Pratt and Easterbrook claim podium positions at Bridgwater and Dartmouth

The 6th Bridgwater Half Marathon, 10k and fun run took place on Sunday 1^st September. The race was organised by Bridgwater Friends of Cancer Research and the event was selected as a round of The Club Championship.

Twenty five Teignbridge Trotters travelled to Somerset in search of more valuable points. Weather conditions were bright and sunny, but with a stiff breeze to contend with.

Tim Pratt was the Clubs sole representative in the shorter 10K event.

The fast, flat route took the runners through the picturesque Somerset countryside, passing through Chedzoy and Stawell. The start and finish was held at Morganians RFC.

Mandy Wheeler stole the honours, by taking 3^rd place in the female race. Mandy’s time was 1:34:11, placing her in 57^th position overall.

Jacki Woon won the Super Vet age category award. Jacki clocked a great time of 1:39:18 to finish in 90^th place.

Christian Robinson was the first Trotter home, finishing in 35^th position, in a great time of 1:29:05. Sam Crowe did cross the line two seconds ahead of Christian, but the chipped times meant that the positions were reversed!

The other Trotters positions and times were:

Sam Crowe (36, 1:29:08), James Saunders (40, 1:29:59), Graydon Widdicombe (62, 1:34:42), Russ Wheeler (85, 1:38:37), Bon Rymel (96, 1:40:00), Susanna Goffe (104, 1:41:42), Roger Hales (107, 1:42:44), Nigel Barnett (121, 1:44:23), Sarah Pike (124, 1:45:11), Max Conroy (157, 1:49:43), Alex Lyons (170, 1:51:38), Caroline Clark (204, 1:56:33), Annabelle Evans (239, 2:01:27), Scott Knight (249, 2:02:42), Lucy Evans (264, 2:05:58), Lucy Payne (265, 2:06:13), Richard Keatley (266, 2:06:17), Sara Keatley (267, 2:06:17), Josh Taylor (271, 2:07:56), Eamon Crowe (305, 2:14:17), Teresa Holmes (342, 2:37:25). There were 360 finishers.

Bon Rymel smashed his Half Marathon previous best by a staggering 7 minutes 48 seconds, and James Saunders lowered his previous best to go under the 1:30:00 barrier. It was also great to see Russ Wheeler back on the race circuit. A great come back time too?

Tim Pratt ran a cracking race in the 10k, finishing 3^rd on the podium. Tim’s time was 00:35:17.

There were 206 runners.

Roger Easterbrook, Jim Donovan and Julie Webb took their place at The Dartmouth Regatta 5.1 Mile Road Race, on Saturday 31^st August.

A particularly tough event, with some steep ascents to negotiate. The runners set off along South Embankment, before climbing Weeke Hill. Having got to the top, the elevation levelled out as they passed through Stoke Fleming. They then headed back towards Little Dartmouth, before the long run back to the finish, via the South Embankment on top of Boatfloat Bridge.

Roger ran superbly well, to claim 3^rd place. He finished 31 seconds behind the eventual winner, Peter Monaghan. Rogers finishing time was 00:30:56. This was Rogers’s best time for 10 year’s!!

Julie and Jim also ran particularly well in this popular race. Jim finished in 58^th place, clocking a time of 00:42:36 and Julie completed the test in 00:57:01 to claim 118^th position. Peter Monaghan’s winning time was 00:30:25.

There were 130 entrants.

On Saturday 31^st August, The Muskies Madness 10K took place.

The race, organised by The Plymouth Musketeers, started and finished at the Tamerton Community Centre in Plymouth. The tough, multi-terrain undulating course was run on woodland tracks, riverside paths and roadside pavements, culminating in a devilish long hill to finish. The evening start, meant that the weather conditions were just about perfect.

Louise Gentry and Bruce Campbell represented the Club, and very successfully.

Louise finished in 8^th place, completing the tough course in a time of 00:46:07. Her great performance meant she was 2^nd female home and Louise won the FV40 age category award. Congratulations Louise.

Bruce also ran a great race, to finish in 17^th place in a time of 00:48:48.

Matthew Bradley was the overall winner, taking the title in 00:38:19.

There were 172 finishers.

Mark Wotton travelled to Warwickshire, to take part in The Kenilworth Half Marathon. This year’s race marked its 20^th Anniversary.

The race started in Kenilworth town centre, and consisted of a fast two lap course, firstly around the town, before running through the grounds of Kenilworth Castle, built 900 years ago to woo Queen Elizabeth 1. This led the runners out into quiet country lanes before heading back towards the town centre.

Each finisher received two tickets to watch Wasps RFC first home game of the new season, a black & gold long sleeved technical shirt and a large 20^th Anniversary medal!! Well worth entering I would say??

Marks preparation started early for the race, travelling on the Friday for the race the following day, only to find out that the race had been switched to the Sunday! Two nights in the back of his car would have proved too much, so Mark treated himself to a night in a local hotel!

Mark finished in a time of 2:02:47 to finish in 922nd position.

There were 1310 finishers.

The race was won by David Hudson, winning in a time of 1:09:30.

A hardy group of Trotters, including Derek & John Skinner, Sue Tremlett & Chris Andrews took part in the Red Rock Mud Race on Sunday.

Race start was 3:00 pm, as the timing needed to coincide with low tide. The route took the runners across the River Teign, having started on the beach next to Coombe Cellars. The monies raised will go to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. All finishers, adults and non-drivers, were supplied with a free pint of Red Rock Ale or bitter for their support. Over £1400 was raised for the cause, and everyone had a great time. No official times were taken.

Running for England against the Celtic Countries in the Maidenhead Half Marathon on Sunday, Bob Small set a new PB of 1.47.19. Bob finished in 747 place out of 1569 finishers and was 10th in the over 70 age category.

Bob said 'Running for England was a great thrill and I'm very pleased to have been able to set a new PB. However, ‘I am also a little disappointed in that I had hoped to be able to run faster than that on the flat course.'

The race was won by Rob Corney of Reading Road Runners in, winning in a great time of 00:1:07:53.