Caddihoe Chase
& SW Long Distance champs
Tony H, Sheeps Tor
Credit:
Mark Lockett
Congratulations to the new SW Long Distance & Caddihoe Chase champions Tom Hasler (M18), Oliver Lewis (M12), Annabelle Lewis (W12).
In total, fifteen QO braved the testing weather on Sheeps Tor, Dartmoor over the two events.
NEW: Photos & Day 2 report
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Sadly for organisers Devon OC, and as with the SW Middle Champs in May, numbers were low over the two days. Competition was particularly diminished in the junior fields but take nothing away from the youngsters who adapted to the moorland terrain and registered clean runs.
M50 runner up, Richard
Credit: Mark Lockett
Caddihoe Chase
The double header consisted of a ranking event on the Saturday and a chasing start on the Sunday based on times achieved the previous day.
Besides the success for Annabel, Oliver and Tom, there were third place spots for Richard Sansbury (M50) and Andy Rimes (M55).
Competition was close between Pete Shirvington and Tom Hasler-on the Short Brown course used for the M45 and M18 categories respectively. Both have good track records on Dartmoor; Pete is faster but on this occasion just four seconds separated them.
M18 winner Tom
Credit: Mark Lockett
SW Long Distance Champions
The illustrious list of previous winners brings home the magnitude of the achievement of three of our youngsters this year.
Link: list of previous SW champions
Tom Hasler succeeds Devon OC's England International Flurry Grierson as M18 champion. Annabelle Lewis meanwhile follows in the similarly successful footsteps of the 2018 W12 winner, Wessex OC's Lyra Medlock. The nationally renowned Tom Perry and Jim Bailey preceded Oliver as M12 winners.
Impressive also were the runners-up places achieved by Richard Sansbury (M50) and Andy Rimes (M55).
Richard in full flow
Credit: Mark Lockett
When looking at the results, remember that only members from SWOA clubs were eligible for the accolades.
Unlucky Richard would have been champion but for Bristol OK's Clive Hallett decision to run 'up'. Clive's decision understandable given that he was otherwise facing the might of Andy Rimes on M55.
There were 3rd placed finishes for Rosie Wych on W60, Tony Hext on M70 and Bill Vigar on M80. Brian Pearson missed out on the 'podium' by two minutes on M55.
Richard S receives Devon's Byfoot Trophy on behalf of QO team
Credit: Brian Pearson
Trophy presentation
See the picture of Richard Sansbury collecting the quirky By-Foot trophy, before his run on Saturday.
His QO team won the Devon Relays in the summer. It took three months but we finally got our hands on it. An elusive beast? Well the trophy is based on a cast of the lesser-spotted Dartmoor Beast's footprint, after all. It was worth the wait- our win at Knightshayes in June was the first time in 13 years we'd claimed the By-Foot.