The Exmoor Run 2026 truly dawned with almost perfect conditions for running, promising an unforgettable day from the very start. After the much-loved Exmoor Assembly, delivered with signature flair by our archivist Berwick Coates (see his poem below), energy and anticipation filled the air as runners set off to their starting points. This year, we celebrated a record turnout with fifty-eight OWB’s embracing the formidable challenge that is The Exmoor.

Many participants chose to walk the nine miles to the start of The Kinsford Long alongside pupils from the school, creating a wonderful sense of camaraderie. The journey was punctuated by a traditional stop at the Poltimore Inn – fittingly owned by the delightfully eccentric Steve Cotton OWB – where runners enjoyed refreshments before heading up the hill to Kinsford Gate. There, a lively group of OWB’s gathered at the pub for a complimentary lunch and drinks provided by the OWBA, enthusiastically greeting the runners and offering the send-off they so deserved. As the runners took to Exmoor, the challenge began in earnest. Completing this demanding route is nothing short of lifechanging, with the steep cleave towards the end testing the resilience and determination of all involved.

Eight OWB entrants opted for the slightly shorter Heasley Challenge, which starts at Heasley Mill, but still offers testing terrain and the infamous cleave before the finish on school grounds. The Heasley race saw Ella Clifton claim victory in 1.18.14, followed by Keeley Hathway in 1.28.25 and Ali Pike in 1.32.36. First man home was Ryan McNamara, at 1.18.14, with Jose Brinkmann second in 1.27.55, and Richard Hathway in third.

The day also featured several inspiring parent-pupil combinations, including Head Girl Sophia Espinosa Cabrera greeting her father Jose at the finish line. Other fantastic parent child combinations included John Gay and daughter Imogen, Luke Brunton – Emily and Jemima Brunton, Lucy Hilton and her son George, Simon Austen and son Will Austen (winner of The Kinsford Long 2026),  Elizabeth Shawcross-Emily and Luke Shawcross, Rupert Hambly – Sam Hambly, Paul and Joseph Irwin, Damian, Sam and Kitty Johnson, Hayley and Izzy Sampson, Cheryl and Maude North, Nicola and Evelyn Bellamy, Kathryn and Ted Chesworth, Mark and Luc Daly, Adam and Coco Gibbons all sharing in this remarkable achievement.

Perhaps in future we will have a prize for the fastest combined time parent and pupil!

The Exmoor always brings its share of unforgettable stories. Chris Vanstone, who finished a magnificent third in the OWB Kinsford Long. He finally completed the run many years after leaving school – having previously been thwarted when Matron accidentally broke his foot running over it in her car just before the start! Rebecca Hayes OWB ran a fantastic race, finishing second lady, and humorously reminded me that I had caught her, many years previously honing her cross-country prowess by mooching off school to go beagling.

The Kinsford OWB race was won by Mark Poyner in an astonishing time of 1 hour 25 minutes, with Ed Grecu three minutes behind him and Chris Vanstone following a minute later. Lucy Hilton crossed the line in a remarkable fourth position, the first lady to finish and twenty minutes ahead of the next female runner, Rebecca Hayes, who finished twelfth overall in a magnificent 1 hour 50 minutes. Dr Elizabeth Shawcross was third lady home, just five minutes behind Rebecca. Winners were delighted with their replica "Mugsy" mugs, made in a local pottery in memory of the late Paul Thornhill, the brilliant Head of the Craft Department at WBS during the 1970's to the 1990's.

We also salute the more laid-back OWB travellers who walked the course, all of whom managed to avoid the dreaded ‘Bus of Shame’ and finish the course in style.

Special thanks go to Angus Calder, the mastermind behind this year’s event, whose organisation was truly faultless, supported by a dedicated team.

All in all, it was an exceptional day. Perfect conditions, pride, determination, hope, and resilience once again made this a unique occasion. Anyone who completes the Exmoor Run, no matter their finishing time, has a tale worth sharing for a lifetime. Congratulations to everyone involved – you made Exmoor 2026 an extraordinary experience.

Jan Witheridge - OWBA President

The Exmoor, No.13 - by Mr Berwick Coates

Bonjour à tout le monde.

Allons, enfants du lycée entier.

Le jour de gloire est arrivé.

In other words, it's Exmoor Day.

Exmoor - what does it mean?

It depends on your point of view.

Whether it's eighties or thirties or teen.

Is it Exmoor that's now or Exmoor that's been?

Is it hard work with sheep or holiday scene?

Is it chasing rare butterflies, picnics, plain fun?

Or is it a bloody long cross-country run?

For you, only one answer's true.

So let's take the lid off the Exmoor,

And tell all the world what we find.

It's sweating and wheezing and puffing and pain.

It's blisters and scratches and twisting and sprain.

It's cow pats and puddles; it's wind and it's rain.

It's a head-down, teeth-gritting grind.

It's high spirits; low spirits; great swings of mood.

Language that's informal; language that's rude.

The mud on your trainers feels that it's glued.

The sweat in your eyes makes you blind.

It's pausing to steal some relief from the stitch.

It's stopping to scratch at an intimate itch.

It's enjoying a furtive wee into a ditch,

And hope no-one's close up behind.

Is that what the Exmoor's for?

Yes it is. But it's one thing more.

It's something you're all in; something you share;

It's something you do, just because it is there.

And when you look back, you might find you care.

You won't mind you were tired and sore.

A job p'r'aps not well done, but done.

You may not be famous wherever you go.

A pop star? Cup-winner? Celebrity? No.

But it's common knowlege, high and low:

You're the school that has that run.

31st March 2026

BMC