Smartie treats himself to the 10k Record at Exeter

On yet another quiet weekend of racing there was some leftover business from the previous weekend with all results now published.

At the Cheddar Gorge Marathon Lance Mason, ahead of his visit this week to Torbay Hospital for knee surgery, made light of the tough course and recorded a magnificent 6th place and 2nd V50 in 4.19.54. Chairman Roger Hayes was 21st in 4.57.57 and Roger ‘Smokes’ Hales was 26th in 5.07.32. Mark ‘Wurzel’ Wotton was 40th out of the 57 finishers in 5.46.48.

Results are also now in for the Ivybridge Beacon Challenge 7.5 mile run on 9th September. The race is run over a scenic course starting in Victoria Park in Ivybridge and following woodland and moorland paths up to the top of Western Beacon and back. Nick Stevens was 17th out of the 122 finishers in 1.01.46 and Jim Donovan was 88th in 1.17.56.
 

Three Teignbridge Trotters made the weekday evening journey to Exeter Track to take part in the Devon County Athletics Association 10k Championship. All took their place in a very strong 20-man line up in the A race. The three got well into the mix and after the 25 laps our trio were led home by Garry Smart who finished 8th in a new M45 club record in 35.51. Geoff Davey acclimatized to the track well and was 15th in 38.20 and Alan Boone also battled hard for 18th place in 40.02.

On Saturday we had just one representative at the Jurassic Coast 10k Challenge. The race starts and finishes in Budleigh Salterton and follows a tough route along the coastal path affording magnificent views along the stunning coastline. The weather was fine and visibility was just perfect to take in the vista. The race entry was closed having reached its limit of 300 but disappointingly for the organisers only attracted 235 runners on the day. Our lone crusader, Adrian Handley, running only his 2nd race in Trotters’ colours having competed previously in our very own Totnes 10k was 58th in a highly creditable 49.31 given the profile and nature of the course.

On Sunday Mark Wotton travelled to Farnham in Surrey to take part in the Farnham Pilgrims Marathon, his second marathon in consecutive weeks and his 30th marathon overall. The race, in aid of the Rotary Club of Farnham, is run off-road and follows a hilly route along part of Chaucer’s Pilgrims Way over the chalk hills of the South Downs. The course takes in woodland and heathland whilst crossing Farnham and Puttenham Golf Courses and follows the banks of the River Wey en route. Mark, who particularly recounts many hills but particularly one very big beast at half way, was 178th out of 291 finishers in 4.42.18. The event was well organised and particularly well marshaled by Farnham Runners.

Sunday also saw the inaugural running of the Purbeck Marathon. The race attracted a field of 177 with its start and finish in the seaside town of Swanage. The route climbs steeply on to the coastal path and continues to undulate all the way to Corfe Castle. The views along the Jurassic coastline are stunning. Roger Hales never ceases to amaze and undoubtedly had his best race of the year finishing a lofty 14th place. He made light of the course to record a wonderful time of 3.54.09 leaving his two team mates to watch in awe as he faded into the distance over the tough Dorset hills. Said team mates Chairman Rog and Allen Taylor ran the race together and finished in 34th and 35th places in a time of 4.16.55. Now believe this if you would, Chair says that Allen struggled in the latter stages through cramp. Whilst this is entirely plausible, Allen neglects to mention this when he regales his story of a very impressive bull barring their way through a gate and a very reluctant Chairman having to be cajoled into continuing the race.
 

All survived and the Marathon Roadshow now moves on to the New Forest this coming weekend.
 

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: Top: Allen Taylor pictured at Dartmoor Vale (His stories are cock and bull - see report). Middle: Chairman and Smokes at North Devon (Smokes was too good for Chair last weekend). Bottom: Wurzel Wotton at the Dalwood 3 Hills (Notched up his 30th marathon in Farnham on Sunday). Library Photos.