Teignbridge Trotters staged the 35^th Haytor Heller on Saturday 17th July. This popular, well established moorland race that started and finished in the shadow of Haytor Rock on Dartmoor.

Chipped timing was used for the first time this year due to the covid restrictions, and wave starts were also in operation.

Weather conditions were ridiculously hot at the 5:30pm race time. The marshals were friendly and very supportive all around the route, and the organisation of the race from start to finish was first class. Well done to all the Teignbridge Trotters who helped make this event such a success. The feedback from a lot of the runners were very positive.

17 Teignbridge Trotters took part in their home event. Tim Pratt led his team mate’s home, finishing in 23rd place in a great time of 00:53:35. Tilly Woods was the Clubs first female finisher, completing the tough test in 00:56:47 to take 34th spot.

James Baker representing Chichester AC took the honours, winning in a superb time of 00:43:01.

The other Trotters positions & times: Susanna Goffe (49, 01:00:00), Ben Elphick (74, 01:04:32), Scott Wiggins (81, 01:05:24), Declan Kelly (97, 01:08:50), Robert Faulkner (104, 01:10:20), Corinne Bright (106, 01:10:36), John Pullen (110, 01:10:56), Simon Shelock (125, 01:12:50), Philip Norden (133, 01:15:08), Joanna Randall (134, 01:15:34), Kat Ashburn- Scott (145, 01:17:12), Alexis Marsh (158, 01:19:55), Susanne Westgate (176, 01:24:14), Alison Clayton (177, 01:24:18), Dylan Cooper (230, 01:42:12).

There were 244 finishers.

Congratulations have to go to Tillly Woods. Tilly finished 2nd in the female race, behind the winner Elizabeth Dyson from Haldon Trail Runners.
Susanne Westgate also picked up a prize for her 2nd place in the FV 60-64 age category.
In the female team competition, our team comprising of Tilly Woods, Susanna Goffe, Corinne Bright and Joanna Randall finished 2nd.

A very special mention for Ben Elphick, who showed great heart and determination to compete in the race, having had some heart breaking news this week. Well done Ben.

On Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July, WSR staged The Cider Frolic at the home of Cranbourne Chase cider at Myncen Farm near Blandford Forum in Dorset.

The races could be run as a solo, pairs, 3 & 4 man teams. Each lap was 6K in length, so seven completed circuits was equivalent to a marathon. The course profile was mainly flat with a few lumps along the way.

On Friday, Suzie Mills took part in the Cider Sessions. The novel thing about this race was that there was no fixed start times! Suzie completed the 7 laps, so therefore the marathon in a time of 07:11:05 in very hot conditions. This time earned Suzie 15^th place in the ladies event. 37 ladies took part.

On Saturday, also in the stifling heat, four Teignbridge Trotters took on the Cider Frolic Solo. In the female event, Sharon Sharples, Sue Tremlett and Karen O’Brien all completed the marathon distance in great times. Sharon clocked an impressive time of 06:34:05 to finish 31^st. Sue and Karen ran together to finish 33^rd & 34^th respectively one second apart. Sue clocked a time of 06:36:58 in her 30^th marathon. Sara Keatley completed 12 miles in a time of 02:35:30 for 85^th place. Well done ladies.

In the men’s event, the ever green Paul Sharples also completed the 26.2 miles in 06:34:07 to finish 28^th. There were 106 entrants.

On the Sunday, Suzie Mills refreshed from her considerable efforts on the Friday, took part in the Piggy Plod. Suzie didn’t plod and finished 123^rd in a time of 01:31:39. There were 185 finishers.

The 2021 Exeter 10K took place on 14th & 15th July. The route this year was changed due to a dispute over the reinstatement of the path, amounting to 4km. The new route mean't a two lap race along the River Exe and Exeter Canal. The pancake flat course shared footpaths and cycle tracks.

Bob Small and James Saunders made the short journey north on a very warm Summers evening. The 7:00 pm start time, led to three wave starts at one minute intervals. Bob and James started in wave 2. A moderate headwind made life difficult on the homeward leg x 2.

Bob Small performed well in what was his return to racing, having not raced since 2019. Bob was in good shape at the 5K stage, but the quick pace and heat took its toll. He clocked a time of 00:51:21 to finish 82nd on the night and 134th over the two days. James also ran well, finishing 58th overall, posting a time 00:42:02. There were 213 runners over the two days.

On Sunday 18th July, Scott Knight and Derek Skinner travelled to East Somerset to contest the 9^th running of the Frome Half Marathon. There was also a 5K, a 10K and a family fun run on offer.

The Half Marathon course was a single loop, starting at Frome Town FC. The runners headed out through two residential areas, before running up through the town centre. They then travelled along quiet countryside lanes towards and into the idyllic Nunney village, with its thatched buildings. A water station here signalled the return back towards the city centre. The legendary 1K Egford Hill awaited the runners, a steady climb taking them to the highest point of the course. All the runners’ times were taken separately for the hill climb, as there were prizes in all age categories for this part of the course. It was from the top of the hill that the athletes swooped downhill into the heart of Frome to the finish at the football ground.

The weather conditions were very very warm. The support along the way was immense, which helped while climbing some of the hills! Some of the residents doused the runners with hose pipes and water guns which proved invaluable.

Derek led the duo home, crossing the line in a very respectable time of 01:50:29 to finish 123^rd. Scott running in his first Half marathon since March 2020 ran well to finish 397^th in a time of 02:30:30.

There were 473 hot and sweaty finishers.