Trotters Jingle all the Way to Otterton

With the run-up to Christmas now well under way and with Champion issues finally settled, (but the outcome not made public until the Dinner Dance) it is time for our members to enter into the seasonal spirit and partake in the Christmas themed races dotted about on the race calendar.

One such race is the Reindeer Run which took place at the little East Devon village of Otterton, near Budleigh Salterton on Saturday 4 December. The race, organised by Sidmouth Road Runners has its registration in the local church, with runners all encouraged to wear fancy dress. Enough took up the challenge to turn a few heads as the band of runners passed through the beautiful Devon countryside. After the recent spell of crisp weather eight Teignbridge Trotters lined up in chosen fancy dress in damp, but thankfully warmer conditions. The 10k course is run mainly over fields and tracks that pose a real test of fitness and stamina, testimony to the times recorded, with some parts being particularly tricky underfoot. By way of consolation there was a nice downhill stretch to the finish.

The royal blue charge was led as usual by Dave Tomlin who, when running in second place, he, with 5 other runners, was sent along the wrong route. By the time the mistake was rectified several runners had already passed including 2 dressed in pink tutus and Father Christmas himself. Tommo regained his composure but never recovered his former position and had to be content with 10th place out of 149 finishers in 43.05. Next Trotter across the line was Steve Wallace who finished 68th in 54.08 followed by Sharon Bowman, resplendent but overheated as Mummy Christmas, in 84th place in 58.15. Steve Rawlinson, in the difficult conditions, was unfortunate not to break the hour but finished 97th in 1:00.48. Then followed a close quartet of Trottettes, two of which are recently fledged from the Monday beginner's group and all who generally enjoy each other's company on training nights. Just for the day they engaged themselves in friendly rivalry. Amanda Milverton led the group home 116th in 1:04.07 then a small gap to our recently crowned FV60 record holder Susie Ashleigh-Thomas, 126th in 1:08.45 with Angela Howells hot on her heels 127th in 1:08.53 and Marion Witham completing Trotter business, 133rd in 1:10.24.

All of the runners were presented with a commemorative Reindeer mug and proceeded back to Otterton Church HQ for said mug to be filled with steaming hot mulled wine which was accompanied by a festive mince pie. One contented runner summed it up in one word - 'Sorted'.

Trotter racing regular Craig Churchill also found himself a festive race travelling further afield to Weston Super-Mare in Somerset for his seasonal pleasure. The Wyvern Christmas Cracker 10k organised by Weston AC is far from a low-key event with 1,493 runners completing the fast course on tarmac and beach. All runners were asked to wear at least one piece of tinsel and Craig, complete with his obligatory piece, bagged himself a sparkling 20 second personal best finishing 194th in 45.38.

With the cross country season now in full swing, one lonely lady and four men represented the club at Exeter on Sunday in round 3 of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League. Over a wet, slippery and partly frozen course Emma Sidebotham, our sole lady representative, finished in 39th place in 21.09. In the men's race the team was led by captain Daryl Milford who finished the hilly course in 52nd place in 34.08. Next was team mate Simon Boobyer, 60th in 35.33 followed by cross country stalwarts John Crocker 75th in 37.08 and Mike Roberts hunting him down, 76th in 37.12.

Report by Rod Payne

Pictured: Apres Run Festivities at Otterton