Torbay Evening runs have been very well supported so far this year considering the very dubious weather prospects on a number of occasions. There was admittedly one particularly foul Wednesday when only two braved the elements, but in general numbers have been around the eight to ten mark with strong competition for the attendance trophy.

Runs and distances have varied greatly although the sea and River Dart put a very tight restriction on our scope for variety. On one of the better evenings we included three of the most attractive villages in the area – Coffinswell, Combeinteignhead and Stokeinteignhead.

The valley from Combe to Stoke was at its beautiful best with its magnificent thatched houses enhanced by weeping willows in their early splendour. It was an evening when bats were particularly active, and one flitted just in front of us for more than a hundred yards near Maidencombe.

(Colin Brierly)