Inspirational Isla is a top ten UK athlete

South Devon athlete Isla Perry underlined her status in the UK’s top ten with an outstanding weekend at the English Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

She was one of a number of athletes from Paignton-based South Devon Athletic Club to represent the club at various levels.

Under-15 racer Isla was competing in the 200m and 300m events at the Alexander Stadium.  After negotiating her way to the 300m final with a personal best time, Isla had a great run and finished seventh overall. In the 200m, she qualified for the semi-finals and gave her all, but couldn’t quite make the final cut.

This is Isla’s first year at under-15 level, and her achievements have been outstanding. She is now ranked within the UK top ten for her age in the 300m.

At the South-West Championships and Inter Counties competition held at Exeter Arena, South Devon AC fielded two athletes, Henry Gardiner and Lauren Carr.

Henry ran a strong under-13 800m. He was just pipped to third place and a medal but was delighted with a new personal best time. In the 200m, against a competitive field, Henry ran a fast bend to finish seventh 7th overall.

Under-20 athlete Lauren Carr ran in the 100m hurdles, finishing first and taking the title of South-West Champion.

The club’s seniors, meanwhile, took to the undulating trails of the Haldon Forest Flyer, organised by the Haldon Trail Runners and taking in five miles of forest tracks, paths and fire roads.

Ray Tedstone was the first SDAC racer home in 58m 29s, thirty seconds ahead of first club lady Dani Waters. The rest of the yellow contingent was Shaun Kirk (39m 06s), Antony Waters (41m 37s), Vince Langdon (46m 46s), Mark Holman (51m 24s) and Roger Webb (53m 43s).

Shaun Kirk now leads the men’s standings in the club’s annual Grand Prix competition, with George Holman second and Neil Jordain third.

Dani Waters is the women’s front-runner from Kerry Bell and Cherry Powell.

South Devon Athletic Club chairman Colin Peters tackled three races in three days as the summer events calendar threw up some local favourites.

To start with, he was first across the line in the club’s own Scadson Screamer race from Occombe Farm. The course took runners on a fast downhill through Scadson Woods before turning at Hollicombe for the climb back up again.

Peters completed the course in 21m 19s, chased home by Mark Carter (21m 55s) and Shaun Kirk (22m 17s). First woman home was Dani Waters in 23m 32s.

Other finishers were Marc Walpot (22m 54s), Rob Foster (23m 09s), Antony Waters (24m 00s); Kerry Bell (24m 13s), Guy Henderson (25m 40s), James Nash (25m 48s), Neil Jordain (27m 10s) , Kate Foley (27m 53s), Cherry Powell (28m 17s), Roger Webb (31m 09s) and Alison Ford (33m 03s).

Next up for the chairman was the Chudleigh Road Race, run as part of the town’s annual carnival celebrations.

Club kit was left at home for this one, with Peters, Mark Carter and Ben Hooppell dressing as the Red Arrows, complete with dummy aircraft and a smoke trail.

Then, to complete his hat-trick of races, Peters led five SDAC runners home at the Haytor Heller, a tough six-miler from Hay Tor to Hound Tor and back, organised by Teignbridge Trotters.

He finished in 58m 35s, ahead of Ray Tedstone (64m 41s), Guy Henderson (75m 51s), Vince Langdon (80m 37s) and Roger Webb (91m 59s).

Earlier in the month, 11 club members tackled the Balmy Bicton 10k, with three of them scooping prizes.

Kerry Bell was first in her age group, with Colin Peters and Shaun Kirk first and second in theirs.

The SDAC finishers were Colin Peters (45m 09s), Shaun Kirk (48m 43s), Dani Waters (50m 24s), Antony Waters (53m 41s), Kerry Bell (54m 54s), Kate Foley (55m 19s), Cherry Powell (61m 32s), Heather Coverdale (62m 27s), George Holman (66m 21s), Mark Holman (66m 22s) and Rachel Irish (69m 36s).