Trotters brave arctic conditions on Mothering Sunday ........

On Mothering Sunday 10th March, nine hardy Trotters took on the challenge that is called ‘The Grizzly’.
Based in Seaton, East Devon, this was the 26th running of the event, which within its 20 or so miles includes 3500ft of climbing in addition to the mud, beach, cliffs and bogs the runners have to encounter. This ever popular event filled within an hour of its entries opening, so a big well done to those Trotters competing. The weather was far from ideal with biting winds and sleet showers to push competitors to call on all their reserves to get them to the finish for the famous "Grizzly!" t shirt and hose down!

An excellent run by Ewan Walton saw him placed 31st amongst the 2000 other entrants with a time of 2.51.32. Ewan was followed in by Nick Stevens 3.02.15 (70th). Helen Anthony, competing in her fourth Grizzly, was 7th Lady with a great time of 3.12.49 (130th) supported by Lance Mason 3.12.43 (129th). Other Trotters finishing were Ben Epps (600th) in around 4 hours, James Henderson (642nd) in a smidge over 4 hours, Ryan Anthony (1,008th) in about 4.33, Keith Anderson (1,032nd) in 4.37 and Sally Ingledew (1,154th) in 4:48. Some times were unavailable at time of going to print.

Over in Sidmouth, Exeter Tri club ran their second “Aquathlon” in a series of four which is a 600 metre swim (24 lengths) of Sidmouth swimming pool and a 5km run in a park behind the pool. Ian Woolley was 11th in his age group with a swim of 9.04, run of 23.04 making a total of 32.08, while Sharon Bowman did 11.20 for her swim, 24.32 for the run making a total of 35.52 and 8th in her age group.

Meanwhile lone trotter Graham Penn did his final race in a Royal Blue vest yesterday and he nearly turned blue with cold! It was the “Dunstable Downs Trail 10k”, an inaugural event organised by Dunstable Road Runners. It was a hilly mainly off road challenge as the name suggests and conditions underfoot were very slippery with large puddles to negotiate in places. It was his 56th 10k race and quite easily the toughest! He managed to cross the finish line in a time of 1:04:42 and was 70th out of 143 runners. Out of 220 events he has run, 186 of these events have been in Trotter colours. He has now moved away from the area and will be running 1st claim for another club.

Chris Rogers ran in the "Dig Deep 10K" around Siblyback Lake on Bodmin Moor on Sunday.He ran 54:31 for 50th place and there were 72 finishers.

Peter Kirby ran the  "Mad March 20 mile" race on Sunday , near to Christchurch in Dorset. His time was 2:46:48.

Meanwhile, husband and wife Rod & Lucy Payne took on the Retford Half Marathon in Nottinghamshire. After a nearly flat first 5 miles, the course becomes undulating, and if it were not for the bitterly cold wind blowing on Sunday, might have offered Lucy the chance to better her own FV60 club record. As it was, Lucy finished in a very creditable 1:58:09 for 242nd place, whilst Rod was not too far behind in 2:04:27 in 280th position out of the 356 finishers.

Report by Fizz

PHOTOS - TOP - The Grizzly gang before the mud (Thanks Ray)  MIDDLE - Helen at Bideford last week ...rather cleaner than this weeks race! (thanks Caroline)  BOTTOM - Inky in his last stand as a Trotter  (thanks Inky)