A very busy weekend of racing - Tris, marathons (including a French one and a double), off-road events and a fast 5K.

On Sunday 12^th June, five Trotters travelled to Yeovil, for the second Yeovil Marathon. It is a flat course on quiet county roads, which takes the runners through some lovely little hamlets and villages. The weather was ideal, which although warm there was plenty of cloud cover to keep the temperature down.

Roger Hayes and Emma Boobyer managed GFA times for London, in what was Emma’s first marathon for four years. Kris Ward did a great time just one week after the Dartmoor Discovery, and Julian Scanes managed a huge PB by knocking over 28 minutes off his previous marathon time. Unfortunately, Russ Wheeler had to pull out at half way.

There were 214 finishers and full Trotter results are: Roger Hayes (18, 3.11.24), Allen Taylor (27, 3.15.43), Julian Scanes (41, 3.23.11), Kris Ward (63, 3.36.24) and Emma Boobyer (78, 3.43.25).

Teignbridge Trotters were the winning team, which had to have three men and a lady to qualify.

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Over the weekend, Richard Keatley completed his 12th and 13th marathons, as he travelled to Dorset to compete in the Double Wedding Cow marathon, organised by White Star Running.

The venue was a perfect setting for a trail marathon. and since doing his last double in January Richard was hoping it would be a stronger attempt – and it happened! Richard completed both marathons in 4hrs44mins, which is a PB for him for a double marathon.

In terms of the course, it was an 8-lap affair with everything thrown in from hills & great down hill sections also excellent views. Saturday was humid, whilst Sunday became nice & breezy, and Richard is rightly delighted with his times.

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13 Teignbridge Trotters took part in the third round of the Run Exe Summer 5k Series on Tuesday 7^th June. Results were Henry Hart (12, 17:31), Jamie Barnett (14, 17:35), Geoff Davey (16, 17:43), Kevin Woodard (19, 18:00), Peter Heckles (38, 19:00), Craig Churchill (56, 20:02), Gary Watson (85, 21:35), Nigel Barnett (90, 21:52), Hannah Jones (101, 22:37), Eleanor Taylor (117, 25:30), Rod Payne (127, 26:38), Lucy Payne (130, 27:00) and Sara Collman (131, 27:35), There were 141 finishers.

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On Sunday 12th June, Dave Dunn, one of our club’s lifetime members, ran the Marathon de la Liberté. Dave finished in 4:12:58 in 836th place, 19th in his category.

The race started in Courseulles Sur Mer and followed the coast of Calvados past the D Day beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword, turning inland at Ouistreham to pass the famous Pegasus Bridge at half distance. From there the previously flat route became more undulating as it passed through the countryside to finally arrive in the historic centre of Caen. The weather was overcast and humid with occasional drizzle or heavier showers. Dave commented that the vast majority of the field were French, as he struggled to find another English vest.

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On Sunday, Kat Zaple and Kim Nichols took on the Super-Sprint South Hams Triathlon, which was their first attempt at a triathlon event. The Super-Sprint consists of a 400m sea swim, a 20km bike ride followed by a 2.5km run.

Kat commented that it was a very well organised race, and fortunately the weather held out, with just a bit of drizzle, although the wind picked up as the sea swim started, making it hard work to keep on course. The cycle course led out onto a severe hill from Blackpool Sands to Strete with a downhill descent to Slapton, along to Stokenham and turn around back to Blackpool Sands with another steep hill to tackle. The run was around Blackpool Sands on trail, with Kat commenting that it was a really enjoyable event.

Kat’s overall time was 1:47:35 for 30^th overall, 16^th female and 5^th in her age category, whilst Kim finished in a time of 2.03.54 for 42^nd overall, 26^th female and 7^th in her age category.

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Also on Sunday, two Trotters travelled to the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds to take part in the “Cotswolds 113” triathlon. The event consists of a one-lap swim of a lake (1.9km/1.2-miles) followed by a bike ride (90km/56-miles). Finally, the competitors complete a half-marathon (21km/13.1-miles).

The conditions weren’t ideal as it was heavy rain throughout the bike ride, and also it was wet and slippery for the run on the footpaths around the lake.

Tracy Elphick did a big PB of 17-mins, finishing in a time of 5:15:06. This was for 19th lady and 284^th out of around 1000 finishers. She was also 4th in her 40-44 age category.

Geoff Davey also did well, finishing in a time of 5:01:15, for 160^th position overall, and 22^nd in his 40-44 age category.

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On the night of Saturday 11^th June in beautiful weather Jim Donovan, Kate Lenthall and Roger Easterbrook took part in the first Coleton Foot Acher with about 60 others on the National Trust coast. It was described as roughly 1000K of ascent, 10k-ish in distance, undulating, and weaving around the coastal path, tracks, fields and lanes.

Concentration was needed to stay on the path, with some determination for the hills, but the views were stunning and the Trotters put in a good effort with Jim declaring the race was tougher than the Haytor Heller!

At the time of writing, finish times are not available but Roger finished strongly for 4^th overall.

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On Thursday 9^th June, thirty-five Trotters took part in what some call “the mini-DD”, as a few of these runners took part in the Dartmoor Discovery the previous weekend. It’s a 4-mile beach and path run and is organised by Dawlish Coasters.

Tim Pratt, Geoff Davey, Jamie Barnett and Roger Easterbrook finished in positions 6 to 10 with respective times of 22:17, 22:19, 22:23 and 22:39, with many commenting that it was great to see 4 Trotters finishing so strongly in a close group.

The other results were: Peter Heckles (15, 23:59), Samuel Crowe (20, 24:45), Craig Churchill (23, 25:02), Colin Harper (28, 25:31), Garrie Edwards (37, 26:09), Matthew Dunn (39, 26:27), Gary Watson (42, 26:45), Dermot Smyth (50, 27:36), Nigel Barnett (52, 27:42), Peter Blakesley (54, 27:46), Gavin Parrott (59, 28:09), Jacki Woon (62, 28:16), Hannah Jones (67, 28:34), Dave McMorrow (78, 29:50), Stuart Moulson (79, 29:51), Mark Wotton (89, 31:00), Jennie Roberts (90, 31:07), David Taylor (93, 31:22), Kathryn Steemson (94, 31:26), Eleanor Taylor (100, 31:56), Sharon Bowman (102, 32:04), Keith Anderson (105, 33:09), Angela Blakesley (110, 33:50), Lucy Evans (112, 34:08), Sara Collman (119, 35:08), Leah Harper (120, 35:15), Cheryl Hayes (126, 36:15), Kim Nichols (127, 36:41), Jo Billyard (129, 37:01), Suzie Mills (143, 42:40) and Nikki Evans (147, 43:04). There were 151 finishers.

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Thanks for contributions from Roger Hayes, Julian Scanes, Kat Zaple, Roger Easterbrook, Tracy Elphick., Geoff Davey, Dave Dunn and Richard Keatley.