100 Miles for Rachel as Trotters Tackle Packed Race Weekend

Dawlish Coastal Dash - Thursday 11th June

The Dawlish Coastal Dash, hosted by Dawlish Coasters, returned on Thursday evening for its 26th edition, offering a fun and varied multi‑terrain race in a stunning coastal setting. Starting at Dawlish Warren, the approximately 4‑mile route takes in a mix of sandy beach, sea wall and coastal footpaths, creating a short but engaging challenge for runners.

Conditions this year were favourable, with good weather and firm sand underfoot making a welcome change for regular participants. The event once again drew a strong turnout, with plenty of support along the route and its usual friendly, sociable atmosphere.

This year’s race also held added significance for Teignbridge Trotters, forming part of the Club Championship as the first race in the Short Miscellaneous category, attracting an impressive 30 Trotters keen to secure valuable points.

At the front of the race, it was a fantastic result for Teignbridge Trotters, with George Tranckle taking first male in 20:59, while Mel Brooks claimed first female in 24:54, underlining the club’s strength at the sharp end.

A large number of Trotters were in action, many taking on the popular “DD Double” challenge following the Dartmoor Discovery. Laura Holland enjoyed another strong run, improving on last year’s time despite tired legs and was delighted to complete the double, finishing in 29:21. Lucy Evans also completed the double, finishing in 31:55 and praising the conditions and strong support from fellow runners.

Full Trotters results were: George Tranckle 20:59, Ryan Astbury 23:43, Mel Brooks 24:54, Steve Weeks 25:11, Chloe Weeks 25:20, Paul Vowden 26:32, Frank Reay 27:35, Alan Kember 27:52, Michael Border 28:30, Kathryn Steemson 29:05, Del Skinner 29:13, Laura Holland 29:21, Eyvoll Aston 30:48, Laura Law 30:53, Lucy Evans 31:55, Patricia Atkins 32:27, Jamie Moore 32:31, Adam Doherty 32:47, Paul Sharples 33:01, Andrew Morton 33:04, Rachel Harrison 33:36, Sue Tremlett 34:08, Tim Synge 34:34, Sam Wingrove 34:37, Amy Davey 34:47, Shaz Sharples 35:00, Peter Aston 35:24, Michelle Doherty 36:16, Darren Petch 37:21 and Amanda Gibbs 40:25.

Full race results here: Coastal Dash — Dawlish Coasters

Next Club Championship race: Saturday 4th July, Haldon Forest Flyer (mixed category)

Shiver me Timbers - Sunday 14th June

The Shiver Me Timbers race, organised by Winding Paths, took place in glorious sunshine this weekend, offering runners a scenic but demanding 8‑mile coastal challenge along the South Devon coastline. Starting at Goodrington Sands, the route heads out towards Churston Woods before returning, taking in some of the best views the South West Coast Path has to offer.

Adding to the fun was the optional pirate‑themed dress code, with “pirates abound” across the course, giving the race a relaxed and light‑hearted feel despite the effort required. Warm conditions added to the challenge, particularly on the exposed coastal sections.

A strong group of Trotters took part, all enjoying the varied course and coastal views. Among the standout performances was Alice Nicholls, who led the Trotters home in a superb 1:24:03. She was followed by Del Skinner in 1:33:12 and Laura Law in 1:34:06, both tackling the hilly terrain with determination.

Further solid runs came from Katie Williams (1:52:38), Michelle Doherty (1:58:44) and Adam Doherty (1:58:46). The trio of Lucy Payne (2:08:00), Shaz Sharples (2:08:00) and Paul Sharples (2:08:01) rounded out the Trotters results, finishing closely together after a challenging but enjoyable run.

Full results here: Shiver-Me-Timbers-2025-Results-v1.pdf

Windermere Marathon - Sunday 14th June

The Windermere Marathon, held alongside the popular Great North Swim in the Lake District, saw around 1,000 runners take on a scenic but challenging course around the shores of Lake Windermere. The route features undulating terrain with approximately 600 metres of elevation, offering runners stunning views but also a demanding test over the marathon distance.

Conditions on the day were warm, perhaps a little above ideal for marathon running, but this did not prevent some excellent performances across the field.

At the front of the race, Michael Young of Metro Aberdeen Running Club took victory in an impressive 2:38:08, while Beckie Ripley of Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers was first lady home in a strong 3:17:36.

Representing Teignbridge Trotters was Ewan Walton, who was taking on his second marathon in just nine days following his strong performance at the Dartmoor Discovery. Despite the accumulated fatigue, Ewan showed great resilience to complete the course in a very solid 3:50:58, finishing 142nd overall.

Full results and race details here: Windermere Marathon | 14 June 2026

And finally...

South Downs Way 100-Mile 

And finally, a huge congratulations to Rachel Steele, who completed the South Downs Way 100‑mile ultra this weekend—an extraordinary achievement and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year for the club.

Starting at 5:30am on Saturday, Rachel ran through the day, into the night, and back into the following morning to finish in an incredible 26:02:47. Conditions were extremely warm for long stretches of the course, adding to the challenge, although the cooler, quieter night miles brought a different and welcome atmosphere.

Despite taking a couple of heavy falls and battling stomach issues in the latter stages, Rachel showed remarkable determination to push through to the finish. Describing it as “the most amazing experience of my running life,” it was a truly inspirational performance and a fantastic achievement reflecting both physical endurance and mental resilience at the highest level.

Fast 5000

Meanwhile, on a very different stage, Alex Sparks was in action at the Fast 5000 at the Velopark, the club’s sole representative at the event.

Run in hot conditions with a noticeable breeze, the race saw a strong lead group form early, forcing Alex to commit from the start to stay in contention. The effort paid off, although the final 2km proved particularly tough after the early pace.

Digging deep over the closing stages, Alex pushed all the way to the line, clocking a 1‑second personal best of 15:39 to finish in an impressive 5th place.

The Fast 5000 events are known for their high standard of organisation and competitive fields, and Alex’s performance showed exactly how effective they can be for runners chasing fast times.

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 Randall at press@teignbridgetrotters.co.uk.