Versatile Trotters and The Girls Round Things Off With a Touch of Class

Over the past weekend and into Monday Teignbridge Trotters turned up at a variety of events and there were some very notable performances to report

On Sunday 7 Teignbridge Trotters travelled to the city of Bristol for the latest running of the Bristol Half Marathon. In a field of thousands and running his first race in Trotter colours Ryan Marshall led the Royal Blues impressively home 814th overall in 1.33.22 followed by Tim Hassell 1046th also enjoying a fine run finishing in a time of 1.35.30. He was followed by Keith Anderson 4145th in a personal best 1.53.11 and Kirsty Chrysanthou was 4931st in 1.56.45. Chris Rogers was 5780th in 2.00.36, Sharon Hutchins 6893rd in 2.07.31 and Chris Dodwell brought the team home 7424th in 2.11.09. This is now a well established 'Big City' half marathon that attracts huge numbers and amongst them an elite field of international athletes.

Also on Sunday 14 Trotters made the shorter journey up the M5 for the Taunton 10k. The course is lightning fast and in good conditions there were a number of PBs set by Trotters. Unusually the race results are published with the Men’s and Ladies’ results divided into separate categories. In the field of 308 men Daryl Tarquin Milford finished in a fine 12th place in 36.39. Also enjoying good runs were Geoff Davey 29th in 39.33 and a resurgent John Tweedie, continuing in his rich vein of 2012 form 32nd in 39.50. Gary Clark was 45th in 41.26 and Neil Pallant was delighted to finish 87th and post a personal best 44.59. Daniel ‘Happy Feet’ Wride, after a short break from running was pleasantly surprised to finish 107th in 45.54 and Happy Feet’s dad Chris ‘Smiler’ Wride was 136th in 47.24. Stuart Moulsen was 285th in 1.02.51.

In the 274 strong Ladies’ Race our girls put in a fine showing with Tamsin Cook 34th in a very pleasing time of 51.13 closely followed by Michelle Willcox Watts 35th in an excellent 51.49. Also enjoying a great day out were Tina Caunter 40th in 52.21, Catherine Barnes 56th in a massive personal best of 53.59. Also enjoying significant personal bests were Rachel Pallant 99th in 57.26 and Sam Gee 149th in 1.01.11. All of our girls excelled on the day and the split categories demonstrate clearly how well they did amongst their peers.

Lone Trotter Jim Donovan took part in the Plympton H3 Autumn Trail an 8 mile multi terrain race in Newnham Park organised by Plympton Hash House Harriers. Hashers are renowned for being daft as a box of frogs and they mischievously found a suitably tough course over meadows, forest tracks and crossing a shallow river on several occasions. Our own Jimmy D finished a very pleasing 115th in a field of 267 in 1.12.21. The serious side to the race is that Devon Air Ambulance benefif from some of the proceeds of the event.

The weekend also saw the inaugural running of the Dawlish Triathlon based at Dawlish Warren. 163 competitors took on the open water event consisting of a 750 metre sea swim, a flattish 21.5k bike stage towards Exminster and a testing multi-terrain 6k run. On a perfect day and in ideal conditions Teignbridge Trotter Gary Caunter was 30th in 1.23.44 followed by club mates Ian Woolley 59th in 1.29.29 and Adrian Handley was 74th in 1.32.02. (Thanks for this piece Fizz)

Monday saw the first round of the Winter Series 3k Events organised by Ironbridge Runner. Making the trip to Exeter Track was recently married Travis Wood who still has lots of energy and ran in the ‘C’ race and finished 4th out of 17 in a time of 11.19. He would not have been out of place in the ‘B’ Race as his time would have gained him 9th place there. Helen Anthony took part in the ‘D’ Race and showed all the other competitors, men and women alike, a clean pair of heels by finishing 1st in a field of 19 in a time of 11.55. Tina Caunter opted for the ‘E’ Race and was well in the mix in a field of 13 where she finished 8th in a time of 14.46.
 

Report by Rod Payne
 

Photos: Top Kirsty Chryanthou who ran at Bristol. Middle: Michelle Willcocks Watts who posted a great time at Taunton. Bottom: Rachel and Neil Pallant - both with impressive PBs at Taunton