"Bunny" fun at Easter with the Trotters........

The two marathon mad Rogers, Hales and Hayes, took part in the Good Friday” Broad Meadow Marathon” which is a trail marathon in Stratford Upon Avon. It was a mixture of canal paths, footpaths with a small section of road. It turned out to be a bright sunny day. With self-navigation being the order of the day and various checkpoints they worked their way around the course. Despite the whole field going wrong within the first 100 meters, they coped very well and that was the only mistake they made in finding their way round a very enjoyable course. With only 35 runners they ran together and crossed the line in first place in a creditable time of 3:44:45.

On Easter Sunday, lone Trotter Mark Wotton took himself off to do the "Richard Burton Heritage 10km" race in Cwmafan South Wales which was set up 28 years ago by Richard Burton and his wife. It starts at Cwmafan rugby club and after a 1k loop back through the start line, the course heads out along country roads under the viaduct past Richard Burtons birth place and into the Afan valley forest, where the race does a loop around the actors memorial stone and back over the viaduct and through the lanes back to the rugby club. It was a pretty flat course with a couple of smallish hills with the weather perfect. 207 runners took part with Mark doing 44.11 and he was 83rd.
 

Bank Holiday Monday, 9th April, saw the running of the “Easter Bunny 10km” at RNAS Yeovilton. It is a flat fast course and with an Easter egg at the end it attracted 373 runners. 13 Trotters took up the challenge and braved the rather damp and miserable conditions.

Gary Caunter was the first Trotter to race over the line in 134th place and 43.51 but Helen Anthony chased him down in fine form for her marathon next week in Scotland and produced a PB with 43.56 and 135th. Tracy Elphick was next in 45.05 and 157th. Racing up behind her and producing another PB of the day was Sharon “Fizz” Bowman in 161st place and a strong time of 45.27. Unbeknown to her until the next day Fizz had also broken the Club's vet 45 record for the ladies 10km with her run.

Dennis Milstead was just behind Fizz in 45.36 and 165th. Running around with him, and dressed as an “Easter Bunny” for the delight of the crowds, was Lance Mason who did 45.39 and 166th. Jessica Parkes was next in 49.45 also with a PB and 215th followed by another PB from Joanne Haynes in 49.55 and 218th. Next was  Keith Anderson with his best 10km to date of 51.52 and 242nd. Chris Rogers, who now lives near Taunton but is still running for the Trotters, did 52.36 and 248th with Lucy Payne putting in a good performance with a PB of 54.49 and 276th. Her Husband Rod running in his first race since major back surgery in September 2011 finished smiling in 55.30 and 286th, showing what grit and determination he has along with the skill of his surgeon. Sarah “Otter” Seymour also posted a PB with a good run and completed the Trotter tribe with 58.02 and 315th.

Also on bank holiday Monday, Katrina Duignan, Mark Wotton and Graham Penn ran the “Bampton to Tiverton” Road race in rather blustery wet conditions. It has been running since 1946 and is a 7 mile race attracting 250 runners. It is a point to point race ran from the village of Bampton to Peoples' Park in Tiverton which overlooks Tiverton Town Football club.

Mark led them home despite running a 10km the day before, and was followed about half a minute later in 53:59 by Graham. Katrina stormed to the finish in fine form in 1:01:00.

Report compiled and written by Fizz

Photos-TOP -The two marathon Rogers strike gold ! MIDDLE-Is that Lance there at the Easter Bunny BOTTOM-Bampton trio before the off.(thanks for photos everyone)