Quadzilla to cross country……………

This weekend saw the running of a new race hosted by Ironbridge runners. It was the “Exeter Half Marathon” run on three loops of Exeter Canal in very icy conditions.

Starting at the Piazza Terracina in the centre of the café area it made for a very friendly race and very spectator friendly. The condition of the outward bound track was fine but turning up by Countess Wear Bridge and back along the canal made for hard going as the icy wind bit into the 268 runners. Fellow runners could support each other as they completed the loops. Twenty Trotters took up the challenge with Daryl “Tarquin”Milford charging into the finish to bring them all home in a splendid 4th place, bettering his personal best by over 2 minutes with 1.17.56. He was 3rd senior male. Next through the finish was Lance Mason in 1.23.25 and 14th picking up 1st Vet 50 male. Wavell Vigers was 16th in 1.23.40. Simon Booyber was 35th in 1.28.46. Emma Sidebotham brought the Trottettes home in a personal best for her of
1.35.49 and 59th. Next was Gary Clark was 63rd in 1.36.05, chased by Mark Hutchins in his first half as a Trotter in 1.36.18 and 67th. Mark Hamling wasn’t too far behind him in 1.36.37 and 71st. Craig Churchill arrived next in 1.41.10 and 106th, closely followed by Jacki Woon in 1.41.46 and 112th and Peter Royle in 114th with 1.41.56. Becky George had a good run in 1.46.23 and 140th with Neil Pallant doing 1.47.34 in 150th. Sharon”Fizz”Bowman ran 1.49.50 and 161st. Kevin Besford was 170th in 1.52.18 showing his marathon training is paying off. Guy Roberts raced in at 1.54.04 and 177th with Tim Hartley a new name to the Trotters in 2.02.01 and 211st. Katrina Duignan was 223rd in 2.05.33 and Sharon Hutchins in her first race as a Trottette did 2.06.11 and 225th . Unfortunately Caroline Clark had to withdraw after the second lap due to a neck problem.

Also on Sunday it was the turn of Teignbridge Trotters to host the latest round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League. The venue was the Parke Estate near Bovey Tracey, which provides a 'classic' cross country course comprising mud, hills, woodland and fields. On a fine day conditions underfoot were gloriously muddy and 5 men and 5 lady Trotters took on the challenging course.

In the Ladies' race, run over 5km the first of our ladies across the line was Jo Haynes in 46th place in 27.22 followed in procession by Jo Becker running strongly 47th in 27.31, Tamsin Cook 48th in 27.50 and just 2 places behind was Jess Whitehead 50th in 29.35. Eleanor Taylor rounded off a good showing by our ladies 52nd in 30.05

In the Men's race over 9.3km, John Tweedie led home our Royal Blues 64th in 44.54 followed by Wilf Taylor 75th in 46.31, Stuart Moulson 82nd in 47.46, Mark Becker immediately after, 83rd in 47.54 and Keith Anderson brought the team home battling the tough conditions to finish 105th in 65.17.

Up country in Milton Keynes, Roger Hayes (Chairman) and our marathon Queen, Sally Ingledew, completed the second running of the “Quadzilla” comprising four marathons in four days around the same course. Competitors can choose to do any one of them, or like our two “tough” Trotters, all four . The conditions were extremely cold with it getting down to minus 8 with snow on the lake they ran around. To quote Roger :”I loved the course, it had a few small inclines and declines just to break the monotony of flat running. There was plenty to look at with all the wildlife, dog walkers, and fellow runners. The colours were quite spectacular, the red reeds and the frozen lake with a layer of snow on it - stunning. Each lap was 3.5 miles long, we did 7 each day with a smaller one at the start to make up the distance”.
 

Roger's times were - day 1 - 03:38:13 for 3rd place, day 2 - 03:30:23 in 2nd place, day 3 - 03:26:23 and 5th place, day 4 03:19:13 for 1st place. He was second overall .

Sally's times were - day 1 - 4.32.36 in 31st, day 2 - 4.43.57 and 30th, day 3 - 4.39.42 for 39th, day 4 - 4.34.21 in 26th.

Sally's partner Ray White completed day 3 by walking the marathon distance in 6.26.43 and was 67th.

To round up the weekend proceedings Graham "Inky" Penn was the lone Trotter at the `Inca Trail` at Ilchester in his favourite county of Somerset. The well marshalled 7.6 mile mainly off road course followed tracks and droves, also but included the steeply ascending Knowle Hill. In a small field of approximately 50 runners (results still not online...!) Inky was very pleased with his 26th place, in a time of 1:03:56. The ground was quite rutted and frozen in places, with plenty of slime and slippery stiles to negotiate. Apres-race the runners adjourned to Ilchester sports field clubhouse where some beautiful handmade trophies, which included several wall clocks were awarded.

Report by Sharon 'Fizz' Bowman

Photo: Top: Roger Hayes and Sally Ingledew at the Quadzilla. Middle: Some of our Trotters at the Exeter Half Marathon. Bottom: Inky, pleased with his efforts at the Inca Trail race.