Quiet time for racing again this week....................

On Monday 25th November on a very chilly night 7 hardy Teignbridge trotters took themselves up to Exeter Arena to compete in the “Exeter Winter 3km” final round organised by Ironbridge runner.

Craig Churchill went out on with a bang by smashing his last 3km time to complete in 11.11 and 11th place in the “B” race while Helen Anthony was right behind him and smashed her previous time in 11.12(12th) and picking up 1st female vet 35 overall (the 3 races to count ) while John Tweedie did 11.43(15th)
The “C” race saw Gary Clark race in first in 11.15, the “D” race had Stuart Moulson in 13.10(17th), “E “race Keith Anderson did 13.05 (7th) and was 2nd male vet 60 overall and Catherine Barnes did 14.53(9th) in the “F” race.

On Saturday 30th November, Jess Parkes ran the “Grim Challenge” in Aldershot. It is run by a great bunch of people. There were groups running together, individuals who were obviously running for charity and people like Jess who were there for the sheer fun of it! In fact she did not see another club vest in sight!!
The GRIM Challenge takes place on both the Saturday & Sunday, over the Army’s vehicle testing tracks. It’s a fairly tough event with plenty of varied terrain to negotiate over, through & around but also incredibly good fun with around 6,500 runners over the course of two days.
The course is around eight something miles and changes depending on what the army are doing and how mean they're feeling! She completed the event in 1.26.32.

In Jess's own words-"You've barely started before you're faced with the first 'puddle'. And before long you reach a long hill before descending again eventually reaching a water filled ravine. You run on over puddle-strewn paths before having to crawl under camouflage netting. You are expected to get extremely wet and muddy!! You then continue on to the fast vehicle driving circuit where it is rocky underfoot. After the umpteenth muddy puddle, you barely notice wading through them, except for the fact that your legs are completely numb and feel distinctly detached from your body!!"

The t-shirt sums it up perfectly....8 miles , 1 bog , 2 cammo nets ,1 big sand dune ,3 hills , 1 crater ,23 moguls and 84 tyres....one of the best events she has ever done!

0n a chilly 1st December at Exeter Arena in Summer Lane, the third round of the “Brooks Westward league cross country” series took place. Helen Anthony completed the 5000 metre course in 18th in a time of 19.16 giving her 5th vet 35 place overall from the three events with three left to do and Hylda Stewart did 23.10 in 68th and is 2nd vet 55 so far.

Garry Smart finished the 8900 metre course in 59th with a time of 31.51 and stands 12th in the vet 45 category and new trotter Christopher Broadbent did 34.58 and 107th.

Report by Fizz
PHOTOS-TOP-Garry Smart at Bideford MIDDLE Stuart Mouslon at Lustleigh BOTTOM- Catherine Barnes at the ladies 10km (photos used from our archives)