Beautiful weather turns up for this weekend's races................

Sunday 18th November broke crisp and bright for the annual running of the “Drogo 10”. 486 runners ran the challenging course, starting and finishing at Castle Drogo near Drewsteignton which is owned by the National Trust. The race can be very dangerous in places with steep inclines and ascents including the famous “Hunters Path” up from Fingle Bridge. There is plenty of mud and leaves, as well as water on the way to add to the challenge.

David “Tommo” Tomlin showing a real determination for these kind of races brought the Trotters home in a personal best time of 1.05.29 to gain 4th place. Daryl “Tarquin” Milford fought hard and came in 19th in 1.10.08. Patrick Gaskins who has been very quiet over the summer did 1.11.03 and 23rd. Alan Boone who is having a strong run at present appeared in 67th 1.17.40. Craig Churchill who is also having a good spell was 87th in 1.20.52. Other Trotters did the following –95th Steve Barker 1.21.35, 100th John Tweedy 1.22.24, 175th Travis Wood 1.28.50, 187th Ben Epps 1.29.32, 213th Stuart Moulson 1.32.04, 216th Filipe De Silva 1.32.37, 221st Daniel Wride 1.33.15, 251st Peter Blakesley 1.36.18, 252nd Jimmy Donovan 1.36.20, 256th Stewart Dunn 1.36.39 and 279th Chris Wride 1.38.38. The first Trotter lady was Tamsin Cook in 348th place and 1.45.32, followed by in 354th Keith Anderson 1.46.25 and 426th Angela Blakesley 1.57.24. Carly Cook finished her first race as a Trotter in 453rd with 2.00.15, chased by Jo Billyard in 455th 2.01.46 and Vicky Hales in 480th 2.21.56.

The “Cornish Marathon” was held down in Pensilva in Cornwall. This marathon is classed as the 3rd toughest marathon in the UK. This didn’t stop 10 Trotters taking up the undulating course in perfect condtions. The race winds its way along the Draynes Valley and then up to Bolventor, home of the famous Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor, down into the Fowey Valley and back to Pensilva.

276 runners completed the course with Chris Cleave bringing the Trotters home in a strong time of 3.17.38 for 28th place. Roger Hayes was 70th in 3.36.36, Gary Clark was next in 73rd 3.37.26, Ian Langler was 84th in 3.42.04, Allen Taylor 86th in 3.42.49, Roger Hales 99th 3.48.08, Philip Perry 126th 3.56.12, Mark Wotton 189th 4.24 and the only two Trottettes were Sally Ingledew and Sharon Bowman crossing the line together in 191st and 192nd in 4.24.21.

Also on Sunday Lucy Payne lined up at the 2012 “Gosport Half Marathon”, the scene of her FV60 Club record achieved in 2011.

Although the course is entirely flat and with only a light breeze and clear blue skies, the conditions were perfect on the day for a PB. However despite battling hard, Lucy was unable to improve on the time she set last year. In 2011 she targeted this race and specifically trained with a view to breaking the record, this year however her training has been more general as she has adopted a more low-key approach to her autumn racing.

Considering her more ad-hoc approach to the race she was entirely happy with her showing and only missed her record by just over a minute in finishing an impressive 1,066th out of 1,568 competitors in 1.57.08. (Thanks Rod)

Written by Sharon "Fizz" Bowman

Photos-TOP the Cornish Clan before the off  MIDDLE –Lucy at 5 miles during Gosport. BOTTOM -
Keith enjoying the finish at Drogo