Teignbridge Trotters Running Club
Newton Abbot, Devon
Established 1982
Born to Run

Teignbridge Trotters staged the 35th Haytor Heller on Saturday 17th July. This popular, well established moorland race that started and finished in the shadow of Haytor Rock on Dartmoor.

Chipped timing was used for the first time this year due to the covid restrictions, and wave starts were also in operation.

Weather conditions were ridiculously hot at the 5:30pm race time. The marshals were friendly and very supportive all around the route, and the organisation of the race from start to finish was first class. Well done to all the Teignbridge Trotters who helped make this event such a success. The feedback from a lot of the runners were very positive.

17 Teignbridge Trotters took part in their home event. Tim Pratt led his team mate’s home, finishing in 23rd place in a great time of 00:53:35. Tilly Woods was the Clubs first female finisher, completing the tough test in 00:56:47 to take 34th spot.


James Baker representing Chichester AC took the honours, winning in a superb time of 00:43:01.


The other Trotters positions & times: Susanna Goffe (49, 01:00:00), Ben Elphick (74, 01:04:32), Scott Wiggins (81, 01:05:24), Declan Kelly (97, 01:08:50), Robert Faulkner (104, 01:10:20), Corinne Bright (106, 01:10:36), John Pullen (110, 01:10:56), Simon Shelock (125, 01:12:50), Philip Norden (133, 01:15:08), Joanna Randall (134, 01:15:34), Kat Ashburn- Scott (145, 01:17:12), Alexis Marsh (158, 01:19:55), Susanne Westgate (176, 01:24:14), Alison Clayton (177, 01:24:18), Dylan Cooper (230, 01:42:12).

There were 244 finishers.

Congratulations have to go to Tillly Woods. Tilly finished 2nd in the female race, behind the winner Elizabeth Dyson from Haldon Trail Runners.
Susanne Westgate also picked up a prize for her 2nd place in the FV 60-64 age category.
In the female team competition, our team comprising of Tilly Woods, Susanna Goffe, Corinne Bright and Joanna Randall finished 2nd.


A very special mention for Ben Elphick, who showed great heart and determination to compete in the race, having had some heart breaking news this week. Well done Ben.

haytor heller winner.jpg Haytor Heller winner, James Baker
1st female haytor.jpg 1st female finisher Elizabeth Dyson
tilly woods 2nd female haytor.jpg Teignbridge Trotter Tilly Woods,2nd female finisher
tim pratt first trotter haytor.jpg Tim Pratt first Trotter home at Haytor Heller
susanna goffe haytor.jpg Susanna Goffe defies soaring temperatures on Dartmoor
ben elphick haytor.jpg Ben Elphick completes Heller in fine style
corinne bright haytor.jpg Corinne Bright in great spirits after surviving the Heller

On Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July, WSR staged The Cider Frolic at the home of Cranbourne Chase cider at Myncen Farm near Blandford Forum in Dorset.

The races could be run as a solo, pairs, 3 & 4 man teams. Each lap was 6K in length, so seven completed circuits was equivalent to a marathon. The course profile was mainly flat with a few lumps along the way.

On Friday, Suzie Mills took part in the Cider Sessions. The novel thing about this race was that there was no fixed start times! Suzie completed the 7 laps, so therefore the marathon in a time of 07:11:05 in very hot conditions. This time earned Suzie 15th place in the ladies event. 37 ladies took part.

On Saturday, also in the stifling heat, four Teignbridge Trotters took on the Cider Frolic Solo. In the female event, Sharon Sharples, Sue Tremlett and Karen O’Brien all completed the marathon distance in great times. Sharon clocked an impressive time of 06:34:05 to finish 31st. Sue and Karen ran together to finish 33rd & 34th respectively one second apart. Sue clocked a time of 06:36:58 in her 30th marathon. Sara Keatley completed 12 miles in a time of 02:35:30 for 85th place. Well done ladies.

In the men’s event, the ever green Paul Sharples also completed the 26.2 miles in 06:34:07 to finish 28th. There were 106 entrants.

On the Sunday, Suzie Mills refreshed from her considerable efforts on the Friday, took part in the Piggy Plod. Suzie didn’t plod and finished 123rd in a time of 01:31:39. There were 185 finishers.

trotters at cider frolic.jpeg Cider Sue and her cronies after completing Cider Frolic
suzie mills at cider sessions.jpg Suzie Mills has time for a selfie at Cider Sessions

The 2021 Exeter 10K took place on 14th & 15th July. The route this year was changed due to a dispute over the reinstatement of the path, amounting to 4km. The new route mean't a two lap race along the River Exe and Exeter Canal. The pancake flat course shared footpaths and cycle tracks.


Bob Small and James Saunders made the short journey north on a very warm Summers evening. The 7:00 pm start time, led to three wave starts at one minute intervals. Bob and James started in wave 2. A moderate headwind made life difficult on the homeward leg x 2.


Bob Small performed well in what was his return to racing, having not raced since 2019. Bob was in good shape at the 5K stage, but the quick pace and heat took its toll. He clocked a time of 00:51:21 to finish 82nd on the night and 134th over the two days. James also ran well, finishing 58th overall, posting a time 00:42:02. There were 213 runners over the two days.

bob small exeter 10k.jpeg Bob Small toughing it out at Exeter 10K
james at exeter 10k.jpeg James overcomes headwind to clock decent time

On Sunday 18th July, Scott Knight and Derek Skinner travelled to East Somerset to contest the 9th running of the Frome Half Marathon. There was also a 5K, a 10K and a family fun run on offer.

The Half Marathon course was a single loop, starting at Frome Town FC. The runners headed out through two residential areas, before running up through the town centre. They then travelled along quiet countryside lanes towards and into the idyllic Nunney village, with its thatched buildings. A water station here signalled the return back towards the city centre. The legendary 1K Egford Hill awaited the runners, a steady climb taking them to the highest point of the course. All the runners’ times were taken separately for the hill climb, as there were prizes in all age categories for this part of the course. It was from the top of the hill that the athletes swooped downhill into the heart of Frome to the finish at the football ground.

The weather conditions were very very warm. The support along the way was immense, which helped while climbing some of the hills! Some of the residents doused the runners with hose pipes and water guns which proved invaluable.

Derek led the duo home, crossing the line in a very respectable time of 01:50:29 to finish 123rd. Scott running in his first Half marathon since March 2020 ran well to finish 397th in a time of 02:30:30.

There were 473 hot and sweaty finishers.

scott knight frome half.jpeg Scott Knight completes first half of 2021
scott and derek at frome half.jpg Scott and Del Boy at Frome Half Marathon
jo pavey exeter 10k.jpg Jo Pavey competes with Bob and James at Exeter 10K