Trotters cover a range of distances near and far

All distances and all terrains have been covered by race-ready Teignbridge Trotters recently. Cross country trails, canal paths, marathons, quadruple marathons and ultra distances - it’s all in the mix with lots of great results to boot.

The final round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League was at Bovey Tracey on Sunday 8 February. This leg, organised by the Trotters with many lending help to marshal, covers tracks around Parke estate. A solid turn-out resulted in good performances from the Royal Blues.

Men: Gary Smart 38mins 18secs 25th, Roger Chairman Hayes 39.21 36th, Chris Broadbent 40.53 44th, Keith Jellyman 43.08 59th, Jamie Barnett 43.33 63rd, Craig Churchill 45.24 76th, Mark Hutchins 45.33 79th, Mark Becker 46.33 90th, Dermot Smyth 46.46 91st, Neil Skinner 46.51 92nd, Wilf Taylor 50.09 111th, Derek Skinner 50.20 113th, Keith Anderson 52.03 119th, Nigel Barnett 52.18 120th, John Webber 53.36 121st.

Ladies: Helen Anthony 19.43 6th, Hannah Walsh 22.21 21st, Mandy Wheeler 22.25 22nd, Eyvoll Aston 23.18 28th, Hylda Stewart 25.53 45th, Kirsty Bowman 26.29 50th, Donna Walker 26.53 57th, Jennie Roberts 28.14 74th, Jo Becker 28.28 76th, Sharon Bowman 28.56 78th, Tina Caunter 30.07 82nd, Eleanor Taylor 30.26 83rd, Charlie Rice 30.46 84th, Kim Nichols 31.20 87th.

Despite being out manoeuvred by Gary Smart on this particular occasion Chairman Roger Hayes retains his place at the top of the mens’ Championship while Mandy Wheeler heads the ladies league table. With all to play for, this season’s racing is shaping up to be intriguing…

*Geoff Davey, Daryl Milford and Derek Blackford showed some Teignbridge class at Exeter’s half marathon races on Saturday and Sunday February 14 and 15. Split over two days, runners had a choice about which day they could tackle the 13.1mile traffic free course around Exeter Canal Basin and paths. An in-form Geoff Davey posted a new personal best clocking 1:19.33 for seventh place in a field of 225 competitors (Sunday race) and 24 hours earlier Daryl was third out of 213 runners in 1:19.52. In the same race Derek Blackford was 89th in 1:53.36.

*Tom Besford and Steve Wallace ran the multi-terrain Two Bays Tough 10 in Weston Super Mare on Sunday 15 February. It started on the beach and took in the seafront, woodland trails to Sand Bay and the National Trust headland at Trigg Point before going back along the beach at Sand Bay and through the woods to finish on Weston's sands. In his 10-mile debut and despite feeling under the weather, Tom posted 1:18.33 for 143rd place overall. On a good day for Steve’s running, he clocked 1:35.53 for 553rd.

*Steve Barker and Allen Taylor completed the Thames Trot Ultra 50 on Saturday 7 February. The 50-miler started in Iffley just south of Oxford and followed the River Thames to Henley-on-Thames.

The mainly flat route was on trails through fields, woodland and bridle paths with parts ankle-deep in sticky mud which made for hard going. Allen finished in 7:49.01 and registered just under 52 miles on the Garmin - very impressive given the distance and conditions. Steve completed it in 9:21.04 saying he’s “never been so pleased to see the end of a run”. All in all, a good day’s work for both.

*Steve Rawlinson was the sole Trotter at a 5km charity run at Stover School on the same day. The event was well attended with varying distances according to age group, and family orientated as well as attracting a good turnout from club runners. Steve finished in 30:25.

*In his pursuit to be a 100 Marathon Club member, Mark ‘Wurzel’ Wotton travelled north for the 9Bar Winter Holly Challenge Marathon on Saturday 7 February. The race takes place in Telford around the forest of Lightmoor. A bijou field of 26 runners gave it a low-key feel but the 32-lap circular route, complete with a long hill, guaranteed it was a physical and psychological challenge. Mark was 16th in 5:10.33.

*An established member of the 100 Marathon Club, our own queen of the 26.2-mile race Sally Ingledew, alongside Lance ‘Skippy’ Mason, completed the Enigma Quadzilla, a slightly insane four-day four-marathon series. Each event is a 7.5mile lap of Caldecott Lake, Milton Keynes. While both had their own personal journey during each race, they produced a superb set of results that showed strength in consistency. Lance posted 3.24.33 for 3rd overall, 3.29.48 2nd place, 3.46.26 6th place and 3.44.29 for 6th place. Sally clocked 4:28.59 31st, 4:29.30 32nd, 4:26.12 26th and 4:50.52 38th place.

Report by Emma Pearcy

Photos show Steve Barker and Allen Taylor at the Thames Trot, Daryl Milford collects his third place prize at Exeter Half Marathon and our ladies at the Bovey Tracey round of the Brooks Westward Cross Country League.

Thanks to Steve Barker, Fizz and Roy Brown for the photos.