Teignbridge Trotters records are broken at Bideford Half

41 Teignbridge Trotters completed the Bideford Half Marathon, which took place on Sunday 2nd March. The course is a popular one for runners chasing a PB as it is billed as a “swift half”, and takes place on part of the Tarka Trail. Conditions on the day were fair, and many produced some great results.

Continuing his great run in the Club Championship, Daryl “Tarquin” Milford brought the Trotters home in 1:20:17, finishing 18th overall.

Two club records were also broken on the day. Firstly, Jacki Woon broke the V50 record by nearly 5 minutes, with a time of 1:37:34 (236), adding her name alongside the V45 record that she also holds over this distance. Secondly, Lance “Skippy” Mason knocked 48 seconds off his own V50 Trotters record with a time of 1:21:12 (25) and also picked up the 3rd V50 prize on the day.

Helen “Zippy” Anthony continued her great form at Bideford. Following her first time under 1:30 at Exeter Half on 16th February 2014, Zippy posted another PB at this distance with 1:29:08 and was third Trotter home overall and 115th on the day.

Also, Lucy Payne won 3rd F60 prize with a time of 1:58:07, finishing 601st.

Three Trotters bagged PBs at the event. Keith Anderson finished in a time of 1:41:24 (336), knocking 12 minutes off his PB. Bideford obviously suits Tamsin Cook as well, as she knocked a massive 10 minutes off her previous best (also ran at Bideford, two years ago) completing in a time of 1:48:11 (421). Kirsty Bowman PBd with a time of 1:55:59 (551), to go under 2hrs for the first time.

Other Trotters completed in the following times: Mark Hutchins 1:32:57 (158), Travis Wood 1:33:45 (169), Bruce Campbell 1:33:58 (186), Gary Clark 1:34:53 (190), Craig Churchill 1:35:44 (204), Eyvoll Aston 1:35:31 (205), Stewart Dunn 1:35:13 (206), Jacki Woon 1:37:34 (236), John Tweedie 1:37:55 (243), Graydon Widdicombe 1:39:06 (255), Gary Watson 1:40:34 (282), Andrew Ludlam 01:40:55 (304), Peter Kirby 01:41:04 (306), Tracy Elphick 01:41:04 (313), Tim Hassell 01:40:59 (318), Keith Anderson 01:41:24 (326), John Skinner 01:43:41 (349), Nathan Elphick 01:43:54 (356), Pete Hayward 01:43:53 (373), Adrian Handley 01:45:15 (379), Abigal Blee 01:45:33 (382), Stuart Moulson 01:46:55 (396), Rod Payne 01:47:21 (414), Dennis Milstead 01:49:57 (449), Kevin Besford 01:49:45 (452), Nigel Barnett 01:50:31 (467), David Dunn 01:53:12 (508), Sally Ingledew 01:53:45 (520), Kirsty Bowman 01:55:59 (551), Sharon Bowman 01:56:15 (560), Ruth Johnson 01:57:28 (584), Guy Roberts 01:58:07 (590), Lucy Payne 01:58:07 (601), Sharon Hutchins 02:01:47 (661), Stephen Wallace 02:03:10 (692), Beverley Dennis 02:05:18 (711) and Tony Stepney 02:20:40 (854).

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As well as Bideford, there were also runners flying the Trotter flag at the Bath Half and Reading Half. Bath is another flat course and 4 Trotters made the trip to Somerset with 11176 runners completing the event. Derek Blackford completed in 1:52:18 (4261), Donna Walker 1:58:11 (5888, PB), Richard Keatley 2:07:12 (6557) and Peter Royle 2:29:10 (9091).

Reading Half is a popular race for elites with reports saying that around 100 elites had entered the race. Britain’s Scott Overall won the race, for which 14261 people completed the event. The quality of the field is evident with 41 athletes posting times of under 70mins. Tim Hartley was the sole Trotter at Reading, posting a time of 2:20:07 (11418).

Finally, on what was a busy weekend of racing, the Brooks Westward XC League was completed on the weekend, with the final race held in Plymouth. Hylda Stewart completed the race in 33:04 and was the only Trotter to compete in all 6 races that make up the series. Hylda claimed second place overall in the F55 category.

Report by Graydon Widdicombe
 

Photos:

Top:  Jacki Woon on her way to break the Trotters F50 record.

Middle:  Travis Wood towards the finish.

Bottom:  Lance Mason improving his own record.