The Totnes 10k is another Trotter triumph!

2015 has been another triumphant year for the Teignbridge Trotters Totnes 10k and Fun Run with records tumbling across the board and hundreds of pounds raised for charity.

This was the 16th year the Trotters has been at the helm of the race, with Roger Hayes serving as Race Director for the same amount of time. Backed by a large crew of marshals, caterers, helpers and supporters it’s become one of the ‘must do’ races in the club calendar.

The race is nearly all off-road charting a path alongside the beautifully winding River Dart. It starts and finishes in Borough Park with the ideally placed Totnes Leisure Centre as its headquarters. To add to the family affair there’s a one-mile Fun Run around the perimeter of Borough Park with prizes given for 1st and 2nd M/F U8, M/F U10, U13 & U15 and awards for all finishers.

Since the Royal Blues’ banner went above the start gantry, it’s continued to yield more surprises and Sunday August 2 was no exception. Bright skies, sunshine and firm conditions underfoot ensured great running was almost guaranteed.

This year 557 entered the 10K with 155 brave participants giving the fun run a bash - a new record for the shorter event.

Exmouth Harriers’ Berihu Hadera won the race in fine form clocking 35.06 with runner-up James Baker of Chichester Runners & AC chasing him down in 35.16. Torbay AC’s Simon Longthorpe earned a podium placing with 35.53 and third overall.

The ladies race was dominated by South Devon AC’s Naomi Flanagan. She crossed the line in 42.11 (51st overall) with her club counterpart Michelle Cowley clocking 42.30 (55th overall). Exmouth Harriers Cathy Newman clocked 42.49 for third lady (56th overall), first FV50 and age category course record.

James Baker’s time secured him first M35 and a course record for his age category. The astonishing Pete Monaghan of Torbay AC continues to set the pace inside and out of his respective category clocking 37.44 and first MV50 (age cat course record).

Baker, Monaghan and Newman were all awarded £25 for setting course records for their age categories.

Torbay AC retained the men’s team crown for a phenomenal eighth consecutive year with Exmouth Harriers as runners-up. The teams were:

Torbay AC: Simon Longthorpe (35.53), Arran Tocknell (37.08), Lee Turner (37.19), Pete Monaghan (37.44), Dave Tomlin (38.23), Andrew Longthorpe (40.34). Total time: 3:47.01.

Exmouth Harriers: Berihu Hadera (35.06), Dave Stone (37.32), Michael Robinson (37.57), Adam Miller (39.23), Jamie Pearson (40.16) Marc Cox (41.36). Total time: 3:51.50.

A strong set of individual performances from Plymouth Harriers saw them storm to victory for the ladies team with the yellow-and-black colours of Exeter-based South West Road Runners named runners-up.

Plymouth Harriers: Jane Allison (44.21), Alicia Regan (47.29), Nicola Lilley (49.15), Jill Anderson (50.58). Total time: 3:12.03.

South West Road Runners: Nicky Savill (45.40), Karen Cook (46.49), Emma Ley (51.40), Caroline Gentry (52.54). Total time: 3:17.03.

It was a great day for Trotters taking part too. Tim Pratt led the Blues home clocking 40.25 26th overall. He was followed by Roger Easterbrook 40.45 30th, Jamie Barnett 42.56 57th and second MU18, Josh Taylor - running his first race as a Trotter - 46.19 85th, Mandy Wheeler 46.37 90th and second F40, Neil Skinner 47.59 105th and second MV55, Tracy Elphick 49.21 123rd, James Ayling 49.23 124th, Richard Keatley 57.58 268th, Andrew Watson 1:01:50 327th, Graham Penn 1:05.25 367th, Kim Nichols 1:06.03 374th, Cheryl Hales 1:07.58 394th, Tony Stepney 1:08.28 399th, Phillippa Goodwin 1:13.59 4459th.

Afterwards runners were suitably refreshed and looked after. The famous Trotter catering, a bouncy castle for the children, a barbecue, beer tent and lively PA system hosted by John ‘Skinns’ Skinner and Sharon ‘Fizz’ Bowman underpinned the event’s family atmosphere. Race sponsors were Totnes Caring, Dartington Estate, Tony Pryce Sports and Dartmoor Brewery.

Since the Trotters took over the organisation of the Totnes 10K in 2000, the club has been able to raise vast amounts of money for Totnes Caring, a charity which helps elderly and disadvantaged people living in the town with transport, shopping, filling in forms - anything to support and make life easier for those who need it.

The Trotters are proud to be able to help such a worthwhile charity and the total so far stands at £12,500 - something the club committee hopes will nudge closer to £14,000 once we’ve totalled the amounts from this year’s event.

The Teignbridge Trotters would like to thank all runners, their friends, families, the Trotter family, our fellow running clubs, sponsors and spectators for participating, helping, supporting, getting involved and generally having a good time. We hope to see you next year. In the meantime, check out our other races!

For a full set of results visit the Totnes 10k page by clicking on the relevant link in the main menu on the left-hand side.

Report by Emma Pearcy.

Photos show: The top 1-2-3 of Simon Longthorpe, Berihu Hadera and James Baker. Middle: Trotter Tim Pratt and Naomi Flanagan of South Devon AC winning the ladies race in fine fettle.

Images taken by Nigel Penwarden.