Oh My Obelisk marks the start of 2020 Club Championship season

On Sunday 12^th January, the Oh My Obelisk took place, heralding the start of the new Club championship season. The race was organised by Dawlish Coasters. This year, the Coasters had two race distances on offer (a 9-miler and a Half Marathon). The half marathon was the race that counted towards the club championship.

The event was a multi terrain route with mud, lots of hills, fields, woodland tracks and quiet country lanes.

The Mamhead Obelisk, a Grade 2 listed building, was built as a landmark for shipping. The Obelisk was built in 1742 by Thomas Balle, who owned the Mamhead Estate. It was also meant to signify the start of the English Channel. The limestone structure sited in woodland above Mamhead House allows breathtaking views across the Exe estuary and to the sea beyond.

The weather conditions as the runners set off was dry, bright but with a cool wind at their backs.

Ten Trotters took the opportunity in taking part in the shorter of the two races on offer.

Corinne Bright was the first Club runner home, finishing 40th in a great time of 1:33:05.
The other positions and times were: Deborah Hart (43,1:33:16), Karen O'Brien (61, 1:38:15), Alexis Marsh (62, 1:38:27), Alison Clayton (66, 1:40:00), Tamsin Cook (75, 1:42:58), Lucy Evans (100, 1:51:48), Laura Law (101, 1:51:49), Sharon Still (119, 2:00:41), Darren Petch (127, 2:11:59). There were 132 finishers.
Nick Day representing South Devon AC won the race in 00:59:30.

Christian Robinson, running with new vigour and enthusiasm since the turn of the year, ran superbly to finish 13th overall in a time of 1:41:44.

Susanne Goffe was our first female finisher, posting a time of 1:49:59. She finished 28th overall and 5th senior lady.
The ever improving Gary Brooking set a new Half Marathon personal best by 1 minute 21 secs. Gary finished 42nd in a time of 1:57:43.

The other positions and times were: Sam Crowe (19, 1:45:40), Stan Hayes (20, 1:46:43), Andy Fox (40, 1:56:18), Jason Trevenen (49, 1:59:33), Max Conroy (64, 2:03:10), Gavin Forbes (65, 2:03:12), Derek Skinner (71, 2:05:41), Jim Donovan (80, 2:07:13), Paul Sharples (99, 2:11:35), Kirsty Bowman (100, 2:11:36), Peter Blakesley (110, 2:13:06), Kathryn Steemson (111, 2:13:13), Scott Knight (115, 2:13:37), Ruth Johnson (135, 2:21:09), Sharon Sharples (137, 2:21:20), Neil Pallant (139, 2:21:22), Sue Tremlett (167, 2:31:48), Eamon Crowe (171, 2:32:50), Eleanor Taylor (174, 2:33:16), Mark Wotton (179, 2:42:34), Suzi Mills (191, 2:50:46). There were 196 exhausted finishers. Free bars of chocolate made the effort a little more worthwhile!!

Edward Mole took the spoils, winning in 1:30:31.

On Sunday 12^th January, the Plympton January Jaunt 10K was organised by The Plympton Round Table. The event is a very popular race for local runners and is was a good test of how the winter training is going.

The 9:00 am early start meant that the temperatures were cool, with a blustery wind blowing down the Plym River.

Emma Ray and James Saunders travelled the short distance down the A38 to represent the Trotters.

The start and finish was at the speedway track entrance, and the course took the runners into the grounds of Saltram House. A lovely out and back undulating route, but at the 2 mile point the runners had to negotiate a long steep hill taking them up to Stag Lodge. The turnaround point was at the top of the hill.

Emma continues to put in some encouraging performances. She clocked a time of 00:51:14, to finish in 78^th position.

James was also pleased with his race, having just returned from injury. He finished in 22^nd spot in a time of 00:43:12. James also won his age category.

The event was very well organised and lots of pennies will hopefully go to the Round Tables chosen local charities.

There were 273 finishers.

Sue Brown travelled to Ringwood, Hampshire, to take part in the Dark Moors 10 Mile race, organised by White Star Running. There was also a 5 mile race on offer to.

The races were held at the Moors Valley Country Park, especially scenic in the daylight! The route was run primarily on trails and cycle tracks amongst the 1000 acre area of forest, meadows, lakes and rivers.

The race start time was 6:30pm and the weather was cool and dry, with a few light showers as the race unfolded. The marshals were all very supportive and the route was well marked out. There was also a ‘love station’ offering free snacks, including savoury and sweet options. The 5 mile race set off first, churning up the mud nicely for the feature event!

Sue ran superbly to finish in 189^th position, clocking a time of 1:40:13. A great start to the New Year.

The winner of the event was Paul Russhard, representing Lymington Tri Club, winning in 1:00:44.

There were 363 finishers.