Two club records broken in freezing "First Chance 10K"....

On Sunday 20th January 28 Trotters braved the freezing conditions to run the “First Chance 10K”.

The course was flat and fast, run on tarmac cycle ways and gravel footpaths along the Exeter Canal and the River Exe. The conditions were far from ideal but the ground was not too bad and 466 runners completed the course.

David (Tommo) Tomlin was not to be put off with the chill factor and came in 11th place in a splendid time of 34.13 which gave him his second vet 40 win in a week and also a new Teignbridge Trotters male vet 40 record knocking nearly a minute off Chairman's previous record.

 Next after two weeks off with a fractured rib was Geoff Davey who ran a personal best (PB) time of 37.48 and 34th. In 51st place and first in his vet 55 category, Alan Boone did a PB of 39.11. Next was Steve Barker in 80th 40.14 and then another personal best time by Craig Churchill of 41.38 92nd.

Helen Anthony brought the lady Trottettes home in 43.18 124th with Rob Cowling chasing her down in 125th with 43.22 (PB). Wilfred Taylor won the male vet 60 prize in 128th place with another fantastic time of 43.30 and on his birthday too! Back from a recent prolonged calf injury, Gary Caunter ran 43.36 for 130th. Sarah Schutte did a PB in 45.32 181st and Gary Watson was 211st in 47.29, chased by Guy Roberts who smashed his last 10K time in 48.23 for 225th. Sharon Bowman did 48.42 in 231st, and Graeme Baker followed her in 239th with 49.08 which trimmed off 11 seconds off his own vet 70 club record. Derek Blackford was 259th in 49.53, Stephen Wallace 266th with 50.14, Tamsin Cook 277th in 51.24, Eleanor Taylor 310th with 52.57, Sarah Seymour 164th with a new PB of 53.39, Beverley Dennis 332nd in a PB of 54.49, Kevin Besford 54.51 for 333rd and Joanne Becker 55.34 in 340th place.

Lauren Benham in her first ever Trotter race ran really strongly and finished in a PB of 55.51 for 346th, while Kirsty Bowman in only her second race with the Trotters did a PB of 56.14 in 352nd position, both showing that there is plenty more to come from these youngsters. Jo Billyard bettered her PB with 56.16 in 354th, while Rachel Pallant ran strongly for a PB of 56.33 in 358th, and Glenn Jarvis ensured everyone finished well inside the hour, with 57.23 for 375th place. Unfortunately, Rachel Besford had to pull out due to injury .

Report by Fizz

PHOTOS....Top - Group huddle to keep warm before the start.  Middle - Vet 70 Graeme just after the start.  Bottom - Tommo on his way to his first club record in the vet 40's. (Thanks Neil Pallant for the photos)