A sea of blue at Ottery 10K

Club Championship Race: The Ottery 10K - Sunday 10th May

The Ottery 10K, held on Sunday 10th May, formed another important fixture in the Trotters Club Championship, attracting a strong turnout of club runners keen to pick up valuable 10K championship points. With the season well underway, there was plenty at stake across the age‑category standings.

Conditions on the day were warm, with runners occasionally challenged by a cool, strong breeze, adding an extra element of difficulty to what is otherwise a fast and runnable course. The race follows a largely flat route through the lanes surrounding Ottery St Mary, beginning in the town before heading out into picturesque countryside. Runners wound through beautiful rural lanes framed by open fields before tackling a short mid‑course loop of around 2 kilometres, completed twice, and then enjoying a downhill run back towards a fast finish along the club driveway.

Before the start, the atmosphere was lifted by a lively group warm‑up in front of the cricket clubhouse. Plenty of energetic arm‑shaking, hopping and laughter ensured everyone was well prepared. Adding to the occasion, runners were inspired by five‑time Olympian and long‑distance legend Jo Pavey, who offered words of encouragement before lacing up herself to race and support competitors out on the course—a memorable highlight for many.

The event also featured a one‑mile fun run for junior runners, helping to create a friendly and inclusive feel, with plenty of spectators and families cheering throughout the morning.

Among the standout Trotters performances was Lucy Evans, who made excellent use of the conditions to deliver a superb run. Lucy took a huge 45 seconds off her previous 10K personal best, breaking the 50‑minute barrier for the first time with a fantastic 49:35, a confident and controlled effort that earned valuable championship points.

Full results were: (40^th) Duncan Knight 44:01, (43^rd) Ben Tampkins 44:22, (58) Alan Kember 46:35, (60) Neil Rutley 46:45, (61) Liz Nuttall (46:49), (63) Gavin Parrott 47:19, (67) Derek Skinner 47:28, (69) Nigel Barnett 47:37, (75) Roger Hayes 48:15, (90) Allen Taylor 49:20, (91) Lucy Evans 49:35, (122) Jayden Taylor 53:11, (127) Kim Knight 53:29, (132) Jo Randall 54:09, (136) Chris Andrews 54:17, (138) Andrew Morton 54:40, (144) Patricia Atkins 55:04, (152) Caroline Clark 56:06, (155) Roger Moss 56:24, (156) Corinne Bright 56:43, (162) Katharine Tomkins 57:17, (163) Neil Tampkins 57:19, (177) Rachel Harrison 58:30, (178) Sue Tremlett 58:38, (207) Charles Cornforth 1:02:28, (210) Michelle Doherty 1:02:38, (231) Carrie-Anne Labdon 1:07:52, (247) Amanda Gibbs 1:12:21, (252) Sharon Stronach 1:13:54, (257) Denise Randall 1:14:18, (268) Julie Villis 1:21:55 and (273) Sara Louise Parker 1:30:16.

Congratulations to all the Trotters! Learn more about the 273 finishers here: Online|Final

The Great Bristol Half Marathon - Sunday 10th May 2026

The AJ Bell Great Bristol Half Marathon took place this weekend and once again lived up to its reputation as one of the South West’s standout mass participation road races. With over 18,000 runners on the start line and an estimated 75,000 spectators lining the streets, Bristol delivered an unforgettable race‑day atmosphere. The city truly came alive, with constant support, music, banners and noise carrying runners through every mile.

Among the Trotters in action were Chloe and Steve Weeks, who shared a strong and controlled race to finish together in an excellent 1:32:26. Both went into the event battling colds picked up in the lead‑up to race day, but with no real time pressure they were able to run sensibly and enjoy the occasion.

Feeding off the incredible crowd support, Chloe and Steve settled into a steady rhythm and held their pace well throughout. To come away with such a solid result despite disrupted preparation made the performance particularly pleasing. Both runners agreed it was the best half‑marathon atmosphere they have experienced and have already secured their places for next year’s race.

Results are available here: Great Run Event Results - Great Run

Endurance Life Exmoor Marathon - Saturday 9th May

The Endurancelife Exmoor Marathon took place this weekend and more than lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest marathon courses on the calendar. Widely regarded by organisers as the hardest of all their coastal marathons, the route packs in a formidable 5,500 feet of ascent, tracing an epic stretch of the South West Coast Path along the rugged North Devon coastline and skirting the edge of Exmoor National Park.

The course is as breathtaking as it is brutal, with relentless climbing, technical terrain and constantly changing scenery demanding both physical strength and mental resilience. Stunning sea views, dramatic cliffs and exposed moorland combine to create a truly unforgettable marathon experience – one that rewards determination as much as speed.

Flying the flag for the Trotters was Tim Synge, who took on the challenge with characteristic grit and determination. Tim completed the marathon in 7:05:11, finishing 43rd out of 47 runners in a field made up entirely of competitors younger than himself. Despite this, Tim still stood proudly at the top of his category, placing 1st out of 1 in the MV60 category.

Given the severity of the course, simply reaching the finish is a major achievement, and Tim’s performance is a fantastic example of perseverance over one of the toughest marathon tests available.

Full results available here: Exmoor 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon and Ultra – Endurancelife

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.