For the last ten years, Somer Running Club's Jack and Jill Challenge has been a fixture on the running calendar of runners near and far.

Featuring the famous 'nursery rhyme' hill climb from Kilmersdon towards Haydon, as well as an abundance of superb local trails, the event has won Gold in the Running Awards for the best 10km race in the South West for the last two years running.

After 2019's success, cancellation came in 2020 as the country was still deep in the first Coronavirus lockdown. Entries for 2020 were refunded, donated to an NHS charity or deferred as a 2021 return was planned. However, as Ade Holborn, Race Director confirmed, it was a disappointing decision not to organise a 2021 event.

"To put on a race to the very high standards we set ourselves relies on numerous volunteers, landowners and other local agencies. With so many uncertainties facing us we feel this is the right decision. Running is in our veins, and races like ours are the life blood of small clubs but we also believe that runners shouldn't be out of pocket so we have emailed all the deferred entrants outlining their options. Those affected can request a full refund or donate their entry to Dementia UK.

"Alternatively, runners can participate in a 'virtual' 2021 Jack n Jill Challenge. This involves running either the Jack n Jill route (or any off road 10k) in the month of May to still receive an official high quality 'Official' Jack n Jill Challenge medal, Race 'Goody' bag with 25% of their entry donated to Dementia UK." General entries for the Virtual Jack n Jill Challenge are now open.

Somer Running Club aims to return to its regular club nights following the easing of national restrictions after March 29, providing support to runners old and new, allowing them to develop in an environment of mutual support and fun.