Far too Hot but The Royal Blues Trot

On the hottest weekend of the year so far there were numerous racing options open to our members throughout the weekend and the Hot Trotters just kept on Trotting..

On Saturday 2 of our members returned to the scene of last year’s highly successful Club Trip, The Otter Rail and River Run at Tipton St John. A total of 87 runners completed the event, run over a stunning but testing cross-country course of around 6 miles through fields, alongside rivers and through woodland. With some nice shade in the woodland sections Steve Rawlinson led the pair home 58th in a time of 61.34 and Stephen Wallace was not far behind 61st in 61.57. A very nice bottle of Otter Ale was presented to all finishers but Steve Rawlinson felt it would have tasted nicer refrigerated.

Meanwhile on Saturday evening in slightly cooler conditions with the heat of the day abating enter stage left the Duckponds 7k, a 'quacking' mainly off-road race around Plymstock. The race attracted 3 Teignbridge Trotter Ladies. Unfortunately times are not yet published but sisters Selina and Heather Snow and Eleanor Taylor all enjoyed the 2-lap course. Heather was looking to improve on her time from last year and run sub 50 minutes. Not a problem to our ‘H’ as she demonstrated how fast she is improving by completing in 43 minutes. Sister Selina and Eleanor both ran well and finished in very respectable positions.

Whilst holidaying in France, Matt and Dave Dunn took time out to run the La Mere Denis a 23k race. The race takes in beach, coastal footpath, salt marshes and a bit of road and is a point-to-point race, starting in Portbail (Normandy) and finishing in Carteret. It was the 3rd running of this race and our Dave has done all 3 - this was Matt's 2nd. Each year the course gets longer and harder but each year the number of participants goes up. This year's race was run in extremely hot conditions, with the temperature reaching 31 degrees. Matt finished 145th in 2:17:30 and Dave was 200th in 2:29:00. There were 259 finishers. (Thanks for this report Dave)

On Sunday a total of 17 Royal Blue vests lined up in a field of 130 for the Wellington 10 Mile Road Race. In punishingly hot conditions on a hilly course all runners found their times significantly slower in the blistering heat and for some it became a triumph just to complete the race.

Chris Cleave seemed oblivious to the conditions as he recorded a fine 9th place finish in a time of 1.10.55. Also with top 20 finishes Alan ‘Booo-nieee’ Boone was 16th in 1.15.13, he was being chased down hard by Helen ‘Zippy’ Anthony who was a magnificent 17th in 1.15.16 and Gary Clark was 19th in 1.16.28. Gary Watson was 26th in 1.18.25, Mark Becker 38th in 1.22.09, Noel Fowler 60th in 1.30.07 and a strongly finishing Eleanor Taylor, in her second race in 16 hours, was 88th in 1.39.33. Guy ‘Paddington’ Roberts was 92nd in 1.40.57, Ruth Johnson 93rd in 1.40.59, Graeme Baker 96th in 1.41.50 and Jo Becker was 97th in 1.42.35. Sally Ingledew was 106th in 1.46.57, Hayley Brown 109th in 1.47.23, Jo Billyard, despite taking time out to shelter under an umbrella at the 7-mile drinks station, was 117th in 1.52.24. Rod Payne was 122nd in 1.54.43 as he accompanied Lucy who was in serious ‘heat-induced’ trouble by mile 5 but fought on bravely to make it to the finish where she required extensive medical assistance. Her brave (stubborn) effort earned her 123rd place also in 1.54.43. There were 130 finishers.

Also at Wellington in the 10k race option, representing our Beginner's Training Group, Trotters designate and husband and wife team Chris and Tracey Coyle-Moore chose a hot day to try out what they have learned so far. It seems they are coming along quite nicely as Chris recorded 98th place in 1.07.42 and Tracey was 109th in 1.13.55. There were 122 finishers.  
 

Report by Rod Payne

Photos:

Top: Selina Snow, Heather Snow and Eleanor Taylor at the Duckponds 7k

Middle: Nice to see yer back Matt. Another side of Matt Dunn in the La Mere Denis race in France

Bottom: Team Trotter Scorching at the Wellington 10