Wheeler's On Fire

Mandy Wheeler set a new club record at the Bridgwater Half Marathon on Sunday as club runners posted some searing performances in Somerset.

Wheeler’s was the standout run, placing 82^nd overall and as first over 50 lady as she set a new age group record of 1:35:41. It was an 18 second improvement on the six year old best by club legend Jacki Woon. Jacki showed she still has plenty of zip in her legs as she clocked 1:37:41 for 92^nd place and 4^th over 50 lady.

There was also another outstanding run from sexagenarian (what a great word!) in the form of James Saunders. He ran a quality race to place 51^st overall and 1^st over 60 male in a super swift 1:28:36.

The leading Trotter overall was the uber-consistent Julian Scanes who logged yet another impressive half marathon time of 1:24:40 as he builds up to the London Marathon. Debbie Proctor ran a solid race clocking 1:48:33 for 137^th place, with partner Ben Elphick finishing 143^rd with 1:48:56. There were 311 finishers overall.

A day earlier saw a hardy bunch take on the City2Sea event from Exeter to Babbacombe Downs. Results are difficult to come by in this much-loved event, nonetheless, it shouldn’t deter us from congratulating the group of blue and yellow vested finishers.

The ultra-marathon route consists of 34 miles and the marathon options consists of, well 26.2 miles, as readers will know painfully well. Trotter participants including the club’s resident Posh and Becks - Shaz and Paul Sharples - who completed the event for the fifth time each.

Jake Gluyas-Harris, Roger Hayes, Derek Skinner, Rob Faulkner, Natalie Cusack completed the magnificent seven. Derek reported: “Great weather conditions for running. Twenty miles of flat to Shaldon, then it’s a climb up and up with a few downs with a great finish on Babbacombe Downs.”

Results will be added – as soon as available on the race diary page.