Taunton 10km and triathlon tempt trotters this weekend.........

On Sunday 29th September the annual “Taunton 10km” took place.From the Start in the road outside Blackbrook Pavilion the gently undulating circular course heads through the residential Holway area of Taunton before following country roads through the picturesque village of Stoke St Mary and then into narrow lanes passing the Golf Driving Range and the hamlet of Haydon before crossing the M5 and returning to the Finish inside the Pavilion grounds. 590 competitors took part and among them were 13 trotters.

Garry Smart brought the men all back safely and he came in 6th with 36.33 and won 1st vet 45.Quite away behind him was John Tweedie who produced 41.50 and 38th.Thomas Besford who is enjoying racing in his first year as a trotter did 42.50 and 53rd beating Bruce Campbell who was right behind him in 42.58.Others came in as follows –Stuart Moulson(46.12) 101th,Neil Pallant (46.49)114th,Keith Anderson(47.41) 125th and a PB,Kevin Besford(48.15)143rd,Derek Blackford(52.17)199th.298 men took part
The ladies were brought home by Tamsin Cook who stormed around the circuit in 49.15 and 36th out of the ladies. Catherine Barnes was 95th in 55.16, Rachel Pallant struggling with injury still completed within the hour in 59.20 and 158th and Maggie Anderson running her first ever 10km did 1.03.15 and was 208th.298 ladies took part.

Over in Dawlish the second “Dawlish Triathlon” (750 metre sea swim/21km bike / 5km run) took place on Dawlish warren. Unfortunately the organisers had to cancel the swim at 6am so it became a duathlon which replaced the swim with a 4km run instead (Run / bike /Run) It was a disappointment for lots of the athletes who had been training all through the summer for the local event as their first triathlon but the sea was just too rough to put 400 competitors at risk.

Helen Anthony had a great event coming 3rd in the ladies overall and first in her age category. Her times were 18.05 /40.26/25.39 with transitions makes a total of 1.25.46.Adrain Handley who completed the event last year was 37th in his age group and did 19.50/41.02/28.52 totalling 1.31.44.Tracy Elphick after a long season of no racing produced 19.09/42.39/28.53 making a total of 1.33.15 and 6th in her age group. Sharon Bowman completed in 20.38/44.01/32.32 totalling 1.39.27 and 11th in her age group. Roger Hales also took part doing both the runs in a relay team.Sarah Seymour was due to do the swim leg of a relay team but as the swim was cancelled she couldn't and as she is injured was unable to do  the run leg instead!
 

Report by Fizz

PHOTOS-TOP- Neil and Rachel Pallant at Taunton MIDDLE –Maggie and Keith Anderson setting their own records at Taunton. BOTTOM-Helen receiving her trophy at Dawlish.