Big City Event Fails to Appeal to Trotters but further afield it’s a win for Chairman

The Plymouth Half Marathon took place on Sunday and once more, as with The Great West Run, a big city event has failed to capture the imagination of Teignbridge Trotters. It is a sad indictment of the local ’stellar’ races that more Royal Blue vests appeared at Edinburgh the previous weekend than at the Exeter and Plymouth races combined.

That said 10 men and one lady took their place at the unsocial 8.30am start on Royal Parade. In overcast conditions and with threatening rain the course followed a city centre route before taking in the greenery of Saltram Park before returning to finish on the Hoe Promenade. The early start means that the event is traffic free.

Making light of the sometimes hilly course was first Trotter Simon Boobyer still fresh from his exploits at Edinburgh he finished 87th out of the 4419 to complete the course. Next over the line was Stephen Barker just 17 seconds outside of his PB, 160th in 1.29.27. He was followed by Mark Hamling 501st in 1.38.36 and the lightly raced Howard Cotton 606th in 1.40.16. By contrast to Howard compulsive racer Craig Churchill was next home exactly 900th at or near to his best in a fine 1.43.49. Peter Blakesey finished 1052nd in 1.45.39, followed by Graham ‘Inky’ Penn for once racing closer to home, 1942nd in 1.55.28 then a new name on the Trotters score sheet Charles Walker finished 1986th in 1.55.52. A man who bucks the Trotter trend and is faithful to the local races is Kevin Besford who narrowly missed the 2 hour mark but considering the severity of the course will be pleased with his 2420th placing in 2.01.23. Lone Trotette Rebecca Weare had a fine run finishing 2462nd in 2.01.58 and Trotter business was completed by the ever popular Milos Erben 2487th in 2.02.21.

The runners received great local support and encouragement and received a medal and a well filled goody bag for their efforts.

Chairman Roger Hayes was on the marathon trail yet again at the weekend where he took part on Day 4 of the five day Forces March challenge event.

The race takes place between Ilfracombe and passes over Exmoor, The Quantocks, through Somerset across Salisbury Plain and ending on day 5 in time for the Forces Festival at Bulford Camp.
 

Each of the five stages covers at least 26.2 miles and Rog’s stage starting at Somerton in Somerset and ending at Maiden Bradley in Dorset was exactly measured at the marathon distance. This section had long flat sections but in the last 6 miles climbed sharply to nearly 1000 feet on numerous occasions testing the strength and stamina of the 25 runners doing stage 4 only, joining for the day the 50 or so hardy souls who were doing all 5 stages.
 

Our congratulations go out to our veteran marathon man and esteemed club chairman who crossed the line in a glorious first place, following up his Midlands marathon win last year and in doing so posted a highly respectable time of 3.20.41.
 

To complete an otherwise quiet weekend John Crocker was our sole representative at the Wells 10k. On a tough 2 lap course with a significant hill at 4 and 8km John was 41st in a field of 330 finishers.

Notably in the 5k event 13 year old future Trotter and son of John and Julie, Tom Crocker lined up in the single loop 5km option. Tom impressed his proud parents and laid down a marker for the future by finishing 9th in a field of 81 in an impressive time of 23 .11. Watch out mum and dad, he’s gunning for you.
 

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: top: Chairman Rog on the 'March', middle: John Crocker in Action, bottom: Craig Churhill on the road again.