Records Galore in Bideford

Nearly 30 Teignbridge Trotters headed up north for the Bideford Half Marathon on Sunday. But it was anything but grim, as the healthy contingent came away with three age group prizes, two club record and nine personal bests (PBs). 

The event also marked the latest Club Championship event. With the race taking place on a course with a reputation for being fast and in benign, fresh weather, some quality performances were always likely. And club members duly delivered.

Jacki Woon finished first women’s over 55 clocking a zippy 1:37:00, breaking her own club age group record by 37 seconds. 

Meanwhile Deb Hart lopped 2m14secs from her own over 60 women’s club record with a PB of 1:51:39 to place third in her age group. Kathryn Steemson was also among the prizes, placing third in the women’s over 45 class with a classy 1:39.38. It was another lifetime best by 2 minutes.

Just outside the top three, but no less pleased with her day’s work was a very sprightly Susanna Goffe, who continued her rapid improvements by placing as fourth woman overall in a superb new PB of 1:29.24. 

It was her first time under the 90 minute barrier and over five minutes quicker than her previous best. 

There were also personal bests by Rachel Steele (1:44.21), Corinne Bright in 1:54:08.5 – her first time under two hours - and Dominique Harcourt (2:01:00), the latter smashing her previous best by 15 minutes.

The men kept their side of the bargain too. Led home by club record holder Jamie Barnett, who placed 27th in 1:16:46, there was another glut of quality performances. 

Ewan Walton retuned to form in 71st place in a high-respectable 1:22:59, just holding off Julian Scanes who was a place behind in 1:23:03, chopping 2m 33secs of his previous best.

There were other personal bests by Ben Elphick who clocked 1:37:48 for 211th, taking 76 seconds off his previous best and Nathan Bodley took a chunky 12 minutes off his previous best finishing in 01:52:33 to place 413th. 

There were 772 finishers in total. Full finishing list below.

Cult classic race The Grizzly also took place on Sunday and there was Trotter presence in the shape of an awesome foursome tacking the epic 20 miles on the Jurassic coast. Started by local running legend Jo Pavey, The Grizzly is rightly lauded as one of the most challenging events on the calendar. At least runners had calm conditions to soften the blow of the rugged up and down off-road terrain.

The race, which starts in Seaton, comprises 20 miles of pebble beach, river crossing, trail runs, lanes, fields and the infamous bogs and around 3500 feet of ascent. These invariably lead to some waist deep squelchy mud and more than a few lost trainers each year.

Leading the Trotters home was Kris Ward in 134^th place in 3:13:12. The other finishers were Gary Brooking 736^th in 4:24:33 and Ruth Johnson 1046^th and Sue Tremlett 1047^th who crossed the line together in 5:06:00. 1211 finished the race.

Venturing across the Dorset border, Roger Hayes and Karen O’Brien took on the Larmer Tree Marathon. Starting in the Larmer Tree Gardens and running through large parts of the Rushmore Estate, the event offered a multi-terrain experience with trail and road, peppered with some big climbs. Despite a chilly wind, Roger finished a solid 15^th place in 4:09:44 and Karen O’Brien placed 183rd in a time of 6:41:23. There were 195 finishers. Mark Wotton took part in the 7 miler and was 87th out of 182 finishers. He clocked 1:25:44.

Meanwhile, it didn’t take an organised event for another Trotter to show their mettle. Rachel Pallant ran a half marathon distance in aid of a charity that has recently touched her family’s lives. Rachel's son Alexander was diagnosed with heart failure in 2020 just before lockdown at the age of 24.

He was put on an urgent transplant list and in June 2021 he received a new heart. Rachel decided to give something back to Royal Papworth Hospital Charity, who supported them through this difficult time. She was joined by her other son Jake in tackling 13.5 miles on Saturday starting in Brixham and finishing at Decoy Park. Having ran via Churston, Goodrington, Paignton and Torquay, Rachel and Jake ran into Decoy Park with a friends and fellow Trotters cheering them home.

The full Trotter positions & chip times from the Bideford Half Marathon were: Jamie Barnett (27, 1:16:46.1), Ewan Walton (71, 1:22:59.6), Julian Scanes (72, 1:23:03.1), Chris Broadbent (121, 1:29:14.2), Susanne Goffe (122, 1:29:24.7), Duncan Knight (169, 1:34:24.8), Christian Robinson (198, 1:36:43.0), Jacki Woon (200, 1:37:00.1), Ben Elphick (211, 1:37:48.3), Derek Skinner (220, 1:38:19.0), Kathryn Steemson (232, 1:39:38.0), Bon Rymel (274, 1:43:08.1), Rachel Steele (296, 1:44:20.3), Deborah Proctor (350, 1:48:07.6), Sarah Pike (351, 1:48:18.0), Peter Blakesley (376, 1:49:32.6), Deb Hart (401, 1:51:39.2), Kim Knight (409, 1:52:18.2), Nathan Bodley (413, 1:52:32.5), Corinne Bright (433, 1:54:08.5), Nigel Barnett (435, 1:54:21.3), Oliver Thomas (523, 1:59:52.4), Dominique Harcourt (537, 2:01:00.5), Eleanor Taylor (577, 2:05:16.6), Sonja Hughes (591, 2:06:14.1), John Skinner (658, 2:14:15.0), Julie Webb (706, 2:23:56.8), Darren Petch (739, 2:34:46.8)