Typical Summer Conditions for the Dawlish Coastal Dash? In 2012 it is!

A liitle bit of leftover business to report from last week, some midweek action and a quiet weekend ahead of the Torbay Half Marathon.

Two first claim Trotters and one second claim Teignbridge Trotter took part in the Ruby Run Half Marathon on 10th June. The route is run between the north Devon towns of Holsworthy and Hatherleigh. On a ‘bumpy’ course, first Trotter to cross the line was Pete Kirby in 64th place overall and 2nd MV60 in 1.42.57. Next was 2nd claim Trotter Kevin Thompson 92nd in 1.52.18 with Stella Imong in 160th place in 2.15.09.

On Wednesday 13 June lone Trotter Graham ‘Inky’ Penn took part in the Bude Lifeboat Run a 6-mile multi terrain event organised by Launceston Roadrunners in aid of the RNLI.

Inky takes up the story, ‘The weather was reasonable with a nice cooling shower of rain in the first stage of the race. The course followed cycle paths, trails and footpaths across muddy fields, with a beautiful sea view at one point’. In a field of 275 Inky finished 136th in a time of 48:08.

On Thursday 14 June, in wild and windy conditions in impressive turnout of 29 first claim Trotters and 1 second claim Trotter descended upon Dawlish Warren for the Dawlish Coastal Dash. The race is run partly on the beach, with numerous breakwaters to be negotiated (some managing it better than others), before following the coastal path to Dawlish via Red Rock then up on to the headland to return to Dawlish Warren.

In the atrocious conditions Daryl Tarquin Milford set about the daunting task of chasing the evergreen Pete Monaghan of Torbay AC. Despite his efforts he had to settle for a nevertheless fine 2nd place finish in a time of 21.26. The Ladies’ race was won by second claim Trotter Ellie Sutcliffe running in Exmouth Harriers’ colours. She was 17th overall in a time of 25.14. Geoff Davey finished a magnificent 6th in 23.18 just ahead of Lance Mason who continues to run with a number of injuries in pursuit of retaining his Club Championship crown, 7th in 23.46. Peter Royle was another to put in a fine display over the near 4-mile course, 18th in 25.21.

Matt McGrath was next 23rd in 25.51 followed by John Crocker 25th in 26.01 and the evergreen Wilf Taylor 26th in 26.01. Daniel Wride, 32nd in 26.52 headed Helen Anthony who was our first 1st-claim lady, 34th in 26.58 and Stephen Barker was 35th in 27.05. Gary Watson with peak cap reversed in ‘business’ position came home 38th in 27.35, Chris Wride was 40th in 27.41 with Carrie Anne Hewings, a fine 42nd in 27.49 followed by Craig Churchill 46th in 28.03.

Just 5 days after her debut Dartmoor Discovery, Sharon Bowman was still running strongly, 56th in 29.11, Jo Haynes was 60th in 30.04 with Jim Donovan 61st in 30.06. Dave Dunn, still on his way back from a recent hamstring injury was 66th in 30.52 then Steve Wallace 69th in 31.02 closely pursued by Rod Payne 70th in 31.03.

There was then a short gap to a trio of Trotters headed by Keith Anderson 76th in 31.45, Eleanor Taylor 77th in 31.58 and Tina Caunter 78th in 32.18. Another of our Dartmoor Discovery girls Sally Ingledew, ahead of a weekend marathon double was 81st in 32.58, Bev Dennis was 84th in 33.20, Sarah ‘Otter’ Seymour lived up to her nickname as she seemed to love splashing about in the wet conditions finishing 87th in 33.35, Steve Rawlinson following recent domestic demands on his time was somewhat ‘ring rusty’ but still finished 89th in 33.57. Guy Roberts was 91st in a gutsy 34.20 and the Trotter line-up was completed by the ever improving Jenny Latham 106th out of 119 finishers in 37.16.
 

On a quiet weekend of racing Mark Wotton ran the Over the Hill and Farway10k race. The race takes place in the village of Farway near Honiton and starts and finishes at the village hall. The run is mostly on road with some muddy farm track and a couple of big hills, the first, Warren Hill between 1 and 2k and very steep, the next is at around 6k and two more just for luck in the final 2k. With results yet to be published Mark ran strongly in near perfect weather conditions to complete in little over 49 minutes and was 7th out of about 50 runners.

Report by Rod Payne
 

Photo: Top: Teignbridge Trotters at the Dawlish Coastal Dash (photo courtesy Jaqui Woon) Middle: Peter Royle (pictured after the N. Dorset Marathon) had a fine run at the Dawlish Dash. Bottom: Tarquin - not quite number one this time but getting closer.