On Saturday 4^th December, the Cockington Christmas Caper took place, There was a great turn out from the Teignbridge Trotters, as this was the latest round of the Club Championship.

The race was organised by a local Christian charity, Barnabas Sports Trust and started and finished at the Cockington Cricket Pavilion.

The Caper has been run since 2004, and is approximately 7.5 miles on very muddy trails, footpaths and cycle paths set in the grounds of the Cockington Country Park. Fancy dress was an option!!

All our Club runners ran well in very demanding conditions. Mud lover Roger Easterbrook finished a fine 4^th, clocking a superb time of 00:57:49, and doing so won the MV45 age category. Gary Smart also finished in the top ten, with a 9^th place finish, posting a time of 01:01:36. Gary also took 2^nd place in the MV55 category.

Corinne Bright led the Trotters female contingent home, finishing in 85^th position clocking a fine time of 01:24:06. Deb Hart and Susanne Westgate both ran well, to finish 1^st & 2^nd in the FV60 age category. Deb clocked a time of 01:31:11 to finish 125^th and Susanne crossed the line in 01:37:25 to finish 148^th.

The other Trotter positions & times: Duncan Knight (30, 01:10:42), Derek Skinner (42, 01:14:34), Neil Rutley (47, 01:16:00), Alan Kember (53, 01:17:04), Bon Rymel (69, 01:20:46), Peter Blakesley (73, 01:21:21), Kim Knight (91, 01:25:08), Graydon Widdicombe (99, 01:27:15), Eamon Crowe (121, 01:29:42), Susanne Westgate (148, 01:37:25), Alexis Marsh (163, 01:39:39), Tamsin Cook (179, 01:44:01), Gemma Radcliffe (191, 01:48:29), Beverley Dennis (194, 01:50:08), Sara Keatley (198, 01:51:47), Angie Blakesley (199, 01:51:47).

There were 222 exhausted and very muddy finishers.

Eight Trotters took part in the third fixture of the Charles Stanley Westward XC League held at the Exeter Arena on Sunday 5th December. Alongside this event, the Devon County Championships was also run.

Weather conditions on the day was cold but dry, but heavy rain over the past few days meant that the ground was pretty soft under foot. This provided very slippery conditions for all runners, but especially the men who raced on churned up mud from the previous run races. The female races was a 2 loop race, and the men ran 4 loops.

Four Trotters ran in the female event and all performed admirably. Tilly Woods ran superbly to finish in 16th position, in a time of 00:19:29.
The other positions and times were: Helen Anthony (31, 00:20:18), Natalie Clare (65, 00:22:17) Wendy Goldthorp (83, 00:23:14). The points gained by Wendy has put her in 3^rd place in the FV50 age competition.
The winner was Maisy Luke clocking a time of 00:17:55.

There were also four male Trotters on show for this round.
Ewan Walton ran a great race amongst stiff opposition to be the first Trotter home. Ewan clocked a time of 00:36:22 to finish in 82nd place.
The other positions and times were: Joe Hornsby (103, 00:37:34), Alex Lyons (160, 00:45:37), Max Conroy (170, 00:52:16). There were 172 finishers.
The winner was Phil Norman representing Cornwall AC, posting a time of 00:27:28.

The next round takes place at Westward Hoe.

Philip Dunning and Kurt Read took part in the Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series event in Dorseton Saturday 4th December. This was Kurt’s third time of asking at this gruelling race, which took the runners along the Jurassic Coast Path. The elevation was extreme but the views were spectacular on a glorious day for running. The event was superbly organised, and Phil would definitely recommend the race. Our two Trotters ran together, finishing 109^th & 110^th in 06:09:00.