A bit of last minute Business but 2011 now Up and Running

It was a low key end to 2010 with few races about but 2011 has started with a bang with Teignbridge Trotters out in force.

Graham Inky Penn and Mark Wotton teamed up to complete 2010 and start 2011 by running in the Plain Crazy on Salisbury Plain on 27th December and the Brown Willy Run over Bodmin Moor on 1 January.

The Plain Crazy is a 14 mile run over roads and tracks across cold and desolate expanses of military ground. The course takes in the abandoned village of Imber and with the snow still lying on the ground Mark and Inky running in a field of approximately 150 posted unofficial times of 2.00 and 2.13 respectively. The race is run in aid of The Royal British Legion.

On New Year's Day the pair found themselves in Cornwall for the Brown Willy Run a 7 mile run over Bodmin Moor. This is a low-key, hash type opener with no race numbers or results published. The run starts from Jamaica Inn at Bolventor and is a tough run taking in several hills and made worse by boggy conditions. Mark finished in 1.13 and Inky, joined by his race debutant Collie Kelso finished in 1.28.

The main Royal Blue contingent waited until Sunday before dusting off the racing shoes. An impressive line-up of 18 Trotters arrived at the start of the First Chance 10k in Exeter. The race starts at Haven Banks and is a flat and fast course on tarmac cycleways and gravel footpaths along Exeter Canal and the River Exe. Not surprisingly the weather was cold with enough rain about to keep the spirits dampened throughout the 2 lap course duly completed with a couple of unavoidable puddles. Daryl Tarquin Milford started the year in great form finishing 20th out of 470 finishers in 36.28 followed by Ian Langler 52nd breaking the 40 minute barrier by 14 seconds. Mike Roberts was the third Trotter comfortably in the top 100 finishing 80th in 41.32. Gary Clark (104th) and Ben Epps (105th) ran a close battle with Gary in the ascendency in 42.51 and 'Big' Ben unusually running 2 seconds slow. James Henderson was 119th (43.30) and Craig Churchill whilst finishing 124th has now posted PBs in consecutive 10k races taking yet another minute off of his time (44.25). Sarah Whalley looks well placed for a good year, 209th in 48.50 and just behind her Sharon Bowman and super-vet Graeme Baker were locked in a right Royal Blue battle with Graeme's age (215th) yielding to Fizz's beauty (214th) by a solitary second (49.14 and 49.15 respectively). Stephen Wallace was 221st in 49.32 and Kevin Besford (247th) looking to build on his improvement throughout 2010 clocking 50.26. There followed a short gap before the remaining Trotters came across the line thick and fast. Derek Blackford led the procession 320th in 54.31 followed by Pint Sized Debbie Clark, showing a big heart after her recent weather induced respiratory difficulties, 323rd in 55.04, Glenn Jarvis completed his race in 335th place in 55.13, Michelle Roberts was 339th in 55.37, Stella Imong, 356th in 57.09 and Amanda Milverton in leaving over 90 runners in her wake ensured that all Trotters posted sub 60 minute times. Amanda finished 377th in 58.33.

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: Top: Daryl 'Tarquin' Milford finishing 20th at the First Chance (Picture courtesy of Brian Hare via Pocket Rocket) and bottom: Graham 'Inky' Penn minus Collie Kelso (Archive Photo)