Hard Work Rewarded by The Best Scenery in The South West

On Saturday 11 Teignbridge Trotters made the short trip to Cornwood on the outskirts of Dartmoor for the Cornwood Challenge 10k. The race is a real test of stamina with a mixture of country lanes, estate tracks and woodland paths, combining to make this a tough and interesting evening race. With championship points at stake it was somewhat surprising that so few Trotters lined up for the start. First Royal Blue across the line was Daryl ‘Tarquin’ Milford 6th in 38.45. He was followed by Alan Boone 17th in 42.29 and Travis Wood 28th in 4508. Gary Caunter was 39th in 47.08 with Derek Blackford 75th in 53.52 and first ‘Trottette’ Ruth Johnson 82nd in 55.13. Lucy Payne was next back 91st in 56.03. In the latter stages of the race she was seen to be suffering the effects of an uncharacteristic fast start as she performed eccentric arm contortions in an attempt to stave off ‘the stitch’. Lucy was followed in by hubby Rod who was delighted to muster enough speed in the final kilometre to pull a hamstring. He hobbled home 98th in 57.09, Jo Billyard, another victim of the fast start was 102nd in 58.32 and Hayley Brown, who was convinced she saw a pink tree, despite hallucinating was 105th in 59.04. Catherine Barnes ran a much more sensible race and completed the line-up 131st in 63.19. There were 140 finishers. (The results published are in coded form so I have had to decipher them. Please accept apologies for any errors. RP)

On Sunday it was across the moor to Yealmton for The 6 Moor Miles moorland race. This is another tough off-road event that attracted 4 Teignbridge Trotters. The tracks are narrow in places making for difficulty in overtaking so it is essential to get away to a swift start to establish a good early race position. The scenery is magnificent and the tough climbs yield instantaneous visual rewards. If you have any breath left as you crest the hills then the views will take the rest of it away. Jim Donovan was 62nd in a field of 192 in a time of 52.35, followed by Stephen Wallace 134th in 1.02.31, Steve Rawlinson 142nd in 1.03.49 and Heather Snow 179th in 1.12.58. There were 192 finishers.

Also on Sunday in North Somerset the Exmoor Seaview 17 took place. The race is self-navigation and nearer to 20 miles in distance. Starting at Countisbury Hill the route follows the punishingly hilly coastal path, taking in some stunning coastal views, before finishing at Minehead Community College. In a field of 100 finishers Helen Anthony was 29th in 3.24.48 and Dave Dunn 64th in 4.01.42.

Race distances of 5k, 10k, Half and Full Marathon make up the options in the Bath Festival of Running that took place at the weekend. The theme of tough races on offer at the weekend continued as Mark ‘Wurzel’ Wotton, who seems to be our latest compulsive marathoner, opted for the Marathon Distance. The races all start at the University of Bath and the Marathon follows a hilly route along the Kennet and Avon Canal, The famous Fosse Way and up to the top of Little Solsbury Hill. Wurzel, who has recently featured in several gruelling marathons over almost consecutive weeks, was 84th out of 96 finishers in a time of 6.12.57.

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: Top: Helen and Dave at Exmoor Seaview 17. Middle: Steve Rawlinson who was in action at The 6 Moor Miles and Bottom: Brother and Sister Mark Wotton and Ruth Johnson, both in action at the weekend.