The Trotters take over Bideford and the Duchy and get some great personal bests....

With the rain pouring down and the winds blowing on Sunday 4th March, two mini buses of Teignbridge trotters made their way down to Redruth in Cornwall for the annual running of the "Duchy Marathon and  Duchy 20 mile " race. It starts and finishes at the Penventon Hotel and takes an undulating course. The 20 miler has no prizes although is still a well-supported race. It runs alongside the marathon up to the 15 mile mark where it takes a detour back to the start while the marathon runners have to do another circuit of the North Cliffs. Here the wind was gale force, stopping runners in their tracks and blowing some into the hedge, and even a cyclist was caught off guard by a strong gust that blew him off his bike! Just after the start the runners were hit with a large hailstone storm but the rain did stay away. 204 runners completed the marathon with 7 of these Trotters.

Alan Boone brought them back safe from the marathon with a personal best time of 3.23.40 and 43rd place. Hot on his heels was Chairman Roger Hayes knocking up another one to add to his collection of marathons in 3.23.58 and 44th, with the same time being recorded for Christopher Cleave in 45th. Steve Barker completing his first marathon recorded 3.34.26 and 68th, while Allen Taylor recovering from injury did 3.43.51 for 84th and Roger Hales did 3.45.48 for 86th. Sally Ingledew flew the flag for the women in 165th place in a strong time of 4.27.14 and picked up 3rd vet 50 female after only completing a marathon on leap day on Wednesday in Milton Keynes in 4.31!

The Duchy 20 had 171 finishers of which 17 were Trotters. David Tomlin brought them home in an excellent time of 2.00.49 gaining him 3rd place and a personal best for him at that distance. Chasing him down was Daryl “Tarquin” Milford who took 10 minutes off his own course best in coming 4th in 2.04.18. Wavell Vigers came in 10th in 2.14.08 and Gary Clark did another PB of 4 minutes in 2.22.16 and 20th. Wilfred Taylor was first vet 60-64 and did 2.26.40 and 27th. Carrie- Anne Hewings brought the Trottettes home in a great time of 2.36.13 and 47th(PB) with Emma Sidebotham chasing her in with 2.36.50 and 48th(PB). Jacki Woon was behind them with 2.41.04 and 54th(PB) and Mark Hutchins 57th in 2.41.58(PB). Next was Daniel Wride in 2.47.34 and 64th and trying to catch him was his dad Chris in 78th with 2.53.17. Dave Dunn completed in 2.54.56 and 84th giving him 1st 55-59 male. Neil Pallant had another PB in 2.58.58 and 91st while Sharon “Fizz “Bowman knocked 4 minutes off the time she ran last year, just missing the 3 hour mark by 9 seconds in 3.00.09 and 94th. Chasing her in with another 4 minute pb was Caroline Clark in 3.01.27 and 98th. Eleanor Taylor did 3.09.05 and 109th while Guy Roberts in preparation for his Rome marathon in a fortnight's time did a PB in 118th and 3.12.20. Angela Blakesley who is second claim ran on her birthday and was 147th with 3.29.37.

Report by FIZZ

Twenty nine Teignbridge Trotters made the journey to north Devon for the "Bideford Half Marathon" on Sunday. There was heavy rain in the lead up to the race but thankfully the rain abated and the race was run in mainly dry but very blustery conditions. The runners did experience a freak hail storm on the return leg of the race. Despite the windy conditions our band of Trotters acquitted themselves well with a number of PBs and some notable first time efforts.
The outward leg of the race is run on the road to Great Torrington where the runners drop down on to the Tarka Trail for a very scenic return to Bideford.

In a field of 1072 Ewan Walton, with effort etched agony on his face, led the Royal Blues home 47th with a really hard earned PB of 1.23.11. He was followed by Nick Stevens 66th in 1.24.40 and in his first half marathon, Adam Caunter was just behind in 67th place and 1.24.46. Adam was having a bad patch at 5 miles but was ‘picked up’ by the more experienced Nick Stevens and the pair were in close proximity to the end of the race. Lance Mason, still on his way back after illness and injury, was 70th and 3rd M50 in 1.24.56, John Crocker ran a fine race and just missed the sub 1.30 mark 128th in 1.30.40, Mark Becker also enjoying the benefit of some sustained recent training was 178th in 1.34.19 and Bruce Campbell was just 2 places in arrears 180th in 1.34.21. Mark Hamling, consistent as ever, was 214th in 1.36.34, Peter Royle, recently frustrated by the 1.40 barrier has now got the ‘monkey’ off his back as he has a fine PB to his name, 259th in 1.38.55 then came first Trottette Helen Anthony who was another to be delighted to be back in the 1.30s. She was 267th in a PB of 1.39.14. Mark 'Wurzel' Wotton also had a great outing running strongly into 347th place in 1.43.43. Peter Blakesley, as ever ran a well controlled race and finished in comfortable style 380th in 1.45.13. Dennis Milstead, by contrast, gives the outward appearance of imminent collapse from the outset, but in his inimitable way he returned in 396th place in a PB by some 4 minutes, 1.46.01. Next was Anna Caunter 402nd in 1.46.12 followed by the evergreen Graeme Baker, still putting in the good times and rewarded with 1st M70 prize, 450th in 1.48.10. Then came the in-form Kevin Besford 482nd in 1.49.30. This is Kevin’s fastest time since 1985 and again follows a period of dedicated marathon training. Jo Haynes was yet another to have a PB 523rd in 1.51.20, Michelle Willcocks-Watts, despite not running to her pre-race plan, should be pleased to be faster than anticipated and was 569th in 1.53.14. Tina Caunter also had a really good run and was 607th in 1.54.27. Stephen Wallace was next across the line 626th in 1.55.20 then Jo Becker crossed the line fighting tears of joy whilst celebrating a long awaited debut sub 2 hour race. She was 674th in 1.57.31. There was yet another PB to celebrate, this one coming from Tim Hartley 681st in 1.57.48 and in her 1st half Tamsin Cook came home 690th in a very impressive 1.58.13. Katrina Duignan knocking around 7 mins off her PB was another to break the sub 2 barrier, 702nd in 1.58.57, Chris Dodwell, new to the scene, was 750th in 2.00.58 and Lucy Payne, following a badly sprained ankle and a midweek trip to A&E, ran tentatively but still recorded a 775th placing in 2.02.37. Then Rebecca Weare romped home, looking good 779th in 2.02.56. Proceedings were rounded off by Jess Whitehouse with an enormous 18 minute PB of 2.03.10 and 784th place and Catherine Barnes in her first half marathon demonstrated to all how her running has improved over the winter by occupying 819th place in an impressive 2.05.59.

Report By Rod

The final round of the "Brooks Winter 3k series" took place on Monday 5th March. Lance Mason ran in the B race and clocked 11.20 and 3rd place which meant that over the complete series he was the overall winner of the male Vet 50 title. Keith Anderson ran in the D race on his first track event and did 15.04 and 9th while Sarah Seymour also having her first track race did 15.47.

Photos-TOP-The Duchy gang(thanks Sharon) MIDDLE – More Bideford Beauties!BOTTOM-before the off at Bideford-ready to race their personal best times