FOR the first time in the ten-year history of the Bude Lifeboat Run there was a rescue call for the Bude Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat crew to respond to an emergency on Wednesday, June 13.

The call was to help an experienced wind surfer in difficulty. The outcome was successful.

For the third year the Bude Lifeboat Run was sold out well before race day for the senior six-mile multi-terrain race.

A record number of children ran the junior one-mile race for those 15 years and under. The one-mile course follows a safe route around Bude’s cycleways and canal towpath with the 450 seniors venturing farther afield over the Whalesborough estate on a six-mile course.

Thanks were expressed to the staff of both the town council and Cormac for ensuring the route around Bude marshes was in such good condition.

Competition was at its best and the evening was a resounding success for organisers, volunteers, participants and sponsors alike.

Main sponsor Outdoor Adventure and organisers Bude Run and Tri saw two strongly contested races in this RNLI fundraising event.

This year’s junior run school Year 7 and above winners were Jamie Milson from Bideford College, in a new record time of 5mins, 28secs and Sophie Shute from Budehaven Community in 6mins, 48secs.

Other school year winners were Saul Barraclough and Niall Slade of Bradworthy Primary, Ella and Harrison Shaw, of St Joseph’s in Launceston, Poppy Cornish of Monkleigh Primary, Jimi McCormack of Bude Infants, Coco Arthur or Marhamchurch Primary, Janosh Balsdon of Warbstow Primary, Alexa Lyon of Bude Junior, Eloise Beagle of Stratton Primary, Lucas Bisby of Bude Juniors and Freya Woodhead of St Mary’s Primary.

The youngest finisher, two-year-old Zakk Easden, demonstrated how the lifeboat run is a run for all.

With 48 different schools being represented the ‘School’s Trophy’, donated by Bude Run and Tri, was hotly contested with Warbstow Community Primary winning for a second year with 49% of school pupils taking part.

The senior race — part of the Cornish multi-terrain race series — is a six-mile, single lap course using two miles of flat cycleways for the route out, three miles of flat canal towpath for the route back and a connecting one-mile hilly cross country footpath around the Whalesborough estate.

Spectators watched an exciting sprint to the line won by Jonny Colaco of Newquay Road Runners in 34mins, 39secs with second placed Mike Clark of South Molton Strugglers just two seconds behind. Truro Running Club athlete, Alex Marples, was third in 34mins, 57secs.

The ladies winner was Jodi Bennett in 37mins, 7secs with Wendy Chapman 37mins, 49secs in second place and last year’s winner, Hannah Astley, in third.

The first three in both male and female races were presented with hampers donated by Lidl, who also donated cakes for all the category winners as well as bottled water for every runner.

Both male and female team prizes were awarded to very strong foursomes from Truro RC comprising Alex Marples, James Kirton, Wayne Sara and Danny Fox for the men and Wendy Chapman, Becky Morgan, Claire Mensing and Jennifer Gay for the ladies.

The ‘Non-Running Club Team Trophy’ went to Ben Towe, Paul Waters, Jo Houghton and Rebecca Towe with the rather unusual team name ‘It’s All For The Cake’.

Local businesses were tremendously supportive: Since 2010 Outdoor Adventure, an activity centre based near Widemouth Bay, has been the event’s main sponsor, Bude Rugby Club host the ‘Race HQ’ and local scaffolding firm Bude Tubes erected an impressive finish gantry. Local sports shop HPT Sport regularly donates team trophies and kit storage is managed with the use of a trailer supplied by Bott Ltd.

Another generous partner of the event is accountancy firm Metherell Gard who have supported the event since inception.

After its tenth year the Bude Lifeboat Run has raised equivalent funds to pay for an Inshore Safety Boat for the RNLI.

Stephen Hutchinson, race director, said: “A special thank you must be given to the 100 or so marshals around the course and race centre, RNLI Lifeguards who provide first aid cover and the lifeboat crew who provide the barbecue.”

For information about the race next year on June 12, 2019, contact the race director at [email protected]