Trotters of Tomorrow on Display at Totnes

On Sunday the Teignbridge Trotters hosted their annual Totnes 10k and Fun Run at Totnes Leisure Centre in Borough Park. The race is traditionally run in hot sunny conditions and even last year the poor weather forecast for the race never manifested itself. This year with the hope of fine weather there was the added attraction of a barbeque and beer tent. However on a morning of torrential showers the wet conditions threatened to completely wreck the event but despite this the races went ahead and all runners returned muddied and a couple bloodied declaring the race another great success.

There were some Teignbridge Trotter names of the future on display in the 1-mile Fun Run around the soggy park, a race that attracted a healthy 83 finishers. Stan Hayes was a lofty 3rd overall in the race and claimed for himself 2nd MU13 prize. Sam Elphick was an impressive 17th overall and was 2nd MU10 prizewinner. Sister of Stan, Jess Hayes was 19th overall and went one better than her ‘adoring brother’ by taking 1st FU13 prize. Under-10 competitor Sam Goldsmith was just 2 places behind Jess in 21st place. Under 10 Jessica Handley was a handily placed 41st and U10 Ashton Goulden batted hard to claim 52nd place. He was followed by U10 Tom Seymour defying the conditions to finish in 57th place. With under-10s Ben Goldsmith and Ollie Elphick both giving good accounts of themselves by finishing 59th and 63rd respectively the Club can be assured that the future of Teignbridge Trotters appears to be in good hands. Also in the race in his Newton Abbot vest was Tom Besford who, like his father and sister, will hopefully see the light when he is 16 and sign up with the Trotters on a first claim basis. He is one who shows real potential by coming 7th in the race and second in the U15 age category.
 

Despite the atrocious weather conditions there were near record entries on the day for the 10k race. These were magnificently handled by the registration team despite them being evacuated on two occasions by the Leisure Centre’s fire alarm.

Although the course was so wet and muddy there were some highly impressive performances with unattached runner Ceri Rees leading the field home in a magnificent 35.45. The ladies race was won by Nicki Nealon of Huncote Harriers AC in an equally impressive 43.38. In defiance of the slippery and highly tricky conditions there were still three course record set. The first fell to winner Ceri Rees in the M35 category, the second went to Karen Cook of SWRR in 47.40 in the FV55 category and the third went to FV60 Sally Davies of Torbay AC in 56.42. The men’s team prize went to Torbay AC comprising of Lee Turner, Jon Parkinson, Pete Monaghan, Russell Cleave, Kevin Fine and Dean Titchener amassing a miserly 98 points.

In accruing only 60 points our Teignbridge Trotter’s ladies, mother and daughter, Sue and Carrie-Anne Hewings, Hattie Mann and Briony Goldsmith won the Ladies’ Team prize.
 

With so many of our fantastic members helping with the organization of the race, testimony to the club's present strength, there was still a healthy number of Royal Blue Trotter vests out on the course among the field of 443. They were led back by Mr. consistent, Gary Clark 33rd in 44.13 and followed by 18 year old Charlie Ross 38th in 45.01 and then our first lady back Carrie-Anne Hewings, still in a rich vein of form, 107th in 50.51. Howard Cotton and Rob Cowling had a close battle finishing 119th and 120th in 51.49 and 51.51 respectively. Sue Hewings was next 128th in 52.25, then Hattie Mann 131st in 52.31. Adrian Handley was 143rd in 53.14 and right behind him 144th was Briony Goldsmith in 53.21. Filipe Da Silva was 164th in 54.43 and Martyn Tonkin 169th in 55.01. Steph Ross was 227th in 58.58 and was delighted that her efforts were rewarded with 1st FV50 prize. Bev Dennis was 265th in 61.55, Tony Stepney 338th in 68.07, Stella Imong 350th in 69.14 and Rachel Pallant 358th in 69.57. The Trotter line-up was completed by Rachel Besford in 73.15.

It is good to see some new names appearing in the Trotter Race reports in recent weeks. Hopefully all of these ‘newbies’ and those that are not so new are inspired and will continue to wear the Royal Blue colours with pride.

Away from Totnes, Pete Kirby and Graham ‘Inky’ Penn ran the Indian Queens Half Marathon in Cornwall. The course comprised of an out-and-back section with two loops and was a mixture of road and trails. V60 Pete Kirby finished 193rd in a field of 540 in a fine time of 1.45.43 and Inky Penn again suffering in the humid conditions was severely hampered by cramp at 12 miles and finished 339th in a self deprecating time of 2.00.34. (As children will read this report we cannot print Inky’s own description of his time - Ed)
 

Photos: Rachel and Bev proudly display their medals at Totnes (Photo by Fizz). Watch out for more photos of the race appearing on our webpage soon.

Report by Rod Payne