Trotters make a clean sweep of "The Toddle".......

On probably the hottest October weekend to date, Twenty one trotters took on the task of running the “Teign Valley Toddle” in the picturesque village of Christow.Run by the Teign valley Running club the race is far from a toddle and consists of some rather long hills and steep descents through the village of Trusham.The weather made the going particularly hard and temperatures may of well got up to 23 degrees on parts of the open lanes! Not quite what you would expect in October.

Eighty runners finished the course with Daryl “Tarquin”Milford charging to the finishing line in 64.07 in 2nd place and picking up the 1st age category of the day for senior male. Following behind him was David Tomlin in 66.31. Next over the line was Lance Mason who is really beginning to show his improvement and potential with a strong time of 66.52 and picking up 1st Vet 50 male. Nick Stevens also ran a strong race in 70.54 and 7th place. Ian Langler was 10th in 75.01 followed by Gary Clark in 75.43.John Crocker did 77.12 and 18th being chased by Wilfred Taylor in 19th 77.37 and picking up the 1st vet 60 male.

Andrew “monkey” Ludlam was 21st in 78.29 and right behind him was Julian Head in 78.50.The first Trottettee to arrive at the finish was Tracy Elphick who just keeps coming back to form and gained 27th place in 79.25 and picked up the final prize of the day for 1st female Vet 35.Roger Hales did 82.35 32nd, Chris Wride 88.24 37th, Nigel Penwarden 93.05 in 46th followed by Sharon Bowman 94.52.Derek Blackford 98.22 53rd,Julie Crocker 101.28 59th and Eleanor Taylor 101.45 60th.Steve Rawlinson did 102.56 and new member Guy Roberts posted 104.29 65th although entered the race unattached should have his “trotter vest “ at his next race. Vicky Hales completed the line-up in 112.16 and 75th.

Mark Wotton took himself to the “South Molton Struggle”which was a very mainly off road race of around 7-8 miles with some steep hills.It started and finished at the South Molton Ruby club and the sun also shone strongly here.He was 31st in a time of 67 minutes and scooped the 1st male vet 50.85 runners took part.

Chris Rogers went down to Newquay to take part in a very hot “Newquay 10km”.He did 53.31 and was 283rd out of 514.A couple of weeks ago he went to Prague on holiday and entered the “Mattoni Prague Grand Prix”.It was run through the illuminated streets on a 10km course.3183 runners took part with Chris running 56.05 and 1995th.

Gary Caunter in his first large event since surgery last year competed in the "New Forest Half Ironman" Distance on Sunday 25th September.It consisted of a Lake swim of 1.2miles which he did in 34mins 30secs, 58 undulating miles on the bike in 3hrs 15 mins and topped off by a tough hilly off road 13.8 mile run in 2hrs 20mins and with the transitions made a total of 6hrs 15mins.This was his first half iron man and he had perfect weather and it was a great event.

Report written By Sharon(fizz) Bowman
Photos-Top-The trotters before the toddle in the heat. Middle-Race Director Sally Newton of the Toddle with our winners. Bottom-the mist hanging in the valley before the toddle starts