The Dawlish Coasters "O My Obelisk" race took place on Sunday, the latest round of the Club Championship. The multi-terrain 9 or 13 mile route up to the Obelisk at Mamhead from Dawlish Leisure Centre was a bit of a climb but the scenery was worth it. A very different course to First Chance last week at Exeter. The weather was reasonable, with the course muddy in places but not bad through paths, fields, bridle paths, some road, forest tracks. Great to have support from Trotters around the course and marshalling at Haldon. A medal and chocolate bar were the rewards at the finish, with a decent view of the 200m downhill finish.

The sensible opted for the 9 miler with Mel Sheehan doing well and taking 3rd place female in 1:23:43. followed by Gavin Parrot 24th 1:25:23, John Pullen 33rd 1:32:13, Callum Price 51st 1:40:22, and Pete Aston 53rd 1:42:02, from 86 finishers. 

In the harder meaner version with greater ascent & descent, the 13 miler attracted a stronger calibre of runner with tenacity and mental resilience. Comments included; brutal, awful, long, filthy, never again, and to finish on a positive ....Lovely Views !

Hazards included brambles, gorse, soft ground, off camber, tree roots, stiles, and the low sunlight. Kim Knight had a fall, and Roger Hayes took out a dog but overcame the melee to get on track for a decent finish. 

From the start the leading pack streaked away across the playing field like fleet footed spring lambs. A short time later they were back with Donald Brooks continuing his fine form with a wonderful 3rd place away from his preferred terrain, behind Ceri Rees, Tom Merson in a stunning 1:25:17 - even allowing for some kissing gates along the way, taking 1st vet 40. Perhaps the finest time in the event by a Trotter for over a decade.

The following Trotters included; 7th Roger Easterbrook 2nd MV50, 1:33:20, 15th Ewan Walton (finishing like a missile see photo) 1:40:21, 22nd Roger Hayes 1:46:14, 25th Steve Weeks 1:48:18, 3rd female matching Brooks and Sheehan for the podium was 29th Chloe Weeks 1:50:32, 30th Duncan Knight 1:50:44, 

33rd Liz Nuttal continuing last weeks First Chance prizeware with 1st FV40 in 1:51:44, 38th Jason Trevenen 1:54:42, 51st Tim Hassell (as fleet as a gazelle) 1:59:54, 54th Darin Dodd 2:01:22, 66th Andrew Rattlidge 2:05:07, 70th Neil Rutley 2:07:02, 73rd Kate Williamson 2:08:06, 77th Nigel Barnett 2:10:11, 84th Alex Lyons 2:13:36, 92nd Kim Knight 3rd FV50 2:15:56 despite the fall on Haldon, 

103rd Corinne Bright 2:19:13, 118th Derek Skinner 2:26:33, 119th Ruth Johnson 2:31:17, 151st Cheryl Dunn 2:51:58, and 153rd Sarah Blanchard 2:54:19 from 155 finishers

Full results here for 9 + 13 mile routes

Oh my obelisk 2025 | Resources.ws.RaceResults | Webscorer

Before Christmas Derek Skinner completed the Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon. Runners follow an out-and-back route from South Parade Pier to the end of the Hayling Billy Line. The course included many impressive views across Langstone Harbour. Also ..although flat it’s a tough race sometimes running on pebble beach and mud. The expected wind blast didn’t arrive although it was windy in parts and cold but thankfully had free beer at the end. Time by watch 4.13.32, and marathon number 94 ticked off.