Brrrr-racing weather for Fulfords 5

It’s often claimed you’ll bump into a Trotter at any given race most weekends.

And so 2015 has proved that when it comes to Devon races, particularly those in this year’s Club Championship, you’ll find Team Teignbridge out in its droves.

Often our club fields no less than 20 competitors with numbers frequently flirting around the 30 to 40 figure. The same thing happened again on Sunday when a batch of 34 took on the Fulfords 5 in Exmouth.

Organised by Exmouth Harriers the course boasts a town centre start and finish. Cold and windy conditions made it tough. Small mercy that the bitter wind was behind competitors as they raced the length of the seafront and there was plenty of encouraging support from the non-running Trotter family. 

Chairman Roger Hayes brought the Blues back in 30mins 06secs, 18th in the overall standings, last year’s queen of the races Helen Anthony was the first female Trotter home clocking 31.24 for 36th place.

An emerging fresh wave of talent is breathing a new energy into the club, particularly among the younger male members. Building on his impressive display at First Chance 10k Jamie Barnett ran a strong 31.23 for 35th overall, scoring a new personal best in the process, and Tom Besford is showing more confidence every time he wears the club vest posting 33.44 and 60th place.

Our newer members are also having a go on the circuit. Tim Pratt nailed his colours to the mast posting a speedy 30.31 and 22nd place and Cathy Bray, having worked her way from the beginners group into the improvers, did her first race as a Trotter clocking 53.56 and 266th.

Club results were: Martin Randall 33.59 63rd, Mandy Wheeler 34.07 65th, Julian Scanes 34.12 67th, Craig Churchill 34.46 77th, Gary Watson 35.04 86th, Dermot Smyth 35.12 90th, Roger ‘Smokes’ Hales 35.35 96th, Travis Wood 35.36 97th, Derek Skinner 35.39 99th, Neil Skinner 35.43 100th, Eyvoll Aston 36.09 109th, Peter Blakesley 36.13 111th, Nigel Barnett 36.59 118th Jacki Woon 37.05 120th, Jo Randall 37.17 125th, John Webber 37.55 133rd, Derek Blackford 38.06 134th, Keith Anderson 39.10 145th, Jennie Roberts 40.32 157th, Donna Walker 40.55 165th, Kevin Besford 41.15 169th, Sally Ingledew 41.33 174th, Lauren Deer 41.40 175th, Ruth Johnson 42.44 189th, Lisa Godfrey 45.02 215th, Emma Iles 46.24 227th, Steve Rawlinson 49.58 253rd and Mark ‘Wurzel’ Wotton 53.57 267th.

*Check out the latest standings in the Club Championship by clicking the relevant link on the left-hand side.

Report by Emma Pearcy

Images show Tom Besford flying towards the finish at FulFords 5 and some of the group before the off.

Thanks to Angela Blakesley for contributing photos.