Prizes galore for the Trotters at local events...............

This Sunday the20th October,the  “Dartmoor vale” races took place in Newton Abbot. The 10km, half marathon and Marathon all started at Sibelco UK who agreed to be the principal sponsor for the event and for the foreseeable future so the event could continue to be based at the East Golds Works near Newton Abbot. The routes for the marathon and the half marathon took runners out on the roads of the Teign Valley to Chudleigh and back down the leafy country lanes alongside Ugbrooke Park with the marathoners having to do 2 laps. The weather had been very wet and windy during the night and the wind was quite strong during the race and a severe down pour happened in the latter end of the marathon. The 10km route took runners around the roads of Kingsteignton.

The marathon saw Phil Perry cross the finishing line in 4.14.51 and 50th .Graydon Widdicombe completed in 4.21.26(88th) while Mark Wotton completed in 4.23.43(89th).Mark also completed the “Leicester Marathon” last week in 4.22.51 and came 343 out of 511 finishers. Sally Ingledew was 2nd vet 50 in a time of 4.33.58 (104th ) with 132 completing the marathon.

The Half marathon saw Ewan Walton bring the trotters home in 9th in 1.25.55 with Stephen Barker in 22nd 1.35.08 and Wilfred Taylor picked up 1st vet 60 in 25th with a time of 1.35.34.Other trotters completed as follows-Bruce Campbell 1.39.01(42nd),Rob Cowling 1.40.13(45th),Mark Hamling 1.41.16(48th),Jon Grimes 1.41.22(49th),Alan Boone 1.42.58(52nd) 1st male vet 55,Alan Taylor 1.46.26 (57th),Jackie Woon 1.44.11 (63rd) 1st vet 50 lady, Stuart Moulson 1.45.51(66th),Pete Haywood 1.45.48(67th),Nathan Elphick 1.46.00(68th),Peter Blakesley 1.45.58(69th),James Ayling 1.49.24(84th),Michael Jones 1.49.22(86th).Sarah Schutte 1.49.57(90th),Kevin Besford 1.52.23(102nd),Keith Anderson 1.56.02 (124th),Dave Dunn 1.59.05 (133rd),Guy Roberts 1.59.37 (138th),Eleanor Taylor 1.59.53(139th) 3rd vet 50 lady, Ruth Johnson 2.02.10(144th) 2nd vet 45 lady, Beverly Dennis 2.06.55(164th),Paul Dainton 2.09.51 (172nd) with Jo Billyard completing in 2.11.04 and 175th picking up 3rd vet 55 lady.236 runners finished the race.

The 10km had 223 entries with Helen Anthony bringing the Trotters home in a personal best time for her of 41.42 in 19th place and picking up first vet 35 lady and 3rd lady home. Craig Churchill did 43.51 (32nd),Tracy Elphick 46.00(48th) and 1st vet 40 lady, Derek Blackford 51.01 (79th),Steve Wallace 55.32 (116th) and Susie Ashley-Thomas was 2nd vet 60 lady in 57.41 (129th)

On Sunday 20th October, two Trotters ran the “Abingdon Marathon” in Oxfordshire. Geoff Davey finished in 3.16.48 in 180th position. Peter Kirby finished in 3.41.02 in 341st position. There were 703 finishers. Conditions on the flat course were mild, but with heavy showers and gusting wind.
The course starts with a lap of the athletics track, before heading through town and then out on a two lap route through the villages of Drayton, Milton & Sutton Courtenay. Runners then come back through town to finish with a lap of the Tilsley Park athletics track. It was a really well organised marathon by the Abingdon club with great support from the numerous marshals’.703 runners completed the marathon.(thanks Peter)

Gary Clark was lone trotter down in Cornwall at the “Eden marathon” on Sunday which was cancelled last year. The start was in a slightly different position but followed the same route as before, also a half marathon started at the same time instead of the marathon getting a 10 minute head start as previous years.
The marathon follows the half route until about 7.5 miles then peels off to do another loop which was a good mixture of terrain including a Heller type of climb, farmers lanes, road and wooded areas, then it re-joins the half route at around the 17 mile mark which is mostly road with a few tracks thrown in with a nice downhill finish into the centre of the Eden project. Gary came 31st in a time of 3:48. 169 runners completed the tough course.(thanks Gary)

Over in Dartington near Totnes ,seven trotters took on the second running this year of the “Dartington Duathlon”.This involved a 5km run around the Dartington Estate ,a 20km bike ride up to Marley head and back followed by a cross country 2.5km run to the finish. Nearly 200 competitors did the friendly event and although the roads were rather wet and slippery from the overnight rain and the wind strong the event was another success.
The results are done in brackets as (1st run, bike, 2nd run)

Travis Wood in his first such event did 1.17.05(51st) (20.41, 42.22, 12.22).
Neil Pallant also on his first such event did (96th) 1.24.21 (23.27,43.44,14.06) although he was chased down by Sharon"Fizz" Bowman(97th) who did the event in March and completed this time 3 minutes quicker than her last one in 1.24.22 (24.56,43.22,14.08) and picked up 3rd vet lady. Jimmy Donovan completed in 1.24.49 (99th) (23.33, 46.58, 13.16) Dennis Milstead new to it too and had been ill all week did 1.28.04 (112th) (25.40, 43.42, 15.08) Pete Aston enjoyed the event and finished in 1.31.33 (136th)(24.41,50.22,14.44) while Tim Hartley finished in 1.45.10 (157th)(30.08,54.35,18.07)

report written and compiled by Fizz

PHOTOS-TOP- The boys before the half marathon MIDDLE-Peter on the run BOTTOM- The duathlon gang