Heart beats and chocolate eggs for the Trotters this Easter..............

The weather certainly lived up to the forecast this Easter bank holiday with blue skies and soaring temperatures to add to the extra days off for most. On Saturday 23rd April saw the debut running of a new run"The Haldon Heartbeat" by the Haldon trail runners who are based at Haldon forest park near Exeter. 19 Teignbridge trotters went to try the race out and run up an appetite for Easter eggs the next day!

With over 3000 acres of woodland and forest to explore it seemed only right to base the 8 mile race on some of the paths around the area. Starting and finishing at the winning post on Exeter Racecourse it took the 231 competitors around the inside service track of the race course and then out into Haldon Forest. Although no major steep ascents and descents the race was undulating under foot and quite tough with the heat of the sun. It was well marshalled and water was available at 4 and 6 miles. All finishers received a technical t shirt with any profits going to the HeartSwell South west charity that is committed to help heart patients, their families and carers in the South west linked in with Derriford Hospital in Exeter.

Once again David Tomlin seemed undisturbed by the conditions and posted a splendid time of 50.24 earning himself 3rd place on the podium leading a string of trotters behind him.Ben Epps fresh from his honeymoon had a strong run and was 34th with a time of 1.00.32.Roger Hales recovered from his recent injury at Taunton Marathon did 1.02.15 and 47th.Roger(chairman)Hayes did 1.03.00 and 53rd.Not too far behind was Bruce Campbell in 57th with 1.03.44.Alan Boone with his first race this year showed good form in 1.04.20.Noel Fowler 1.06.29,Stuart Moulson 1.09.08 and Graham Penn followed in 1.11.39.First Trotter lady in was Mary Goulden in 1.12.26 and just one place behind was Sharon Bowman in 1.12.30.Steve Rawlinson 1.18.28,Stella Imong 1.21.00,Jim Donovan struggling with a foot injury did 1.23.32.Derek Blackford 1.24.04,Julie Crocker 1.24.23,Julie Crump 1.32.35,Amanda Milverton 1.34.37 and Marion Witham returned safely in 1.40.09.
(Written by Sharon(Fizz) Bowman)

On Sunday 17th April Adam Caunter and Julian Head swam and ran in the Exeter Tri Clubs Aquathlon, which involves a 600m, swim and 5k run.

This was the third race in the series and Adam did excellently finishing the swim in 9.05 and the transition and 5k in 19.04 for an overall time of 28.09. This placed him 9th overall and 1st Junior male.

Julian was 67th overall, in an overall time 37.50. The race was held at Middlemoor Police Headquarters with a pool swim and three one mile laps of the Middlemoor complex. (by Julian Head)

The racing continued on Monday when a further 19 Trotters travelled to Yeovilton in Somerset for the Easter Bunny 10k organised by Yeovil Town RRC. With a promise of an Easter Egg to all finishers this race attracted an high quality field of 351 finishers. On a pancake flat course with just one bump times were quick and impressively four Trotters, again spearheaded by Dave Tomlin, running his second race in 3 days, broke the 40 minute barrier. 'Tommo' finished 16th in a very swift 35.41 followed by Daryl Milford, 28th in 37.23, Ian Langler 44th in 39.36 and Gary Clark reduced his PB by 22 seconds to record a 50th place finish in 39.51. Roger Hales also running his second race of the weekend was 72nd in 41.40, Stephen Barker 84th in 42.24, Dennis Milstead now running in the V50 class proved age no barrier in taking a minute off his previous PB, 110th in 44.12. Gary Watson followed immediately, 111th in 44.17, Nathan Elphick 134th in 45.37 taking 3 minutes off of his previous PB, Julian Head 157th in 46.29 and Rod Payne 180th in 48.15.

Sharon Bowman who also ran on Saturday led the Trottettes home, 192nd in 49.27 gaining 3rd vet 45 lady, followed by Caroline Clarke who like husband Gary also knocked 22 seconds off her PB finishing 203rd in 50.05. Craig Churchill was 206th in 51.04, Kevin Besford 226th in 53.00, Marsha Garrard 227th in 53.05, Chris Rogers 247th in 55.31, Lucy Payne 273rd in 57.55, Vicky Hales making a welcome return to racing was 312th in 64.11 and Rachel Besford after a long lay-off through injury completed the Royal procession 347th in 75.30. (by Rod Payne)
PHOTOS-TOP-Haldon heart beat Virgins before the off