Lady trotters do the Trotters proud at our Ladies 10km race.......

On Wednesday evening the 11th September saw the "Devon County 10km Championships" take place at Exeter Track. Geoff Davey set a new personal best for himself of 36.26 and was 11th and 2nd vet 35 in the event.

On Saturday 14th September Allen Taylor took part in the “Kennet and Avon canal 56 mile ultra-marathon “. Twenty runners took part as there was an option of a 21 mile race too. Allen led the race from 14 miles and had to dig deep as it became very lonely. It started in Bath city centre and travelled across Wiltshire and finished in Newbury Berkshire following the canal the whole way. At later stages of the race the towpath became nothing more than a single track which was boggy and overgrown with lots of gates and stiles to negotiate and deal with. The weather on the day was overcast with some rain and at times a cold wind but the sun did try it best to appear now and again. He crossed the finishing line in First place in a time of 8 hours and 15 minutes with the second and third place coming in at 8 hours 55 minutes together. An amazing and strong achievement as this is the furthest he has raced.

The wind and rain forecast on Sunday 15th September held off until the “Ladies 10km” at Dornafield Touring Park in Ipplepen had finished. The annual race in its 16th year thanks to the kind permission of park owner Peter Dewhirst attracted 164 ladies. Two pounds from every entry is donated to Mr Dewhirst’s nominated charity ‘Bowel Cancer UK’ and he was presented with a cheque for £368 after the race. Over the 16 years running of this race at the venue over £26,000 has been raised for the charity. The route which follows an undulating rural course around quiet and picturesque country lanes took runners on the tip of Ogwell, Denbury and Ipplepen village borders and was marshalled by Teignbridge trotters who organised the unique ladies event.

Thirty trotter ladies ran the race. First trotter lady over the line was Helen Anthony who was 7th in 42.44 and 3rd vet 35 and Melanie Dunn had a fantastic run in 44.51 and 11th being chased by Jacki Woon in 12th and 45.28 which was 11 seconds faster beating her own over 50 club record for a 10km set only a few weeks ago at the Royal Regatta 10km in Torbay and 3rd vet 50. Sarah Schutte ran another strong 10km in 46.05 and 14th.These four ladies made up the winning ladies team.

Other trotter ladies came in as follows –Tracy Elphick(46.27) and 3rd vet 40 in 16th ,Abigail Blee(49.30)33rd and first race as a trotter, Sharon Bowman(50.25)34th,Emma Pearcy(52.01)43rd first race as a trotter.These ladies made up the 5th winning team .Ruth Johnson(53.01)49th,Jessica Parkes(53.29)52nd,Eleanor Taylor(54.37)65th,Mary Goulden (55.13)71st and these made up the seventh team winners. Then a battle started with Angela Blakesley (56.33)84th,Kirsty Bowman(56.34)85th,Tina Caunter(56.38),Caroline Campbell(56.50) and Beverley Dennis(56.51)88th.Stephanie Ross (57.22)92nd,Hayley Brown(58.01)98th,Jo Billyard(58.28)100th,Catherine Barnes(58.34)102nd,Nicky Cowling(59.30)110th,Victoria Ratcliffe(1.00.36)116th,Rachel Pallant(1.00.57)118th,Sonia Hodge(1.03.17)131st,Joanne White(1.03.17)133rd,Heather Snow(1.04.02)139th,Julie Crump(1.04.19)139th,Katrina Zaple(1.04.42)142ndand Jess Whitehouse(1.10.16)159th completed the team.

Up in the city of Bristol the “Bristol Half marathon” took place in the heart of the city. It was the 25th anniversary of the event and attracted 11,000 entrants on the cool autumnal day. Three trotter men raced with Geoff Davey doing his second PB of the week in 1.20.47(123rd).Mark Hamling produced 1.41.20 while Alexander Shearman ran 1.43.21.

Peter Middleton completed the"Great North run" in 2:24 a short way behind Mo
Farah and the leading group Peter writes. In appalling conditions some 50,000 runners set off from Newcastle to run the 13.1 miles to South Shields. With a Gale force headwind across the Tyne Bridge many of the 56,000 runners were feeling it after the 1st half of the race. Fortunately the wind was behind them for the last few miles. The hospitality on offer varied from custard creams to pints of beer and the heavens opened several times.Peter ran all the way with his son and they crossed the line together.Also Tony Stepney ran a time of 2.21.22(27877th).

Stephanie Parker took part in the “Cheltenham half marathon”,a new destination road-race set at the heart of the stunning regency town. Broad tree-lined avenues provide space to run, a diverse course combines regency splendour with bags of Cotswold charm, all topped off by the majestic Cheltenham racecourse bathed in the autumn sun. The 1,872 competitors refused to let the wet weather dampen their spirits as they raced along the 13.1-mile course, starting and ending in Pittville Park. She completed in 2.18.27(1566th).

REPORT BY FIZZ

PHOTOS-TOP-The lovely trottettes MIDDLE-The team winners BOTTOM-Our catering queen Tina with Bev after the race (Thanks Nigel for the first two photos)