Chocolate egg and new record for Angela

The Easter weekend provided some interesting running opportunities for the Teignbridge Trotters and on Sunday, Mark Wotton attended the most daunting of the three: the Hanham Horror. Organised by Bitton Road Runners, the 6 mile event `of mass suffering` starts at Vicarage Road playing field at Hanham, east of Bristol and involves some steep ascents, where at least one is tackled with the assistance of a rope!

Conditions were muddy underfoot on the woodland trails near the River Avon, however due to a marshalling error; competitors were directed the wrong way which unfortunately reduced the route to approximately 5 miles. Mark was on top form and crossed the line 54th out of 274, in an impressive 42:34.

Almost every year since 1946, Easter Monday has traditionally seen the staging of the Bampton to Tiverton road race by Tiverton Harriers, and this year was no exception. Two Trotters joined 138 other runners for the 7 mile event, which starts at the White Horse pub in Bampton; competitors having been transported there by coach, from race HQ at Tiverton Football club.

The course follows the undulating Exe Valley through Cove, on the main A396 and Bolham, with a rather intimidating climb in the last mile. Stuart Moulson ran a fine race, crossing the finish line at People`s Park in 42nd position, with club stalwart Graham Terrill following in 1:10:40.

With more of an Easter flavour, Yeovil Town Road Running Club again hosted the annual Easter Bunny 10k from RNAS Yeovilton. The level course is run on quiet rural lanes and was well marshalled. Weather conditions were good in the first half of the race, but then runners faced the prospect of a strong headwind towards the finish.

Eight Trotters earned themselves a chocolate egg for completing the race, and were led home by Dave Tomlin in a time of 35:10, 18th overall in a field of 356. Eyvoll Aston was also in action again and crossed the line 88th in 41:55, taking the 3rd FV35 award. Mark Wotton had apparently recovered from the previous days `Horror` and passed the post 100th in a splendid 43:08, shaving one second off his previous 10k best.

Not to be outdone, Sharon Bowman also recorded a distance PB with her time of 47:09; 34 seconds faster than at the Torbay Regatta 10k last summer. She was followed by Charlotte Crump (48:22) and Marion Witham (1:00:58). Angela Weeks broke her own club FV65 record, set at Newquay in 2009, by an amazing 5:12. Angela`s time of 1:02:58 also placed her as 2nd FV65. Julie Crump (1:05:17) completed the successful royal blue line up.