Otter Rail and River 10km breaks record with trotters on the club trip......

Otter Rail and River 10km breaks record with trotters…..

The sun shone brightly on the annual “Teignbridge Trotter club trip” on Saturday 2nd July. This year Chairman Roger Hayes had picked Tipton St John near Sidmouth with the “Otter Rail and River 10km”.A double decker bus was laid on by the club to transport families. This is a multi-terrain event with no major hills but plenty of difficult ground, stiles and kissing gates and beautiful scenery to enjoy. There was also a fun run for children to run and the “trotter” kids enjoyed this event while their parents had the longer version! It took 160 runners from the village centre where its annual fair was being held, down river to Harpford, along the old railway line to Tipton then off road to Fluxton and Metcombe to end in the centre of the fair.46 trotters ran the race as part of the day out and made for the most trotters recorded in the same race to date and even included Mark Wotton running as an elephant!

The first Trotter home and also the winner of the race was David Tomlin(tommo) keeping up his strong racing qualities and winning streak by keeping 2nd place trotter Daryl “Tarquin” Milford from the podium by 22 seconds!Tommo did 37.39 and Tarquin 38.01.5th place went to Wavell Vigers in 40.56 and gained him 1st Vet 40 male and making up the trio of the 1st men’s team.Roger Hayes was 8th in 41.18 with Ian Langler getting the 10th place with 42.08.Stephen Barker was hot on his tail in 11th with 42.36.Chris cleave was 16th in 43.21 and Gary Clark did 44.17 after a really nasty fall at one of the stiles to get 20th.

The rest of the trotters came in as follows:-Roger Hales 44.27 and 22nd,Alan Boone 26th 45.31,Bruce Campbell 26th 45.31,Ben Epps 27th 45.34,Wilfred Taylor 47.00 and 30th and gaining him 1st vet 60 male,Gary Watson 35th 47.29,Ist trotter lady was Clare Youngman on her 1st race since the tough Dartmoor discovery doing 47.34 and awarded 1st vet 40 lady and 36th .Julian Head 39th 48.49,Noel Fowler 49.00 and 42th,John Tweedie made a welcome return to the racing scene from recent injury and came 49th in 50.31.John Caunter 50th place in 51.00,Nigel Penwarden 52nd in 51.06,Becky George 55th 51.29,Sarah Schutte 58th in 52.17.Sarah ,Becky and Clare were 2nd ladies team home.Gia D’Aprano 52.19 and 59th,Graeme Baker was 61st in 52.32 gaining 1st male vet 70.Neil Pallant 65th in 53.06,Syd Willocks gained 1st male vet 65 with 54.11 and 72nd place.Mary Goulden won 1st vet female 35 in 55.05 and 77th place.Marsha Garrard 55.17 in 79th,Caroline Clark 85th in 55.54,Katy George 86th in 56.00,Steve Rawlinson 91st in 57.06,Tina Caunter 57.07 in 92nd,Milos Erben 57.27 in 96th,Sharon Bowman 99th in 57.52,Caroline Hayes 58.24 and 100th.Eleanor Taylor 102nd in 58.46,Kevin Besford 103rd 58.49.Lucy Payne appeared next in 59.30 and 105th which gained her 1st female vet 55.Just missing the hour was Lucy’s husband Rod Payne although in constant agony with a severe back problem still did 1.00.03 and was 109th.Janice Caunter in her 1st race for a long while did 1.01.28 and 113th,Keith George running with his daughter Ellie did 1.02.10 and 1.02.18 and 114th and 115th.Deborah Clark back from a recent health scare did 1.02.26 and 117th,Graham Penn running with his faith friend “Kelso” (a collie dog) did 1.04.46 and 132rd.Mark Wotton who at last year’s trip turned up to run in a gorilla suit decided to run as an elephant this year and managed a credible 1.07.13 and 142th followed by Vicky Hales who has been off the racing scene in 1.11.08 and 156th.
After the presentations and a wander around the fair the “Triumphant Trotters” found themselves in a local Inn to enjoy a meal and a well-deserved drink and to enjoy the Devonshire sunshine while the children played in the Play Park and grounds until the bus took them safely home.

written by Sharon "Fizz" Bowman

Photos-TOP-the start awash with Royal blues MIDDLE -The mens winners-Wilf vet 60,Graeme vet 70,Sid vet 65,Wavell vet 40,front-Tommo winner,Tarquin 2nd and part of mens team with Wavell and Tommo .BOTTOM-Guess who ?? Mark Wotton races to the line !