A Grand Weekend of Racing as Trotters travel to Tiverton and St Austell

Grand Canal Canter - 10K, Half Marathon, 20 Mile, Marathon

The Grand Canal Canter offers runners a rare treat in Devon: a fast, almost entirely flat series of races set along the peaceful towpaths of the Grand Western Canal. In spring, the route is particularly captivating, with banks lined by bright wildflowers, sweeping weeping willows brushing the water, and nesting swans and moorhens dotted along the edges. Fishermen and Sunday walkers add the occasional curious glance as runners pass through the calm, quiet landscape, making it feel more like a gentle spring outing than a race—at least in the early miles.

Representing the Teignbridge Trotters in the half marathon was Kevin Besford, who ran strongly in a small field of around 100 runners. The flat course and warm sunshine made for pleasant conditions, although the heat and accumulated fatigue from recent races made the final miles tough. Kevin maintained a solid pace early on and, despite fading in the last two and a half miles, dug deep to finish in 2:07:30, a determined effort on legs already feeling the mileage.

The club had fantastic success in the 20‑mile race, where Teignbridge Trotters’ very own Jon Pressling took a superb victory in an impressive 2:16:19. He was joined in the top ten by Mike Border, who claimed 8th place with a strong 2:56:47, securing a two‑Trotter presence in the top end of the field. For Mike, the route made an excellent warm‑up for anyone preparing for a spring marathon, and ideal as he heads towards Newport in a few weeks.

The ever‑reliable Lucy Payne also delivered another excellent performance, running 3:37:40 and flying the flag as the sole female Trotter in the distance.

In the marathon, Jo Randall completed the 26.2 miles in 4:52:48, digging deep to secure a sub‑five‑hour finish—an especially satisfying result coming just a week after the demanding Pi and Pasty challenge.

Another successful outing for the Trotters on a picturesque and deceptively testing canal‑side course.

Get your full result fix here: Results – Winding Paths

The St Austell Skyline 10

The St Austell Skyline 10 once again provided runners with a unique chance to experience the area’s clay mining heritage across a fast but challenging multi‑terrain course. Starting near Menacuddle Well and finishing at Cornwall College, the race combined trails, permissive paths and footpaths, taking participants through historic clay country with impressive views and a few testing climbs along the way. Conditions were perfect, with sunshine, great visibility from the high points, and excellent support from marshals and spectators throughout.

A total of 232 runners took part this year. The race was won by Garth McColville of St Austell Athletes Running Club in 1:05:41, with Nayana Jain of Cornwall AC taking the women’s win in 1:10:52.

Teignbridge Trotter Derek “Del” Skinner represented the club strongly, completing the 10‑mile, 1,142‑ft elevation course in 1:39:47, placing 110th overall. Del described it as a tough but highly enjoyable race with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of support along the route.

Full results are available here: Skyline 10 - 2026 - Results