Bridport News Article, 1st September 2010

RUNNERS COAST IN ON ROUND BRITAIN RELAY RUN

By Rob Meech

Bridport Runners picked up the baton – quite literally – to participate in one stage of the mammoth British Coastal Relay.
The intention of this event, which was the brainchild of a group of Runner’s World forum users, was to carry ‘Carry the Baton’ the entire length and breadth of the British coastline.
It got underway at Blackpool Tower in May, travelling north towards Scotland before reaching West Dorset earlier this month, where Bridport Runners took charge.
Their route, from West Bexington, through West Bay, and over Golden Cap down to the Cobb at Lyme Regis, spanned roughly 14 miles and featured eight intrepid runners from the club.
Reflecting on their stage of the expedition, club secretary Brian Shelley said: “It went very well and we were all happy to join in and be a part of it.
“I think the people that came up with the idea took inspiration from Eddie Izzard’s run across Britain, and it seems to have generated a lot of interest, with lots of photos and comments on the forum.”
Joel Drapper covered the whole route and was joined at various points by Jonathan Emmet, Jim Warner, Evelyn and Georgie Toogood, Lawrence Shillingford, Les Hawkins and Shelley.
The baton was transferred to Axe Valley Runners on the Cobb and will continue to be transported around the British coastline.