19 Trotters complete the London Marathon

The Trotters had a truly stellar weekend at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, with 19 runners representing the club. The conditions were good on Sunday and it is understood that everyone had an unforgettable experience at the world’s greatest marathon. Brightest star in the constellation was ultra-runner Allen Taylor, who achieved a lifetime best marathon time of 3.06.49. This is not to diminish the fantastic times and highly creditable performances put down by other doyens of the royal blue. Geoff Davey was first Trotter into the Mall, in 3.00.59, only seconds outside a PB time, followed by Allen, Kurt Read, 3.07.47, Chairman Roger Hayes, 3.19.40, Melanie Dunn, 3.27.00, Hannah Jones, 3.46.09, Paul Sharples, 3.49.00, Peter Kirby, 3.58.03, Graydon Widdicombe, 4.00.59, Gavin Forbes, 4.02.42, Roger Smokes Hales, 4.04.13, Kirsty Bowman, 4.14.31, Lucy Evans, 4.21.08, Emily Levey, 4.23.17, Kate Williamson, 4.27.46, Kevin Besford, 5.06.42, Graeme Baker, 5.12.49, Sharon Hutchins, 5.20.38 and Tracyann Tweedie, 7.02.37, who deserves a special mention for sticking with it and seeing her first marathon through to the very end.

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Bouquets also to Graydon, Kirsty and Tracyann who all found time and energy during their training to race funds for their respective chosen charities. Graydon collected for WAY, Widowed and Young, while Kirsty raised money for the Children's Hospice South West and Tracyann did likewise for the Outward Bound Trust. Brilliant work all round.

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Over the pond, in that other major city-based marathon, Boston, USA, which forms the prelude to London a week beforehand, Trotter Henry Hamilton Gould finished in a very creditable 3.47.20.

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Coinciding with London this year was the ABP Southampton marathon in which the sole Trotter taking part was Travis Wood. As with London the generally cool and dry conditions favoured Travis, who finished in 125th place with a time of 3.33.01.

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Two Trotters combined some cycling with their running on Sunday at the Donut Sprint Duathlon, staged in and around the Torbay Velopark. Peter Hayward came second in the senior event, in 1.03.26 while Dave Taylor had to settle for third male vet 60 in 1.06.41.

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Multi-marathon runner Richard Keatley continues to knock them out, with two further marathons completed at the weekend. Richard says the weather was really nice both days and he managed times of 4.46 and 5.12 on an attractive 7 lap course with a final climb, at the Samphire Hoe ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ run, allowing him to receive his SVN 500 miles award.