Eyvoll & Tommo set the standard at Teignbridge Ten

On Sunday, the Teignbridge Trotters hosted the 26th Great West Teignbridge Ten and although the field was slightly reduced from the 2009 total, 205 runners completed the race, with a remarkable 63 entries on the day. Thanks are due to the many club members who volunteered their services and made the day such a success.

Starting and finishing at Teign School in Kingsteignton, the ten mile event consists of two loops via Sandygate and Preston Manor and is run entirely on road. Conditions were dry and overcast with fifteen Trotters joining competitors from all over the south west, which included a large contingent from the Women's Running Network.

The race was won by Pete Freedman of Tavistock AC in a more than impressive 52:57 and 37 seconds ahead of Adam Carlson of Torbay AC. Third past the post and 1st MV35 was unattached runner Barry Reynolds in a time of 54:03. First lady and 1st FV45, 23rd overall, was Wendy Urban from Torbay AC in 1:04:04.

Dave Tomlin was in fine form and led the Trotters home in 6th position with a time of 57:21- exactly 1:30 faster than 2009, when he finished 7th overall. First lady Trotter and 1st FV35 was Eyvoll Aston in a time of 1:10:29, continuing her recent triumphs by trimming 48 seconds off her own club 10 mile record set recently at Plymouth Hoe.

Wavell Vigers was 2nd Trotter, 17th overall in a splendid 1:02:24. He was followed by Adrian Bailey, 33rd in a time of 1:06:54, Tom Burman (1:09:55), Tracy Elphick (1:13:04 & 2nd FV35), Stuart Moulson (1:13:31), Adrian Mawson (1:14:35) and Nathan Elphick who knocked 5:01 off his previous best from the Braunton 10, with a time of 1:16:05.

Remaining runners were: Gary Watson (1:19:10), Peter Blakesley (1:21:52), veteran runner David Taylor, returning to the club after an absence of many years, 12th Trotter, in a very respectable 1:23:31, Charles Walker (1:28:32) running his first race with the club, Natasha Reed (1:29:30) and Claire Scales (1:44:21).

Meanwhile Graham Penn was flying the flag in Gloucestershire, at the 14th Forest of Dean Trails Half Marathon. Race HQ is at Speech House on the outskirts of Coleford, and the undulating course follows minor roads, forest trails and disused railway tracks. The weather was almost perfect, with a clear sky and light breeze; however conditions underfoot were hazardous in places. Graham finished 839th out of 1743 in a time of 1:57:10.

Photo`s (Gary Caunter)

Upper: Eyvoll Aston in the process of beating her own 10 mile club record.

Lower: Dave Tomlin in a similar determined mood....