Records Fools day.....................most club records to fall on the same day....

Sunday 1st April may have made some people wary but not the Teignbridge Trotters as 25 of them travelled up to Taunton to run the 29th “Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon”. Starting and finishing at Somerset College, it takes runners through the town and out into the Somerset countryside running through some quiet hamlets. The marathoners have the delight of doing the loop twice. It is a slightly undulating course with the largest hill appearing between miles 10 and 11 and again for the marathoners at 23 and 24 miles. The weather conditions were ideal at a cool 3 degrees with blue skies and the sun warming the route up after the start. As the music of “Chariots of Fire” echoed outside the college, the 1118 half marathoners and 199 marathoners took to the roads.
David Tomlin was back to defend his number one place from last year only to be beaten by 1 minute and 41 seconds but he still ran  a fantastic time of 2.39.39 for second place, knocking 16 seconds off his own club record for the fastest senior men’s marathon - just one of three  club records to tumble during the two events. He led the marathon for the first 15 miles when he got overtaken but he ran strongly to fight off third place. Next across the line in 29th was Gary Clarke with a brilliant PB of 3.15.04. The two Rogers were present again with Roger Hayes doing 3.23.58 and 47th and Roger Hales 48th in 3.23.49. Travis Wood in only his second marathon like Gary did a storming 3.27.23 and 58th. Unfortuately due to back problems at 17 miles Caroline Clarke had to withdraw.
Running at the same time was the half and more action was seen here. Leading the Trotters home in fine style was Daryl ”Tarquin” Milford in 1.16.59. He broke away from the chasing group on the hill at 10 miles to gain a PB of nearly a minute over the half marathon he ran in Exeter in February. This course was much more challenging giving Tarquin a real confidence boost for the London Marathon in 3 weeks. Garry Smart, who will also be running in London, was next across the line in 15th to set a new club record for his Male Vet 45 category of 1.19.21, also bettering his own PB. Adam Caunter managed to follow suit with another club record for the juniors, smashing one that had, stood for thirteen years with 1.20.43 for 24th place. Wavell Vigers had a PB in 26th and 1.21.05, boding well for a fine time at London, while John Tweedie did a PB of 1.27.20. Ian Langler went about the course and finished in 88th in 1.30.07. Mark Hamling did 1.34.58 for 158th, while Neil Pallant, deep in his training for his first marathon in Milton Keynes, raced across the line in a splendid PB of 1.39.16 for 242nd. Peter Blakesley chased him hard but although he just couldn’t catch Neil, Peter still managed to do a pleasing 1.40.50 and 278th place. The first Trottette across the line was Sharon “Fizz” Bowman with 1.45.32, smashing her previous best half marathon time by nearly four minutes and gaining 377th place and 7th in her vet 45 category, putting her in good stead for a good London. Lucy Payne appeared next looking relaxed as ever as she popped over the line in 1.58.44 and 700th position, showing her potential for a great first marathon at Milton Keynes. Derek Blackford just came in under the two hour barrier with 1.59.33 and 722nd. Rebecca Weare was 749th in 2.02.36. Stella Imong was 808th in 2.06.11 and Janice Caunter making a welcome return to racing ran with Catherine Barnes in only her second half marathon and they recorded 2.09.47 together for 882nd and 883rd. Samm Gee did 2.14.27 and 948th, Sharon Hutchins did 2.15.37 in 951st and Tony Stepney was 956th in 2.15.16.

Second Claim member Ellie Sutcliffe stormed to victory in the marathon, smashing her best marathon time into the bargain with 2.59.20 for 8th place overall, showing she is in fine form to tackle the Dartmoor Discovery in June. Angie Blakesley smashed her own half marathon PB with 1.59.23 and 718th place, putting her in good stead for a comfortable marathon in Scotland in two weeks.

Exmouth seafront saw the start of the “Exe to Axe” race which follows the stunning coast line of the East Devon Coastal path for 20 miles to finish at the “Hook and Parrot” on the esplanade on Seaton Seafront. Patrick Gaskins completed the undulating course in 9th place in 3.04.00 while Allen Taylor did 3.47.30 and was 55th and Ben Epps was right behind him in 3.47.40 and 56th.

Meanwhile up in Kent, Lance Mason took himself off to compete in the “Paddock Wood Half Marathon” including the Kent championships. The race attracted 2,500 runners and “lone” Trotter Lance ran 1.22.00, not only smashing the club's Male Vet 50 record, but also gaining 3rd Vet 50 in a very strong field in 67th place overall.

Near Liskeard in Cornwall, lone Trottette, Michelle Spillar took herself off to do the “Five Tors” 10 mile fell race with 201 other runners. Michelle put in a strong performance for 125th place in a time of 1.42.49.

Report By Sharon “Fizz” Bowman.
Photos-Top-Chair and Smokes pace Neil to a PB at Taunton Middle-Tommo gets his 2nd prize at Taunton Bottom-Lance picks up 3rd Vet 50 at Kent .