Mud, Sweat and records broken..........................

On a very murky and damp Thursday the "Exeter 10K" ran by Ironbridge Runner Events took place. 275 runners completed the pancake flat course ran around the Exeter Canal cycle paths used in the First/Last Chance race by SWRR.

Daryl “Tarquin”Milford brought the nineteen Trotters home with a strong time of 35.15 and 11th place while Jack Baker showing his strength and determination broke the junior record within the club in a time of 35.42 for 12th. Next home was Michael Eveleigh who did 39.22 and was 39th, followed by Gary Clarke in 45th place and 39.58. The other Trotters came in as follows - Travis Wood 40.32 49th, John Tweedie 40.36 & 50th and Peter Royle 41.25 in 55th. First Trotter lady home was Carrie Anne Hewings in 41.28 and 56th place, followed by Jacki Woon who broke her own club Vet 45 record in 43.07, giving herself a new PB, and was 78th. Next came Helen Anthony 43.13 in 80th, Peter Kirby 104th in 45.43, Keith Anderson 141th with his best time to date 49:27. Chris Rogers was 149th with 49.52 which was a PB for him, Caroline Clark was 151st in 49.58 and Guy Roberts was 175th in 53.14, yet another PB. Lucy Payne was the third Trotter to break a club record at the race trimming Susie Ashleigh-Thomas' vet 60 club record by 30 seconds with 53.25 for 176th place, while husband Rod recorded the same time having run with Lucy. Sarah Seymour got a PB with 54.41 for 195th place, while Derek Blackford completed the team with 55.42 and 202nd.

Further afield in Porthpean in Cornwall on Saturday the Mudcrew Events put on a new race called the “Roseland August Trail” or “RATS” for short. Competitors could camp for the weekend which many Trotters decided to do. The course follows the Southwest Coastal path national trail. Although it was advertised as not being marshalled there were some out there (and a very cheery bunch too), and as long as the sea was on your right and you kept your eyes peeled for the Mudcrew signs, you were doing well and on the right track. The course was very tough with many steep ascents and descents and narrow pathways and wooded areas along the coast. There were some very steep drops to the sea on some of the paths and plenty of thick slippery mud about and plenty of wooden steps and stiles to negotiate along the route. The odd kissing gate too to go through. The weather started off very misty and damp but by the end the humidity was very tough with the sun peeping through the clouds making the going tougher for the runners. All runners had to carry water and supplies, although there were 4 check points and feed stations on the route.

It was split into 3 different distances 32 miles - Black route with runners being dropped off by coaches at St Anthony and having to run back to Porthpean. The red route which was 20 miles and the start was from Portloe and the White 11 mile route starting at Gorran.

The black route had 115 takers with Roger Hayes finishing in 6.02.39, Stuart Parkes (2nd claim)6.09.40, John Tweedie 6.25.08, Roger Hales 6.30.26 and Mark Hutchins 6.52.25.

The Red route had 120 runners with Tim Hassell doing 4.05.51, Helen Anthony 5.06.21 and Keith Anderson 5.21.29.

The most popular “Trotter support “came in the White route with Daryl “Tarquin” Milford being 2nd in 1.37.52 and winning a rather magnificent trophy of a “Tribute“ beer bottle (sponsors of the event) and a pack of 6 ales. Next in was Ellie Sutcliffe (2nd Claim) who won the 1st lady prize in 1.47.57 and was given a “Tribute“ beer pump and a bottle of champagne! Next Trotter in was Stewart Dunn in 9th with another strong time of 1.59.18. Graham “Inky” Penn fresh from his recent move away from Devon did 2.11.34 and then it was the turn of the Trottettes with Carrie Anne Hewings finishing with Jessica Parkes in 2.22.24 and Joanne Haynes just behind in 2.22.26. Then came Katrina Duignan in 2.40.22, Sharon “Fizz” Bowman in 2.50.20, Sarah “Otter” Seymour in 2.52.25 and Catherine Barnes completing the Trotter crew in 3.16.02.

The t shirts given at the end were the colour of the route you completed. A fun “post-race” party outside with motivational speakers took place and local live bands with our own Chairman Roger Hayes picking up the microphone to sing with the Trotters dancing around! It seemed that once again the Teignbridge Trotters made their mark and enjoyed the whole event. A special mention must go to Lance Mason, who although he didn't run, came down to support and took some great photos of the event.

On Sunday Graham Penn ran the “Moretonhampstead 10k” after running the RATS the day before. It was a mainly off road event involving the ascent of the infamous Mardon Down. The weather was very humid but Graham came 9th with a time of 1.02.02 in a field of 24 runners

Mark Wotton went to the “Race the Train” event which starts in the small town of Tywyn at 2.05 when the train departs. The course is 14 miles long and sets off through the town centre for about a mile and a half and then in to fields following the route of the Talalyn steam train (the oldest steam train in the country) up to the 7 mile mark when it goes up hill into the woods, through the bogs and across more sloping fields and sheep tracks, and tehn back for the last mile on the road to the finish. It had a great atmosphere with plenty of water stations and all in all was a great race. Although Mark didn't beat the train he did 2.16.53 and was 491 out of 839 finishers.

Report by Sharon Bowman

PHOTOS-TOP-Black white and red RATS finshers MIDDLE-Keith still smiling after 20 miles BOTTOM-Mark didnt quite beat the train

The results for the Dalwoods fayre 10km are not available yet so will write the report when they are published .