Trotters Freeze at the Bicton Brr...ister

With the year drawing to its conclusion and a fevered anticipation surrounding the outcome of the Club Championship, 26 Trotters ventured to Bicton College, headquarters for the 10.5 mile Bicton Blister and its little sister the 4.5 mile Bicton Lite.

The main race is fast becoming a perennial favourite in the racing calendar but this year the participant's loyalty was tested by Siberian conditions. The races hosted by Exmouth Harriers start and finish at the College initially following roads the runners ventured on to a snow dusted Woodbury Common through woodland, heathland and gorse lined tracks. Just before the 3 mile mark the race split where participants of the Lite took a direct route back to the finish whilst the Blister runners embarked on a testing 6 mile loop.

Despite valiant but vain efforts to keep warm prior to the start, 23 Royal Blue Clad Trotters set out sporting numbers for the main race and quickly cast aside the cold conditions to join battle. A total of 369 runners finished the race with Dave Tomlin, back after a prolonged lay off through illness, now apparently racing his way back in to form and fitness to lead the Club home 6th overall in 1:07.28. 'Tommo' was followed by the ever consistent Wavell Vigers 15th in 1:09.40. However due to bizarre circumstances Daryl 'Tarquin' Milford never joined his usual battle with his nemesis 'Waves' due to a weather-induced unscheduled call of nature. When feeling suitably relieved Tarquin started at the back of the field and battled his way to a highly commendable 19th place in 1:11.47. A short time elapsed before Simon Boobyer appeared, finishing strongly in 44th position in 1:16.29 with Ian Langler 10 further places adrift but still in a cracking time of 1:17.27. Further down the field the main body of Teignbridge Trotters was jockeying for club positions and crucial championship points. Young Tom Burman occupied 86th spot in 1:21.14 with Adrian Mawson enjoying his day out in club colours next 95th in 1:22.21 followed home by more frequent racer Stuart Moulson 110th in 1:23.24. The Trotters kept coming with the streamline cut of Bruce Campbell, 119th finisher in 1:24.48 followed by Craig Churchill 120th in 1:24.56 then, whilst still a newcomer but taking every opportunity to race, Phil Perry put himself in the mix with a fine 1:26.01. Noel Fowler occupied 141st place in 1:26.53 then, complete with sartorially elegant head gear (as pictured) Wilf Taylor was 146th in 1:27.23. First Trottette to cross the line was the welcome sight of Tracy Elphick running again after a long lay-off, leading our ladies home in 155th place in 1:27.55. Nigel Penwarden as usual gave a good account of himself finishing 174th in 1:29.56 and he was followed by second Teignbridge lady Charlotte Crump also back from an injury lay-off 177th in 1:30.20. A further few minutes ensued before Graeme Baker stopped the clock 233rd in 1:36.20 then in 257th place was our marathon queen of hearts Sally Ingledew. Having taken a mighty 17 minutes off of last year's time Sally was left wondering what to do with the next few hours as she only took 1:39.39 to run this race! Sharon Bowman 'fizzed' around taking three minutes off of last year's time, 260th in 1:39.51. Steve Wallace was only one place further back in 1:40.03 having taken a fall but recovering to put in a good finish. El Taylor was another to take a tumble but was relatively unscathed, similarly recovering to finish 316th in 1:47.20. Derek Blackford returned to HQ 336th in 1:50.12 and Marian Witham wrapped up Trotter proceedings in 363rd place in 2:02.41.

Meanwhile in an equally cold Blister Lite three of our ladies took up the mini challenge. Whilst only 4.5 miles distance this is still a good test of stamina and Sarah Schutte was on good form leading our ladies to finish 19th overall out of 82 finishers in 42.09, Cindy Brookes was 61st in 52.53 and she was closely followed home by Julie Crump, 64th in 53.06 to complete a very satisfactory trio of Trotter performances.

The following is an extract from the organiser's blurb for the Puma Hell Down South run held near Bordon in Hampshire. 'The HellRunner™ is over multi-terrain and varying underfoot conditions. There will be everything from running tracks and trails to water-filled areas and plenty of steep hills. Expect to get very wet! It will be nature at its toughest. The course will be marked but do not expect to see mile or kilometre markers....that's for those softy road running types. All you need to know is that the course will be probably more than 10 and less than 12 miles in length. Hey! With what we have in store, who's counting?' Who in their right mind would take this on?

Well the answer to the question is our very own, newly crowned V60 Marathon club record holder, Dave Taylor. This race is run through forest and over downland with a number of armpit deep water features throughout including one called the 'Bog of Doom'. With over 2000 runners taking part in -5 degree temperatures Dave finished a splendid 693rd in 1:40.22 and in the process carrying off 2nd V60 place.

Report by Rod Payne

Pictured: Top Sharon Bowman, Tracy Elphick and Sally Ingledew Middle: Wilf Taylor complete with headgear Bottom: Tarquin after starting at the back of the grid.