FOLLOWING a three year enforced COVID-19 break the Bude Lifeboat Run and Junior Run returned to its mid June slot in the racing calendar. Organised by Bude Rats (Run and Tri) the event comprises a six-mile multi-terrain senior race and two one-mile junior races.

Competition was fierce but friendly and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The main sponsor, Bott Ltd, along with organisers, volunteers, supporters and spectators watched not only the strongly contested races but also runners battling to beat their own PBs, in this fundraising event which raised more than £3,500 for the RNLI.

The two junior competitions set off in stages, based on School Years, to run the one mile race following a safe route along Bude’s cycleways and canal towpath. This year’s junior run winners for school Year 7 and above were Liam Higgins of Budehaven Community School in a time of 5mins 32secs and Eleanor Foster of Okehampton College in a time of 5minutess 51seconds.

Other school winners were Ralph Hodgson, Ellie Midelton and Matilda Moore of Stratton Primary School, Marc Leverton and Jimi Mccormick of Bude Primary Academy — Juniors, Arabella Peres of Tregadillett Primary School, Teddy Heywood of Kingsley School, Anna Sobey of Marhamchurch CofE Primary School, Lizzy Tilley of Jacobstow Community Primary School and Oliver Bishop of Bridgerule CofE Primary School.

JUNIOR winner from the Year 7 and above category Liam Higgins of Budehaven Community School in a time of 5mins 32secs ( )

The winners in the youngest category, school Year 1 and under, were Toby Heywood of Kingsley School in a time of 8mins 8secs and Kaleia Peres of Tregadillett Primary School in a time of 8mins 37secs.

All children who took part in the junior races were awarded a well-deserved medal and RNLI cloth badge for their efforts. In total, 41 schools were represented in the junior race and the much sought after School’s Trophy, donated by Bude Rats (Run and Tri), was won by Stratton Primary School, with 14% of pupils taking part.

The 450 entrants of the senior race, part of the Cornish Multi-Terrain series, ran a 6.3 single lap route venturing over the hilly cross country footpaths of the Whalesborough estate and making use of the old Segway track as well as the flat canal towpath and cycleways.

Spectators cheered as the race was won by Mark Jenkin of Bideford AAC in 34mins 34sec, a new course record. Hot on his heels were five fellow club mates James Pugsley, Keith Shapland, Nick Lapham, John Odonoghue and Ian Gooding as Bideford AAC dominated the leading group. The ladies race winner was Lucy Williams of Truro Running Club with a time of 44mins 12secs, with Rebecca Morgan also of Truro Running Club taking second in 44mins 47secs and Helen Morse of East Cornwall Harriers taking third place in a time of 46mins 17secs.

The first three winning runners in both the male and female categories were presented with amazing RNLI hessian bags containing cake kindly donated by Lidl. Lidl also donated wonderful cakes for all the category winners.

The team prizes were awarded to Bideford AAC for the male team comprising of Mark Jenkins, James Pugsley, Keith Shapland, and Nick Lapham and to the ladies winning team of Truro Running Club comprising of Lucy Williams, Rebecca Morgan, Beth Key and Laura Pool.

A spokesperson said: “We are very grateful to have tremendous support for this event from local businesses. Bott Ltd has been the event’s main sponsor for the second year and in addition also supplied a baggage trailer for kit storage.

BUDE Lifeboat Crew before the race with chairman Paul Finn ( )

“Bude Rugby Club host the Race HQ, local scaffolding firm Bude Tubes kindly erect an impressive Finish gantry and Lidl provide high quality category goodies for all. Local sports shop HPT Sport regularly donates team trophies and medals. Another generous partner of the event is accountancy firm Metherell Gard who have supported the event since inception. We’d also like to express our thanks to The Weir Coffee House, Bistro and Wildlife Centre as well as Whalesborough Holiday Cottages and Leisure Centre for their continued support.

“Bude Lifeboat Run is very proud of the fact that the competition is a run for all. Our youngest competitor this year was Woody Linton at just two years and eight months old and at 87 years old Eric Hubber was our oldest competitor.”

To take part next year on June 14 2023 entries will open on February 1. To opt-in to receive Bude Lifeboat run information and be sent a reminder in advance email [email protected]