Trotters are 'EXE'ellent at Exeter

As we approach Autumn and the onset of the dark nights, Tuesday saw 13 Teignbridge Trotters travel up to Exeter to the charmingly named Flowerpots Fields for the third and last in this year’s Run Exe 5k series organised by Ironbridge Runner.

With the battle for club championship points hotting up there were 3 new marauding Royal Blue vests in the Ladies’ race in the form of top-spot hopefuls Tracy Elphick, Sarah Schutte and Tina Caunter and in the men’s race John Crocker and Nathan Elphick put in a first showing at the event.

Following a wet day the rain relented and despite the threat of showers the race took place in dry conditions.

A total of 85 runners lined up in the start of the perfectly flat 2-lap race that runs alongside the River Exe relief canal and the blustery conditions were instantly mentally set aside as our army of runners got down to their best work with seven returning with a series best time.

The race was won by Shaun Antell of Bristol and West who was chased all the way to the line in a fantastic sprint finish by team mate Tom Merson. The pair recorded sensational times of 15.15 and 15.17 respectively.

The Trotter contingent was led by Daryl ‘Tarquin’ Milford who found himself in a real scrap with Ashley Humphreys of Exeter Harriers. Nobody can doubt the sheer bravery of our Club Captain Tarqs who battled himself into total submission right the way to the line in a dogged refusal to accept his 5-second beating. Right up to the last 100 metres it was impossible to predict 3rd and 4th place but in his valiant fight to the line Tarqs recorded an enviable time of 16.37. This was 27 seconds faster than his previously best recorded time.

Ian Langler also saved his best time of the season for this race, however his 12th place finishing time of 17.46 would have merited a much higher placing in most local races. Peter Royle ‘crowned’ a fine race by taking a stunning 83 seconds off of his previous best time finishing 31st place with John Crocker not far behind Pete in 36th place in a time of 19.54.

Tracy Elphick was our first lady home but with our other ladies behind her running so well on the night it was a close thing for the 50 championship points up for grabs. However Tracy, unable to affect what the others do, ran her own race well to return home in 49th place in a time of 21.05 and was duly awarded her 50 points. Once more Tracy has re-established her running supremacy over husband Nathan ‘Lovely’ Elphick. This time Nathan was not snapping at her heels, nevertheless he finished 51st in a highly respectable time of 21.50. Next home was John Caunter who produced a lofty 52nd place finish in 21.59. John was left stunned and delighted by his time but judging by his ‘wobbly-legged’ finish he left nothing out on the course. Sarah Schutte also enjoyed her first appearance at the race this year and finished 60th in 22.58. There followed two personal battles against the clock. Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman and Caroline Clark were both determined to beat their previous best times, never underestimate the power of a Trottette, each took chunks off their previous best times and fell into each other’s arms in mutual respect after recording 63rd and 64th places in 23.23 and 23.42 respectively. Both ladies have been rewarded for their efforts with 2nd place overall, ‘Fizz’ in the FV45 and ‘CC’ in the FV40 categories. Graeme Baker on his return from a 2-week break in Edinburgh and in exile from running for the same period ran close to his best in 67th place in a time of 24.21 and 1st M70 overall.

Tina Caunter did her championship chances no harm whatsoever in recording a time of 25.14 and 72nd place, then Lucy Payne, in her last race as a FV55, could do no more in response to what was going on up the field than record a chunky personal best by nearly 40 seconds, 75th in 26.28. She was awarded 48 championship points for her effort. 49 Championship points went to Emma Sidebotham for her only previous effort in the race series.

Club Captain, Championship Secretary and Self Appointed Statistician Tarquin has very kindly compiled a set of statistics for the race series for 2011 (thanks Tarqs)

• 21 Trotters have competed in at least one race in the series
• 3 Trotters competed in all three events (Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman, Daryl ‘Tarquin’ Milford & Ian ‘Lighthouse’ Langler)
• 9 Trotters have competed in at least two of the events, which means that they are eligible for the series overall placings.
• 4 “newbie” Trotters have competed in at least one of the races: Nick Stevens (1 race); Peter Royle (2 races); Paul Banks (1 race); Jessica “Perky” Parkes (1 race)
• Graeme Baker appears to have been the only V70 who has competed in the series, from any club! (best time 24:03)

Best times are as follows:
Daryl ‘Tarquin’ Milford: 16:37
Ian ‘Lighthouse’ Langler: 17:46
Nick Stevens: 18:03
Peter Royle: 19:32
John ‘Crocks’ Crocker: 19:54
Gary Clark: 20:28
Gary ‘Watsa’ Watson: 20:37
Roger ‘Smokes’ Hales: 20:49
Tracy Elphick: 21:05
Emma Sidebotham: 21:07
Nathan ‘Lovely’ Elphick 21.50
John Caunter: 21:59
Craig Churchill: 22:00
Paul Banks: 22:34
Sarah Schutte: 22:58
Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman: 23:23
Caroline Clark: 23:42
Graeme Baker: 24:03
Jess ‘Perky’ Parkes: 24:47
Tina Caunter: 25:14
Lucy ‘The Stalker’ Payne: 26:28

Photo: Top – Team Trotter at The Run Exe. Bottom: Royal Blue United as Fizz and Lucy share a post race moment
 

Report compiled by Rodders and Tarqs