Teignbridge Stags descend on Wargrave

Nineteen Teignbridge Trotters travelled to the Thames Valley over the weekend, to celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of veteran member Mike Eveleigh. A Stag weekend for a running club would be incomplete without a gentle race on the Sunday morning after the night before. The light undulations of the Wargrave 10k road race fitted the bill perfectly. Organised by Wargrave Runners, with a start and finish at the recreation ground, the event was well patronised with a total of 628 finishers.

Ronnie Jones led the team home in 15th overall position, with a time of 37:15, closely followed by Dave Tomlin who was 17th in 37:28. Third Trotter across the line, in 31st position was Garry Smart (38:44) with Mike Eveleigh in 40:17. The award of First Male Team prize rounded off a very memorable weekend.

The remaining Stags were: Ian Langler (41:36), Roger Hales (43:07), John Tweedie (43:16), Gary Watson (43:45), Stewart Dunn (46:42), Simon Mayo (47:09), Jim Donovan (48:44), Robert Eveleigh (49:29), Dave Dunn (50:20), Andy Ludlam (51:14), Rod Payne (51:39), Pete Aston (52:03), Alastair Lee (52:20), Adrian Youngman (53:26) and Chris Wride (54:37).

Further proof of the Trotter versatility was to be found at Wimbleball in Exmoor, early on Sunday morning, when John Caunter and Stella Imong entered the lake with over 860 other competitors, for the start of the 2009 UK Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. The 1.2 mile swim and 56 mile bike ride was followed by a Half Marathon, completed by John in 6:15:49 (44:41/ 3:18:49/ 2:04:06) and Stella in 7:54:57 (49:34/ 4:23:32/ 2:30:07) both 2nd in their age categories. Two superb times, for one of the most challenging events staged.

Meanwhile back in Devon, four other club members were flying the flag at the inaugural Plym Valley Challenge, a 9 mile multi terrain race hosted by Instinctive Sports of Plymouth, in aid of St Luke`s Hospice. Julia Proctor led the Royal Blues home in a time of 1:24:57, 88th in a field of 160 finishers. She was followed by Nikki Kennard (1:25:45), Eleanor Taylor (1:29:35) and Steve Rawlinson (1:31:30).

Further north Mark Hamling, Helen O`Malley and Graham Penn took part in the Ruby Run Half Marathon. Staged alternately between the two towns of Hatherleigh and Holsworthy, it was the turn of the former to host this year`s event. The well marshalled route along the A3072 contained some quite lengthy climbs with a final punishing hill towards the finish. First over the line was Mark, 38th overall in a field of 156 finishers, with a time of 1:44:22. Helen was next (1:53:22) followed by Graham (1:56:56)

Earlier in the week, on June 9th, five Trotters attended the Ironbridge Runner Exeter 5k race. Gary Watson was 1st across the line in a very respectable 20:29, followed by John Caunter (21:00), Gary Caunter (21:30), Syd Willocks (22:44) and Michelle Willocks-Watts (24:32).

Photo: Helen O`Malley, Mark Hamling & Graham Penn before the start of the 2009 Ruby Run