Teignbridge Trotters stage the Totnes 10K, and records tumble…

On Sunday 3rd August, Teignbridge Trotters staged the Totnes 10K which is the 15th year the club has organised the event. The sun was out and there was a slight breeze in places making running conditions very good, allowing runners to enjoy the fantastic course.

The race itself is nearly all off road, following alongside the beautiful River Dart, where runners can get some shade under the trees, before going around Dartington Estate.

Before the main race there was a 1-mile fun run, which was very well attended with 135 youngsters completing the event, which is a record attendance. The winner was MU15 Michael Barber who finished the race in a time of 4:43. It was good to see many young Trotters participating with Ashton Goulden leading them home in a time of 6:43 in 35th. Other Trotters who completed the event were Niamh Pilton (57, 7:27), Tom Seymour (63, 7:35) and Isaac Pallant (64, 7:37).

For the main event, there was a record 631 entrants for the popular race including 167 people who entered on the day. After runners had finished, they could join the many spectators to sample some great food (including the famous Trotters cakes) and drink to replenish themselves!

The winner was Tom Merson (33:55, Exmouth Harriers), who ran a great race to break the course record. The remaining four men’s prize positions were James Baker (2, 35:20, Chichester Runners & AC), Andrew Chambers (3, 36:37, Bristol & West), Simon Longthorpe (4, 36:46, Torbay Athletic Club) and Peter Monaghan (5, 37:05, Torbay Athletic Club).

The five women’s prize winners with their positions overall were Michelle Moore (50, 43:55, South Devon AC), Jane Allison (51, 44:03, Mud Crew Trail Runners), Helen Anthony (61, 44:58, Teignbridge Trotters), Emma Buckland (72, 45:55, Cambridge & Coleridge AC) and Vicky Winzer (85, 46:41, Unattached).

At the event, there were also team prizes on offer with 6 runners required to make up the men’s team. With 4 runners in the top 10, Torbay AC won the men’s team event with a combined time of 3:49:21. Their team was comprised of Simon Longthorpe, Peter Monaghan, Arran Tocknell, Lee Turner, Adharanand Finn and Jon Pressling. This was the seventh year on the trot that Torbay AC has picked up the team prize at the event.

Four runners were required to make up a women’s team and Exmouth Harriers won the prize with a combined time of 3:24:21. Their team was made up of Ellie Sutcliffe, Jane Macdonald, Susan Hill and Dawn Teed.

As well as the course record being broken, other category records were also broken on the day. They were MV35 (James Baker, 35:20, Chichester Runners & AC), MV45 (Peter Monaghan, 37:05, Torbay Athletic Club), MV60 (Tim Hughes, 40:05, White Horse Harriers), JM (Jason Drew, 38:07, Bristol & West), JF (Martha Ellett, 51:32, Unattached) and FV60 (Anne Darby, 54:12, Newton Abbot AC).

With many Teignbridge Trotters being involved in roles to help ensure the event went smoothly, there was still a healthy number of Trotters who ran in the event. They were Helen Anthony (61, 44:58), Jamie Barnett (95, 47:24), Dermot Smyth (175, 52:22), Donna Walker (319, 59:03), Richard Keatley (444, 1:05:28), Heather James (507, 1:10:22), Sarah Charnley (535, 1:13:40), Rachel Besford (555, 1:18:28) and Mark Walker (556, 1:18:39).

Once again, Totnes Caring were the Trotter’s nominated charity for this event and as a club we are thrilled to support such a worthwhile, local cause. Over the years, the club has presented Totnes Caring with over £10,000 and we’re expecting to increase that amount this year.

Pictures by Nigel Penwarden:
Top: the start of the Totnes 10K.
Middle: Tom Merson, new course record holder.
Bottom: Michelle Moore, the women’s winner.

Report by Graydon Widdicombe