Trotters here, there and everywhere

It was a busy Bank Holiday weekend for the Teignbridge Trotters, with a variety of races throughout the region. The small scale and well organised Saltash May Fair Half Marathon attracted the attention of a Trotter trio on Sunday. Starting and finishing in Fore Street, the event is organised by the Saltash May Fair Committee, with the assistance of the Tamar Trotters running club.

The very challenging route takes in part of the Magnificent 7 course and winds its way round past picturesque Forders Quay and the River Lynher, following quiet rural lanes. The strong headwind failed to deter Mark Wotton as he stormed round course to the finish 88th out of 236, to post a personal best time of 1:41:24: an incredible 10:53 reduction on his 2008 result! Stella Imong and Graham Penn completed the royal blue line up in 2:07:21 and 2:10:22 respectively.

Meanwhile, the streets of Exeter were alive with competitors and spectators at the annual Great West Run Half Marathon, organised by Ironbridge Runner. The two lap course from Exeter Arena to the City centre and back is a huge favourite for club and charity runners alike.

Six Trotters took up the challenge and were not disappointed with their results. Wavell Vigers led the team home in an enviable 1:23:35, 28th overall in a field of 2,103 finishers. He was followed by James Henderson, 207th in another outstanding time of 1:36:32, with Peter Blakesley 593rd in 1:46:42 and Craig Churchill close behind in 1:48:00. Natasha Reed crossed the finish line in 2:00:12, with Georgina Wallis at 2:05:42.

Also on Sunday, six Trotters travelled to Wiltshire for the Sarsen Trail and Neolithic Marathon; two events organised in support of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Four seasoned members ran the Marathon across Salisbury Plain as training for the Dartmoor Discovery Ultra Marathon in June. The conditions were far from ideal: cold and windy but fortunately, the earlier showers had eased before the start of the race. The course contains long exposed undulating sections; however, this did not prevent the group achieving most respectable times under four hours.

Roy Brown came out of hibernation and ran with Roger Hayes to post a joint 3:23:36; 13th and 14th out of 248 finishers. Daryl Milford followed in 17th position in a time of 3:28:05, with Noel Fowler 51st in 3:50:46. Angela Weeks and Marion Witham walked the trail in approximately seven hours.

Sally Ingledew, also training towards the Dartmoor Discovery, was the lone Trotter at the North Dorset Village Marathon in Sturminster Newton on Sunday. The circular one lap course is run on quiet country lanes through the villages of Hinton St Mary, Stalbridge, Marnhull, West Orchard and Child Okeford. Sally crossed the line in a fine time of 4:17:51, 154th out of 225; her 5th Marathon this year and 24th in 24 months.

Photo (Graham Penn)

L to R: Graham Penn, Mark Wotton and Stella Imong after completing the Saltash May Fair Half Marathon