Templer 10 a Great Trotter Success and Prizes for the Ladies Too

Teignbridge Trotters hosted another highly successful Templer 10 on Sunday. With club members rallying to the call to support the race, it has been a relatively quiet week of racing. However there are still some successes to report.

The week's racing started on Monday evening at Exeter Track for the second round of the Brookes Winter 3k Series. A smaller than usual contingent travelled to Exeter and all took part in the 26 strong 'C' race. John Crocker spearheaded the Royal Blue attack finishing 4th in a very pleasing 11:21. Gary Caunter continues to claw his way back to fitness after a long lay-off following surgery and was across the line in 17th place in 12:14. Craig Churchill finished 21st in 12:38 and is earning a reputation as a man for all races - distance no object. John Caunter, who seems to derive real enjoyment from performing on the track, finished in 22nd place in the highly competitive race in 12:47.

Nestling into the backdrop of the beautiful Teign Estuary, The Passage House Hotel was home for the day for Teignbridge Trotters' race The Templer 10. This race, under the Directorship of John Caunter is run over a distance of 9.5 miles on a mixture of roads, fields and pathways. The race goes out through Kingsteignton and soon picks up the Templer Way following fields alongside the river and into Stover Country Park, before completing a very pleasing loop returning via the fields and Kingsteignton to the finish along the towpath which, on the day, proved to be the muddiest part of the course.
The race started in overcast conditions but soon the sun emerged to give very pleasant running conditions. The biting wind however made for less than ideal conditions for the band of stalwart marshals and officials strategically placed around the course. The runners all enjoyed fantastic encouragement from marshals, supporters and emergency services alike.
The race is a fast one despite being broken up by a number of 'kissing' gates and the was won by Lee Turner who led home a Torbay AC 1-2-3 clean-sweep in a fine time of 53:35. The Ladies race was won by Caroline Hewitt of Tiverton Harriers who, in defiance of her age, finished 16th overall in an equally impressive 1.01:11.
As most Trotters were on official duty there were just 9 Royal Blue vests at the start and it is somewhat refreshing to report some names not ordinarily associated with the race scene. It was, however, the familiar names of Roger Hales and Ben Epps who led the Trotter charge. Roger, known to his club-mates as Smokes for entirely appropriate reasons, continues to defy medical science finishing 49th in 1.08:26 with 'Big' Ben Epps not far behind in 52nd place in 1.08:50. Next home was leggy lovely Louise Bailey finishing 66th overall and 1st FV40 in a very sleek 1.11:54. Phil Perry just gets better and better. Since March he has run himself back to health and fitness and is now being rewarded with good race times and places this time 73rd stopping the timekeeper's clock at 1.12:55. Second in a quintet of Trottette beauty was Belinda Collins collecting 2nd FV40 prize, 89th overall in 1.16:00. Looking ready for action at the start and managing a smile despite the bitterly cold north-westerly wind was Jenna Manion who ran an excellent race to finish 127th in 1.22:54. Next was husband and wife team Lucy and Rod Payne. Lucy is new to running and consequently a novice racer however in defiance of this she battled her way around the course and ironically, over the muddiest part of the course, she showed husband Rod a 'clean' pair of heels to finish 145th in 1.26:32 sending her home happily clutching hold of a bottle of wine as 1st FV55. Husband Rod can only hold out a glass in anticipation for being beaten into 146th place by a clear 9 seconds. Glenn Jarvis has also made a welcome return to the race scene. In recent past he has had a disproportionate share of injury but this year came back into to the Royal Blue fold and finished 174th in 1.31:34. The Trotter lineup was completed by Sarah Ross, returning after holiday closely followed by a much less pleasant bout of flu, Sarah finished 205th in a courageous 1.40:32.

Self confessed lover of Dorset Graham 'Inky' Penn travelled up the A303 to take part in the 7.5 mile Gilly Hilly. Hosted by Gillingham Trotters as the name would suggest this is a tough test and Inky finished 95th out of 192 finishers in a time of 58:31.

The latest round of The Brookes Westward League Cross Country took place at Central Park, Plymouth on Sunday. Here too the crisp dry conditions made for ideal running and 4 Trottettes graced the line for the 2-lap undulating and slippery 6k course. Slip-sliding her way to lead our ladies home was Eyvoll Aston finishing 42nd overall in 27:47, Tracy Elphick was next, 63rd in 30:51. Making her debut in club colours was the diminutive pocket-rocket Debbie Clarke 78th in 33:22 and Jo Becker was 80th in 33:50. In the men's race over 9k Mark Becker was first Trotter back, 68th place in 38:19 followed by John Crocker 80th in 39:33, Mike Roberts was not far behind, 88th in 40:13, then, having made the mad dash from marshaling duties at the Templer 10, Stuart Moulson was 103rd in 41:38. James Henderson completed the Trotter team 107th in 42:33.

Pictured Top: Lucy Payne FV55 winner Middle: Jo & Mark Becker who represented the Club at Plymouth Bottom: John & Tina Caunter ater the Templer 10 - Job Well Done

Report by Rod Payne