Lumps, bumps, countryside climbs & a couple marathons for good measure...

Lumps, bumps and countryside climbs were tackled by Trotters on Sunday 11 January when the club turned out in force to support local races with 39 club members completing the tough but rewarding Oh My Obelisk!

The multi-terrain race, which starts and finishes at Dawlish Leisure Centre and is organised by Dawlish Coasters, weaves an undulating way through the stunning countryside before banking sharply towards the Mamhead Obelisk and taking runners back down again – with a few nips in the tail for good measure.
 

Hardy Trotters turned the race into a sea of Royal Blue with some lending their support as marshals, something which ensured a few cheers and words of encouragement along the way! Geoff Davey led the club home strongly clocking 1hour 19mins 04seconds for 6th place. Chairman Roger Hayes closely followed him in 1:20.15 and 8th place.

The ladies did the club proud, scooping a handful of prizes. Helen Anthony was 3rd lady home in 1:27.33 for 19th place and Jacki Woon stamped her mark on the 2015 racing season, taking home the 1st female V50 in 1:42.44 and 98th place.

The performances ensured Helen, alongside Mandy Wheeler and Tracy Elphick made up the 1st ladies team with Mandy clocking 1:30.38, 33rd place and Tracy 1:31.18 and 37th place.

The remaining results are: Mike Mooney 1:28.55 24th place, Craig Churchill 1:31.19 38th, Bruce Campbell 1:33.03 45th, Mark Hutchins 1:33.57 48th, Julian Cannes 1:34.39 50th, Emma Boobyer 1:35.28 57th, Martin Randall 1:35.39 58th, Hannah Walsh 1:37.28 68th, Neil Skinner 1:37.30 69th, Travis Wood 1:38.26 73rd, Jo Randall 1:38.48 76th, Roger 'Smokes' Hales 1:38.55 78th, Derek Blackford 1:38.57 79th, John Tweedie 1:41.10 90th, Nathan 'Lovely' Elphick 1:43.44 103rd, Peter Blakesley 1:43.46 104th, Keith Anderson 1:44.48 111th, Dermot Smyth 1:45.09 116th, Nigel Barnett 1:46.19 118th, Dave Dunn 1:46.53 124th, Jimmy Donovan 1:50.39 136th, David Bowen 1:51.01 139th, Mark 'Wurzel' Wotton 1:51.25 141st, Kirsty Bowman, 1:52.07 146th, Matt Dunn 1:52.07 147th, Donna Walker 1:53.07 155th, Jennie Roberts 1:58.17 177th, Ruth Johnson 2:01.59 191st, Stephen Wallace 2:02.13 195th, Cath Pilton 2:02.56 199th, Sharon 'Fizz' Bowman 2:03.13 201st, Graham Penn 2:03.21 202nd, Tim Hartley 2:08.17 211th and Kim Nichols in 2:24.46 237th place.
 

Kat Zaple headed further west for January Jaunt 10k, Plympton. The race follows a lovely undulating route from Plymouth Speedway, Plympton, around the grounds of Saltram House. Kat clocked 1.03.
 

The marathon-trotting duo of Sally Ingledew and Lance 'Skippy' Mason travelled to Kent for the Martello Marathon double on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January. The back-to-back weekend races are run over a flat looped course following the coastline from Folkestone. Lance clocked 3:37.51 and 3:47.49 and Sally 5:12.36 and 4:48.08 respectively.
 

The Trotters' Dartmoor Discovery race has sold out within six days of going on sale. The 32-mile race, which charts a path around Dartmoor and is the longest single lap road ultra in the country, is being held on Saturday June 6 and a reserve list is in operation. Last year's winner and course record holder, John Ward from Bideford AC, has signed up indicating it could be another cracking event.

Report by Emma Pearcy. Pictures kindly supplied by Fizz & Mark Walker.

Images:

The Trotters out in force at Oh My Obelisk. Who's the Chair?

The winning ladies team at Oh My Obelisk at the prize-giving: Mandy Wheeler, Helen Anthony and Tracy Elphick.