiful pastoral landscape of the elegant Mt Edgecumbe House and down a very steep emerald green slope with the tranquil River Tamar in the background. This restful backdrop gives no clue as to the running battle ground that follows.

The shell-shocked Musketeers reported back from the frontline and spoke in hushed tones of steep slopes, steps, mud, gates and all sorts of obstacles.

However, they all ran very well and represented Devon and the Musketeers valiantly.

Thommy found new energy running up the same slope they started – clearly motivated by Ieuan snapping at his heels. Jenny looked cool as she typically galloped up the hill, miles in front of the others and not too far behind Craig in his amazing technicolour go-fast shorts that Kerry kindly bought him. Maggie was obviously relishing her future Sunday lunch at the end as she finished strongly. Lucy even managed a painful grimace on the finishing slope in her newish £15 super shoes.

The only slightly disappointing note was the rather sparse goodie bag. Race HQ is in a cosy café in the old sdivs and makes a good refuge and there is a luggage tent and a very vociferous commentator who is keen to make runners feel they aren’t doing their best.

The next round of the two-race Devon v Cornwall challenge is at the end of January, but it will be a ten-mile race round a similar course, anyone up for it?

By Guy

One of the toughest cross country races in Devon was conquered by the intrepid Musketeers.

Neil W, Caroline W, Maggie L, Guy B, Mark P and Nicole B, are all to be congratulated for completing impressively surviving a rugged race.

Although listed as 7.5 miles, it was nearer 8 miles and feels more like 10 miles. The route took us up hill nearly all the way to the top of the immense hill towering over Ivybridge.

The gradient increased the nearer to the top we got and so does the heart beat.

The terrain varied between road at one extreme to soggy moorland, narrow woodland paths and a very precarious stony track which looked like a dry river bed. In between was a stream and muddy paths. Even the steep down hill was tricky and the road approaching the finish was also designed to trip us up with speed humps.

Neil appears to be improving through his iron man attitude to his marathon training and raced the route, despite insisting beforehand he was merely using it as a steady training run. Mark did an impression of a diving diva, throwing himself in front of an innocent family and then demanding sympathy at the end with a bleeding knee. Nicole regretted getting out of bed at all on a Sunday just to suffer. While Maggie let us all down by missing out on an age group prize. The only sensible one among us was Caroline who is on course with her marathon training and a steady non-diva-like race looking cool as a cucumber.

By Guy

A strong team of Musketeers took completed the Six Moor Miles – a tough cross-country race on the lower slopes of Dartmoor near Yelverton.

Caroline W, Mark, P, Neil W, Lorraine D, Sarah A, Steve M, Barry D, Rich, Sharon A and Bryan ran the tricky route which was made even more hard under foot by a heavy shower.

The route was wetter than us townies were expecting as it rains more often high on the moor, despite recent hot and drier weather. The grass was therefore, boggy, the woods muddy and the stones and tree roots lethally slippery while the ferns soaked muddy runners’ legs.

Barry went off like a fox being hunted and stragglers like Guy, Steve and Rich were left behind.

The rain hit us a couple of miles in and was refreshing, but we cared little as the route became harder with treacherous footings and steep stony hills.

Tackling slippery paths and grass and avoiding falling over and the runner in front is very taxing, more so than a road run of he same length, but that is part of the attraction. The variety and scenery also helps make runs go faster.

However, being longer than six miles – hence the ‘moor’ title, there is an extra 0.7 of a mile to run. The end seems to drag a little because it is hard to judge where the finish is exactly and how far you have to run and how much effort to put in and whether it is worth trying to over take some one.

Despite the difficulties, after you have finished it all seems worthwhile, though Caroline seemed to doubt it was. May be she was dreading running back home with her coach Neil and Sarah and Louise (who ran from home to the start, but did not race) to train for a forthcoming Amsterdam Marathon.

The well organised race gives you a non-technical t-shirt, two toothbrushes and bottle of water in the goody bag.

I would recommend the run on the wild side, it is close to home, well organised and lots of support from friends and on beautiful Dartmoor, what more could you want.

By Guy

Another Musketeers relay record has been broke – an amazing five teams took part in the Tavistock Relays.

This beat the four Erme Valley Relay team total by one and was another dry enjoyable evening.

Runners in the teams of four ran one mile each up and down either side of the town’s park.

That sounds easy, but running at 80 per cent sprinting speed for all but the last 100 metres and leave you gasping for breath for a long while after finishing. Or was that just ancient me?

The atmosphere is also very supportive and the typical Musketeer team spirit is in its element with everyone supporting and cheering each other – and even yelling on other teams!

Despite being among the smaller running clubs in the area, we still out shouted and out numbered larger club and definitely competed on equal terms and outshone in enthusiasm.

The event is well organised and attracts about 50 teams with each runner grasping a baton, which reminded us all of school sports days. None of us dropped a baton and I am sure that we acquitted ourselves well on the racing front.

Barry D certainly gave one team a fantastic start and is the club’s front runner, luckily he likes racing.

Everyone gave their lung-busting all and I came away yet again proud of the Musketeers’ effort and positive attitude – which was picked up by others at the event who cheered us on, even though we were rival clubs. It seems enthusiasm is infectious in the nicest possible way.

By Guy