Trotters out in Force at Chudleigh and 2013 Haytor Heller - another proud Trotter Night

Teignbridge Trotters turned out in force on Friday night to run the Chudleigh Carnival Road Race. A total of 40 Trotters supported the local event over a course measuring 5 miles 944 yards and with the added incentive of club championship points on offer, inter club competition was intense. This year there were well over 100 pre-entries as the race goes from strength to strength under Race Director, Chudleigh resident and Teignbridge Trotter Eleanor Taylor.

First Trotter home was Garry ‘Smartie’ Smart 10th overall and 3rd male 45-49 in 34.02. He was followed by Alan ‘Boonie’ Boone 24th and 1st male 55-59 in 38.06. Chris ‘Psycho’ Cleave was 25th and 2nd male 50-54 in 38.08 and John Tweedy 26th in 38.13. Mark Hutchins was 28th in 38.16 followed by our first lady Helen ‘Zippy’ Anthony 29th and 3rd senior female in 38.31 and Jamie Boone 30th in 38.34. Gary Clark was 34th in 38.50, Ian Langler 35th in 38.55 and Craig Churchill 36th in 39.03. Gary Watson was 46th and 3rd male 55-59 in 40.48, Eyvoll Aston was 47th and 3rd female 40-44 in 40.51, Mark Becker 53rd in 41.37 and Peter Blakesley was 60th and 3rd male 50-54 in 42.49. Stuart Moulson 63rd in 42.57 was followed by Jacki Woon 64th and 1st female 50-54 in 43.03, John ‘Skins’ Skinner was 68th in 43.28, Phil ‘Latte’ Perry 70th in 43.36, ‘Smokin’’ Roger Hales 76th in 44.28 and Neil Pallant was 77th in 44.29. Jim Donovan was 81st in 45.06, Noel Fowler 85th in 45.46, Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman 92nd in 46.21, Dave Dunn 100th in 47.44 and Derek Blackford was 103rd in 48.26. Graham ‘Inky’ Penn now moved away from the area was 105th in 48.35, Ruth Johnson 111th in 49.18 and Brett Boone (expensive night for Boonie – Ed) was 116th in 49.47. Occasional racer Nigel Penwarden was 118th in 49.52, just ahead of Marathon Queen Sally Ingledew 119th in 49.56 and the evergreen Graeme Baker 123rd in 50.13. The next six places were occupied by Teignbridge Trotters, led by Kevin Besford 126th in 50.35, Cath Pilton 127th in 50.42, Angela Blakesley 128th in 50.57, Lucy Payne 129th and 1st female 60-64 also in 50.57, Jo Becker 130th in 51.40 and Keith Anderson was 131st and 3rd male 60-64 in 51.53. Tina Caunter was 137th in 52.58, Bev Dennis 138th in 52.45 and Sharon Hutchins was 148th in 54.37. There was a record 173 finishers and the race was won in a course record time to mark the occasion.

On Saturday evening Teignbridge Trotters staged the Haytor Heller, a tough but stunning 6-mile moorland race on Dartmoor. Most members turn out as helpers and marshals so only a few members took part. Of these Chris Cleave in his 2nd race in 24 hours was 42nd in 51.35. Mark Hutchins also in his second race of the weekend was 64th in 54.33, Filipe Da Silva was 80th in 57.12, Peter Blakesley who was desperate to run the Heller this year got his wish ‘11th hour’, was 101st in 1.00.59 and Derek Blackford was 159th 1.09.56. Both runners were at Chudleigh the previous evening also. Kirsty Bowman, so looking forward to her first Heller, had a great time and was 161st in 1.10.05, Steve Rawlinson lost out in a sprint finish to the line (note to self Steve – do some speed work) and was 171st in 1.12.13. Sharon Hutchins, also at Chudleigh, was 178th in 1.13.33. There were 235 finishers.

Further afield in Perdiswell, Worcestershire the inaugural Stuart Wild Memorial Marathon took place. The race is run over 10 laps of 2.6 miles each and goes around the leisure centre and golf course which consists of grass, cycle tracks and paths. The race is run in memory of host club, Black Pear Joggers’, member Stuart Wild who was in the process of organizing this event but sadly passed away before he saw it come to fruition. Around 30 individuals did the full marathon with others opting to run in teams of 2 or 5. No results are yet published but in hot conditions lone Trotter Mark ‘Wurzel’ Wotton was around 20th in 4 hrs 45mins.

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: Top: Teignbridge Trotters at Chudleigh Carnival Road Race (Thanks to Inky Penn)

Middle: Chris Cleave in double race action at the weekend, pictured at the Haytor Heller (Thanks to Nigel Penwarden)

Bottom: Kirsty Bowman finishing in fine style at the Haytor Heller (N Penwarden)