Royal Blues conquer Braunton and a Beast

Trotters picked up silverware and Championship points after some great displays of running in North Devon.

A band of 23 Trotters travelled up the M5 for Braunton 10, organised by North Devon Road Runners. A regular fixture in the racing calendar it often attracts a strong field of competitors. Prizes were on offer for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed male and female with age group prizes confined to those who came first in each respective category.

This year, 314 runners decided to give it a go with 23 Royal Blues getting stuck in. Starting and finishing on North Devon Athletics Track, Braunton, the route takes in undulating country lanes through Heanton Punchardon and Wrafton, two lactic-inducing hills and a swooping descent where entrants have the opportunity to make up time and push hard for a sprint finale.

Roger ‘Chairman’ Hayes continues to post great times coming 19th overall in 1hour 4mins and 24secs. Hot on his heels was Adam Johnstone in 1:05.12 and 20th place. Mandy Wheeler ran another superb race in 1:13.19, collecting the trophy for first female aged up to 40 and 66th overall. Jo Randall’s strong time of 1:16.11 landed her the accolade of third lady and 85th in the field.

In terms of personal achievements the race of the day undoubtedly belonged to Kat Zaple who took nearly nine minutes off her 2014 time recording 1:33.55 to land a huge new PB. Dave Dunn also ran in a time of 1:22.56 - seven minutes quicker than last year - for 160th place and Paul Johns logged 1:18.56 for 123rd and a new PB.

Provisional results are: Mike Mooney 1:10.16 46th, Martin Randall 1:11.41 52nd, Mark Hutchins 1:12.26 59th, Craig Churchill 1:12.53 63rd, Roger ‘Smokes’ Hales 74th, Julian Scanes 1:14.53 75th, 1:14.44 Graydon Widdicombe 1:17.25 101st, Dermot Smyth 1:17.39 105th, Travis Wood 1:18.47 122nd, Jacki Woon 1:19.47 133rd, Gary Watson 1:20.30 138th, Nigel Barnett 1:22.44 154th, Kevin Besford 1:28.50 199th, Sally Ingledew 1:29.33 207th, Ruth Johnson 1:36.20 253rd and Tim Hartley 1:40.14 277th.

*On Saturday Keith Anderson and Helen ‘Zippy’ Anthony headed to Honiton for the self-navigation mainly off-road Blackdown Beast. It's not a race so there are no marshals, no race numbers, no times, positions or prizes - just a heap of fun with a splash of mud and booze. Organised by Honiton Running Club, it starts at Dunkeswell and visits villages around the Blackdown Hills. Seventeen miles in length it's run on seldom-used muddy tracks, across muddier fields and contains one punishing hill.

Keith said: “Helen and I were the only Trotters to take part this year and we completed it in 3hours 8mins. About half way round you visit Smeatharpe village hall for a pasty and mulled cider, after which the run takes on a new character. Conditions were indeed muddy under foot but the sun shone and the whole thing was a delight!”

Report by Emma Pearcy

Pictures: Mark Hutchins and Jo Randall dig deep for quick finishes.

Team Teignbridge head north!

Thanks to Sally Ingledew and Hooligans Dad Photography (Russ Young) for contributing pictures.