50 Trotters represent their club this weekend and more records fall..........

Three local races this weekend attracted 50 Teignbridge Trotters to race them with 2 records being broken at one of them.

The “Bideford Half Marathon” organised by the Bideford AAC was held over a virtually level course taking in magnificent countryside alongside the River Torridge between Bideford & Great Torrington. The course is half on country roads and half on the Tarka Trail which was formerly a railway line (you even get to run through a tunnel). 27 Trotters made their way to North Devon and gained some exceptional personal results in near perfect running conditions along with 840 other runners .

First Trotter home and breaking yet another club record was David (Tommo) Tomlin, who was 6th in a magnificent time of 1.14.22, smashing Alan Fewings' male vet 40 half marathon club record set in the Torbay half 17 years ago, when Alan recorded a time of 1.16.34. Tommo now holds the records for 10km, 10 miles and the half marathon since turning 40 in early January. Just the marathon now to make up all four records. Tommo was also 1st male vet 40 in the race. Ewan Walton, setting out to crack his PB, did so at this event with 1.19.30 for 17th place. Alan Boone clocked up 1.26.06 in 58th position and won the 1st male vet 55 prize, while Gary Clark was 81st in 1.28.07 and Allen Taylor did a PB in 1.28.08, one place behind Gary. John Tweedy wasn’t far behind in 87th in 1.28.32. Craig Churchill beat his own previous best with 1.31.23 for 114th, while Helen Anthony bettered hers too in 1.34.21, bringing the Trottettes home in 152nd place. Rob Cowling is getting the racing bug with a PB of 1.34.58 in 158thposition. Alexander Shearman was 160th with 1.35.30, Gary (Watser) Watson ran 1.39.40 for 231st, Graydon Widdicombe gained a new PB with 1.42.02 for 284th, Dennis Milstead also got a PB with 1.44.87 in 333rd, Jimmy Donovan finished in 1.45.09 for 336th, whilst Rob Cooper in his first race as a Trotter did 1.46.59 for 369th and Noel Fowler ran 1.50.38 in 426th. Joanne Haynes was the next Trotter lady to appear in 1.51.58 for 452nd, with Stephen Wallace running 1.53.14 in 472nd.

Having broken Lucy Payne's 10 mile club record at Plymouth Hoe two weeks ago,Tina Caunter raced to the finish in 1.54.52 to smash Pauline Newholme's Female Vet 55 club record which had been set back in 1996 in the Plymouth Half. This was another fantastic achievement by Tina since turning 55 a few weeks ago. Jo Becker wasn’t far behind Tina in a new PB of 1.55.45 for 532nd, Steph Ross ran 1.55.49 in 529th place and Keith Anderson finished in 1.58.58 for 594th. Sarah (Otter) Seymour obliterated her last half marathon time by 12 minutes with 2.01.10 for 625th place, while both Bev Dennis, 2.02.21 in 644th, and Sharon Hutchins, 2.02.31 in 648th, also ran PB's. Catherine Barnes, our new ladies captain, was 709th in 2.08.06, Tim Hartley ran 2.19.51 in 795th and Heather Snow completed her first Trotter race in 3.01.28 and was 866th.

Down in Cornwall at the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth, the "37th Duchy Marathon and 20 Mile Road Race" took place. It is the second longest established British marathon and was first ran in 1977. Although the main focus is the marathon event, the 20 miler attracts many runners as a good training run for spring marathons, although no prizes are awarded for the 20 miler.  Cornwall Athletic Club organise the event which this year attracted 202 marathon runners and 133 for the 20 miles. Ten tough Trotters took on the marathon, but although the sun didn’t make an appearance, a strong head wind was present at around 7 miles with a harsh chill factor in it. The marathoners had to endure this part of the course twice and it was tough going in places.

Lance (Skippy) Mason did an amazing time, enjoying the undulating course to produce 3.01.33 for 8th position, picking up the 1st Male Vet 50 prize. Mark Hutchins was next home in 3.25.05 for46th, Roger (Chairman) Hayes ran 3.37.36 for 73rd, overhauling Ian (Lighthouse) Langler, 3.38.03 in 74th, in the closing stages. Roger (Smokes) Hales wasn’t far behind in 3.39.32 for 81st place, Phil (Latte) Perry ran 3.48.46 in 105th, whilst Peter Blakesley stepped up from the 20 miler last year to do 4.04.12 in 135th after being rather ill over Christmas and New Year. Dave Dunn was 160th in 4.20.55, with Angie Blakesley completing the course in 4.47.11 for 186th and Sally (Marathon Queen) Ingledew appearing in 4.51.28 and 188th position.

Eleven Trotters took part in the 20 miler producing some strong runs while laying down good foundations for their upcoming marathons. Daryl “Tarquin” Milford put up a strong fight to be 2nd in 2.07.08 and 1st Male Vet 35, while Garry (Smarty) Smart tried his hardest to catch him in 2.08.58 and 3rd place, and 1st Male Vet 45. Wilf Taylor was 23rd in 2.33.49 and 1st Male Vet 60, with Tim Hassell, running in his Trotter vest for the first time, was 42nd in 2.43.47. Jacki Woon was 2nd Female Vet 45 in 2.44.12 for 43rd place, Neil Pallant was 55th in 2.54.44, 4 minutes faster than last year, chased all the way by Jessica (Perky) Parkes, running her longest race to date in a time of 2.54.53 for 56th place. Eleanor Taylor knocked 7 minutes off last year's time in doing 3.02.36 for 74th, Sharon (Fizz) Bowman ran 3.15.52 in 52nd, while Ruth Johnson recorded 3.31.55 in 116th, and Carly Cook completed their longest run to date in 3.33.08 for 117th place. 

New member Stephanie Parker was the sole Trotter representative in Sunday's “Bath Half Marathon” or the 'Bath Half' as it is affectionately known. This race is one of the longest established and most popular City Centre road events in the UK. It is also the largest charity fundraising event in the South West region, raising over £1.5 million for charity last year alone. The course itself is fast and flat making it suitable for all abilities. Steph completed the course in 2.16.44 for 8599th place.

Report written by Fizz (I really hope I got everyone's PB this week .......sorry if I missed any !!)

PHOTOS -TOP The Bideford crew (well just a few!) MIDDLE - Tina storming to victory with her 2nd club record in 2 weeks (thanks Caroline) BOTTOM - The Duchy Marathoners and 20 milers (fun runners) (thanks Ray)