Club championship nears its finale as runners head to East Devon

The ColyTen - Sunday 11th October

With the road-running season drawing to a close and many eyes now turning towards the trails, the ColyTen marked one of the final opportunities for championship points in this year's Teignbridge Trotters Club Championship. Set in the picturesque East Devon countryside, the 10-mile multi-terrain race offered a demanding mix of riverside paths, woodland trails, steep climbs and fast runnable sections, rewarding those who paced the challenging route well.

After an opening stretch alongside the River Coly, runners tackled a significant climb through woodland before navigating a series of rolling forest paths and short road sections. The latter stages of the course offered a welcome change in profile, with predominantly flat and downhill running providing an opportunity to push for the finish after the earlier efforts.

Leading the Trotters home was Benj Akyol, who produced an outstanding run to finish 3rd overall in a superb time of 1:10:05, also taking victory in the M40 category. First female trotter home was Chloe Olford who was also the second Trotter on the day, finishing 19th overall and 3rd female in 1:17:13. Chloe was followed by Chloe Weeks, who crossed the line in 1:25:44, with dad Steve Weeks recording the same impressive finish time despite Steve turning his ankle on the demanding course.

There was further age-category success for the Trotters with Neil Rutley claiming first place in the M65 category in 1:31:45. Gavin Parrott finished strongly in 1:33:29, while Joanna Randall completed the course in 1:35:37. Close behind was fellow M65 runner Alan Kember, whose time of 1:35:48 secured 3rd place in his category.

Allen Taylor recorded 1:38:36, before Lucy Evans ran an excellent 1:43:51. Jayden Taylor claimed the M19 category win in 1:47:13, while Robert Faulkner followed shortly afterwards in 1:47:46. Eamon Crowe completed the course in 1:53:11, and Rachel Thorn rounded out the Teignbridge contingent with a determined finish in 1:57:00.

Full results are available here: ColyTen 2026 - Results

The Chester Marathon - Sunday 11th October 

The marathon season reached its peak on Sunday as Julian Scanes was the sole Teignbridge Trotters representative at the renowned Chester Marathon, producing an outstanding performance to break the three-hour barrier with a superb time of 2:59:14.

Now in its 16th year, the Chester Marathon has established itself as one of the UK's premier marathon events, attracting runners from across the country to its scenic route which uniquely crosses the border between England and Wales. With excellent organisation, enthusiastic crowds and picturesque surroundings, it has become a fixture on many marathon runners' calendars.

Julian certainly made the most of the conditions, which were close to ideal for distance running. With sunny skies, light winds and comfortable temperatures, he paced his race superbly to dip under the coveted three-hour mark and secure another impressive marathon result.

Reflecting on his run afterwards, Julian said: "Pulled another one out of the bag today. Completed the Chester Marathon in 2:59:14. Conditions were fantastic, sunny but not too hot with little wind. Really well organised with great support. Would highly recommend!"

The Bradley Exmouth 5K - Sunday 27th September

A pair of Teignbridge Trotters from the club's May 2026 Couch to 5K programme took on the Bradley's Exmouth 5K on Sunday 27th September, producing some excellent performances despite challenging conditions on the East Devon coast.

Starting and finishing on Exmouth seafront, the race follows a fast, fully paved route along the beachfront, taking runners towards Orcombe Point before turning back along the promenade. While the course is known for its fantastic coastal views and enthusiastic spectator support, this year's runners had to contend with decidedly less-than-ideal weather.

Wet and windy conditions greeted participants throughout the morning, with the strength of the wind perhaps best summed up by the fact that the race photographer was reportedly blown off her feet near the finish line!

Undeterred by the elements, Josie Lee delivered an outstanding run, crossing the line in 25:15 and securing first place in the Female 55-69 age category. Having completed the club's Couch to 5K programme just a few months earlier, this was a terrific achievement and a testament to her hard work and dedication.

Fellow Couch to 5K graduate Lucy Reeves also ran strongly, recording a time of 36:29 as she continued her running journey and gained valuable race experience in difficult conditions.

Next club championship race: Saturday 31st October the Devon Trail Half Marathon Devon Trail Races: Half marathon & 10K + Canicross on Devon trails - Sportiva Events

A huge thank‑you to everyone who contributed to this week’s race report.

To help keep things running smoothly, please send the contributions by 7pm each Sunday to Jo at press@teignbridgetrotters.co.uk.