The weather fails to dampen the spirits of those running the Haytor Heller

The Teignbridge Trotters staged their longest established race, the Haytor Heller, on Saturday 20th July. The race first took place in 1986 when it was called the Moorland Run. It changed its name to the Haytor Heller in 1991.

The weather on race day pretty much summed up our summer so far, although the light drizzle and mild air temperature actually made for perfect running conditions. However, it wasn't so good for the many marshals out on the course!

The race was won by Samuel Deller from Ilfracombe RC, in a time of 41:28. In second place, and only eight seconds behind, was Mark Jenkin (Bideford AC) in 41:36. In third place was Tom Perry (Dark Peak Fell Runners) in 42:14.

First lady to cross the finish line was Fiona German (SWRR) in 52:14. Like the men, second place lady, Charlotte Walker (Tavistock AC) was eight seconds behind in a time of 52:22. Jess Partlett came third in 52:56.

Eamon Crowe, Race Director for the event, was full of praise for Samuel and Fiona on their winning performances. He said ‘To record those times on what is a really tough course is quite outstanding. I take my hat off to all those that managed to complete the race’.

There can't be many races, if any, with such a steep start to a race. Runners are faced with a climb up to the top of Haytor, before descending back down the other side and making their way onto the open moorland and over to Hound Tor for another tough climb up to the top. There are rocks to clamber over as well as a stream crossing to negotiate before finally making their way back up to Haytor and then a nice stretch of downhill to the finish.

The team events are always highly contested and this year was no different, with Okehampton RC winning the men’s event and Torbay AAC winning the ladies`.

Running for the Teignbridge Trotters were: Alex Sparks (43:23), Luke Reynolds (46:35), Tim Pratt (49:51), Susanna Gorge (54:41), Gregory Cook (58:02), Andrew Fox (01:02:11), Tim Synge (01:07:09), Neil Rutley (01:07:11), Chris March (01:09:58), Trevor Irons (01:12:04), Matthew Stout (01:15:37), Laura Holland (01:16:21), Sarah Blanchard (01:26:37), Suzanne O’Donoghue (01:30:30), Julie Webb (01:41:28). There were 222 finishers.

This year’s sponsors were Sibelco, Empire Scaffolding, MI Plant and MEC Electrical.

The Trotters next race is the Totnes 10K (Aug 4th). You can enter online via their website or on the day of the race.

Our thanks to David Barrett and Sharon Sharples for the photos.

Chudleigh road race (almost 10K) on Friday 19th once again was a special occasion of summer season warm evening racing with a super Trotter turnout. The club championship race delivered with high street spectators enjoying seeing the runners set off, reappear heading down the high street, before returning after finishing the undulating loop. The downhill / flat high street means a good turn of speed as runners are cheered on in the last 600m. It was close racing as the times and pictures demonstrate. First trotter home was James Long, showing good recovery after his recent coastal path 100km efforts. 1st lady Chloe Olford who was part of the winning Ladies team.

The race was won in a rapid 31:45, first Trotter was 6th James Long 34:40, followed by Roger Easterbrook 7th 35:01 1st Male Vet 50, 16th Chloe Olford 37:27 3rd lady, 17th Melanie Brooks 38:31 1st Female Vet 45, 18th Steve Weeks 38:33, 22nd Elizabeth Nuttall 39:15, 23rd Chloe Weeks 39:20, 24th James Saunder 39:49 1st MV60, 26th Ian Langler 40:28, 29th Duncan Knight 41:05, 30th Alan Kember 41:19 1st MV 65, 33rd Freya Morrissey 42:11, 40th Andrew Fox 44:05, 45th Kathryn Steemson 45:33 1st FV 50, 47th Christian Robinson 46:03, 49th Nigel Barnett 46:12, 57th Roger Hayes 47:02, 58th Tim Syne 47:09, 59th Bruce Camphill 47:11, 62nd Kim Knight 48:20, 63rd Adam Doherty 48:25, 64th Shannon Radford 48:25

66th Oliver Thomas 48:29, 72nd Paul Sharples 50:17, 74th Roger Hales 51:01, 77th Eyvoll Aston 51:27, a tight finish between 78th Callum Price 51:29, 79th Chris Andrews 51:29, 80th Eamon Crowe 51:29. 

85th Ruth Johnson 52:06, 90th Sharon Sharples 52:37, 91st Sue Tremlett 52:55, 93rd Dominique Harcourt 53:39, 97th Pete Aston 54:21, 99th Lucy Evans 54:36, 105th Lucy Payne 55:28, 114th Michelle Doherty 58:31, 120th Rod Payne 59:37, 130th Nicky Swann 1:00:26, 131st Cheryl Dunn 1:00:27, 132nd Stuart Moulson 1:00:42, 138th Vicky Hales 1:13:45.

Also spotted were a trio of SDAC runners impersonating the Red Arrows, including plumes of smokes down the finishing straight.

Hopefully the Forest Flyer at Haldon next Saturday will see a large Trotter turnout again for a great undulating trail race by Haldon Trail Runners.

On the 17th Phil Reynolds was the lone Trotter at the Exeter City Runs 10k on the River Exe. 1st in MV50 with time of 37:31 in close racing with others in the same age category. "A great flat race with some trail sections which helped achieve my aim of setting a PB."

On Saturday Del Skinner was at the final Cider frolic by Whitestar running, a famous weekend multi lap race. Del managed 8 laps of corn fields which was a marathon of 28 miles and quite enough for number 89.

"I found it tough in fact last two did my head in..but on the plus side weather was perfect for running." On the last lap Del took in a schnapps at the love station (bar) which saw him through the last mile…