Grizzly fun, cross country rewards & the Taylors tackle a 10k...

The Grizzly really is a race that needs no introduction. 

Whether you run for fun or are constantly setting goals this race is muddy, boggy, hilly, beachy – and everyone loves it. Even if we hate what it does to our bodies and minds, we love it.

This year 1,421 runners flocked to Seaton to take on Axe Valley Runners’ extraordinarily well-organised 20-miles of shingle, cliff paths, bogs, fields and everything that comes with it.

And the Royal Blues were there to represent Teignbridge.

First Trotter home was newly installed ladies captain Helen Anthony in a time of 2hours 55mins 28secs for 70th place overall. Mike Mooney was not far behind, leading the gents from the Royal Blues home in 3:03.08 for 111th place.
Tracy Elphick knocked a stonking amount of time off her previous Grizzly time, clocking 3:08.54 and 140th overall.

Grizzly achievers were: Mark Hutchins 3:18.01 223rd, Adrian Handley 3:43.46 497th, Nathan Elphick 3:45.34 542nd, Dermot Smyth 3:55.57 701st, Derek Skinner 3:58.52 736th, Keith Anderson 4:00.27 748th, John Tweedie 4:05.58 807th, Kirsty Bowman 4:14.15 902nd, Matt Dunn 4:1417 903rd, Jess Parkes 4:46.14 1,208th and Sharon Bowman 4:57.35 and 1,263rd place.

*Elsewhere Abi Blee and Derek Blackford took on bath half marathon. This popular city route is two laps and is known for having PB potential. Both did well with Abi running in a time of 1:48 and Derek clocking a sub-two hour race of 1:59.20.

*Steve Barker and second claim Trotter Hylda Stewart crossed the Tamar for the Redruth round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League – the last of the six races in the series. Steve clocked 38.33 and Hylda 26.38. Hylda, running as a Trotter, is placed second in her age category for the series. A fine reward for her hard work. 

*Marie Taylor is showing that determination and lots of future focus is paying off after she ran her first ever 10k. Marie and Allen Taylor travelled to Combe Castle Circuit near Chippenham on Sunday 22 February to run The 9Bar Chilly 10k organised by DB Max.

In an approach that many of those who are new (or not so new!) to running will understand, Marie is using events to gain confidence and experience in order to take her training to a new level and challenge herself with race times next year. This was Marie's first 10k race and also her first race as a trotter. Marie tackled 3.4 laps of the race track and finished in 1.15. Allen ran with her as support and also finished in 1.15.

Report by Emma Pearcy

Photos show Kirsty Bowman & Nathan Elphick at The Grizzly. 

Photos kindly contributed by Sally Ingledew