Girls On Top

It was ladies night and the feeling was right as Teignbridge Trotters claimed some of the big prizes at the Run Exe Relays on Friday 13 May. The senior ladies logged one of the club results of the year by winning their class.

With each runner undertaking a 4k leg beside the Exe, the crack team of Natalie Cusack (16:34), Susanna Goffe (15:18), Debbie Proctor (17:04) and Jemma Bennet (16:49) came home in 1:05:44 to finish nearly two minutes clear of their nearest rivals.

Less than six minutes later and there was another moment of celebration as the female 50-59 year olds won their class in 1:11:34. Jackie Woon (16:47), Rachel Steele (17:42), Kim Knight (18:36) and Claire Youngman (18:92) brought home the bacon.

In the female 40‐49 classes 0:16:32 Mandy Wheeler (16:32), Sarah Pike (18:24), Eleanor Taylor (22:07) and Hylda Stewart (23:15) rounded off a superb evening for the ladies, placing third in their class with 1:20:18.

Meanwhile, the senior men’s team enjoyed a solid outing in sixth place in their class in 1:02:46. Ben Elphick (15:04), Derek Skinner (16:34), Duncan Knight (15:38) and Carl Bennett (15:30) delivering the goods.

Two days later and Derek was back in the city, along with club mates Matt Steele and Phil Smith for the Exeter Live Better Marathon.

Del reported “perfect running conditions but still quite warm with a little head wind”, but also admitted that he “felt drained and just couldn’t get going.” That said he still got round to complete his 59^th marathon, completing it 4:28:24 for 141^st overall.

Steele ran an excellent 3:19:36 for 29^th overall, just inside the 3:20 target earmarked as a qualifying time for next year’s Boston Marathon. Smith was 96^th in 3:56:15 with 4:28:24. There were 211 finishers overall.

Heading further East Chris Andrews, Christina Epps, Duncan Knight and Kim Knight were in the field for the Beer Blazer Mile Races. Organised by Axe Valley Runners, the event took in pebble beaches, stream crossings, woods, a few cows and some challenging hills.

And for Duncan, it was a case of “too much Beer” as a wrong turn caused him to run an extra two miles in total in the 10 mile event. Though happily he re-joined wife Kim for the run-in with Kim completing the distance in 1:55:03 in 37th and Duncan one second and one place behind. It meant Kim was third lady overall and first F50. There were 91 finishers. Over 5 miles, Chris Andrews clocked 1:01:14 to finish 14th and 2nd M60 and Christina Epps was 22nd in 1:15:05.

In Cornwall, Allen Taylor, Rob Faulkner and Steve Barker took on an unforgiving Imerys Trail Marathon. Further details will be added when results are published.