A Dashing Show of Trotters at Dawlish

On Thursday evening an impressive 22 Teignbridge Trotters went to the seaside at Dawlish Warren for the 4 mile (approx) Dawlish Coastal Dash. The race organised by Dawlish Coasters is a low key race with the emphasis on fun but the event was spiced up due to the fact that it is one of the Trotter’s Club Championship races.

The familiar sight of Dave Tomlin led home the Royal Blues, less than a week after his victory at the Dartmoor Discovery, he finished in third place in 20.57. Also making light work of the coastal path, beach and assorted obstacles was the young and up-and –coming Adam Caunter 6th in 21.31 followed by Daryl ‘Tarquin’ Milford 8th in 21.35. Ian Langler was next home 19th in 23.18 followed by Gary Clark 22nd in 23.46, Mike Eveleigh making a rare appearance 24th in 23.48, Stephen Barker 26th in 24.01, Alan Boone 33rd in 24.40 and Gary Watson 41st in 25.32. Race mad Craig Churchill was 49th out of the 160 finishers in 26.42 followed home by Julian Head 55th in 27.05. First Trottette back was Sarah Schutte 68th in 28.39 with Graham ‘Inky’ Penn just 3 places in arrears 72nd in 28.53, John Caunter was next finishing 75th overall in 29.00, then Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman was first of a bevy of Trottette beauties 81st in 29.10, Joanne Haynes was 84th in 29.52 with Caroline Clark 87th in 30.06, Mary Goulden 89th in 30.36 and Marsha Garrard 95th in 30.50. Steve Wallace split the ladies finishing 98th in 31.10, heading home Dartmoor Discovery heroine, Sally Ingledew 101st in 31.17, Tina Caunter was next back 104th in 31.46 and Steve Rawlinson swept the wave of Trotters home 107th in 32.08.

On Saturday the dynamic duo of Mark Wotton and Graham Penn travelled to the little village of Umborne, between Honiton and Axminster, for the Umborne Ug 10k. The race is organised by Axe Valley Runners and is in aid of the village hall fund. The course is mainly off road, was well marked and the marshals were excellent. A short shower before the race soon passed and Mark ran well to lead the pair home 35th overall in 57.27 with Inky just behind, 39th in 58.30. Race over, it was a fine evening for the ale and BBQ.

Slightly further afield in Wiltshire, Michelle Willcox-Watts along with ex member Belinda Collins braved the Sunday storms to take on the first running of the Clench 8. Michelle describes the weather as ‘Pretty Horrendous, heavy rain and wind an LOTS of mud, with one bloody enormous hill that had most people walking’. The race is organised by Pewsey Vale RC and all profit from the race goes to the charity Afrikaya that has set up and funds a school in Gambia. Michelle just two weeks since the Edinburgh Marathon was third lady home and 1st V35 lady finishing in a time of approximately 1.18. (No results are currently available).

Ian Langler and Gary Watson set out in similarly atrocious conditions to north Devon to take part in the Ruby Half Marathon. This race is traditionally run in scorching conditions so this year's wet and widy greeting was a shock to the system. The race is run point-to-point between Hatherleigh and Holsworthy and the direction alternates each year. The run to Holsworthy is generally acknowledged to be the more testing direction and Ian finished a fine 8th place overall in a cracking time of 1.27.45. Watsa running well beyond his self acclaimed preferred distance came home 57th out of 154 finishers in 1.48.00.
 

Report by Rod Payne (thanks to contributors Inky Penn, Ian Langler and Michelle Willcocks-Watts)

Photos courtesy of Fizz Bowman :Top - Team Trotter prior to the Dawlish Coastal Dash. Bottom: Mr and Mrs Gary and Caroline Clark proudly showing off their Slate Coaster momentos