The sun shone brightly on the annual Teignbridge Trotter club trip.

This year, chairman Roger Hayes chose Tipton St John, near Sidmouth, for the Otter Rail and River 10km with a double decker bus laid on by the club to transport families.

This is a multi-terrain event with no major hills but plenty of difficult ground, stiles and kissing gates and beautiful scenery to enjoy. There was also a fun run for children and the 'Trotter Kids' enjoyed this event while their parents ran the longer version.

It took 160 runners from the village centre where its annual fair was being held, down river to Harpford, along the old railway line to Tipton then off road to Fluxton and Metcombe to end in the centre of the fair.

Forty-six trotters ran the race as part of the day out and made for the most Trotters recorded in the same race to date and even included Mark Wotton running as an elephant!

The first Trotter home, and also the winner of the race, was David Tomlin keeping up his strong racing qualities and winning streak by keeping second place Trotter Daryl 'Tarquin' Milford from the podium by 22 seconds – Tomlin finishing in a time of 37.39 and 'Tarquin' 38.01.

Fifth place went to Wavell Vigers in 40.56 and gained him First Vet 40 male and making up the trio of the first men's team.

Roger Hayes was eighth in 41.18 with Ian Langler getting the tenth place with 42.08.

Stephen Barker was hot on his tail in 11th (42.36), Chris Cleave was 16th (43.21) and Gary Clark did 44.17 after a really nasty fall at one of the stiles to get 20th.

The rest of the trotters came in as follows: Roger Hales 44.27 (22), Alan Boone and Bruce Campbell in a joint time of 45.31 (26), Ben Epps 45.34 (27), Wilfred Taylor 47.00 (30) which made him the first Male Vet 60 and Gary Watson 47.29 (35).

First Trotter Lady was Clare Youngman in her first race since the tough Dartmoor Discovery in a time of 47.34 (36) and was awarded first Female Vet 40.

Julian Head completed the course in a time of 48.49 (39), Noel Fowler 49.00 (42) and John Tweedie made a welcome return to the racing scene from recent injury and came in 49th in a time of 50.31.

Fiftieth place went to John Caunter in 51.00, Nigel Penwarden in 51.06 (52), Becky George 51.29 (55), Sarah Schutte 52.17 (58).

Youngman, George and Shutte were the second ladies' team home.

Gia D'Aprano finished in a time of 52.19 (59), Graeme Baker was 61st in 52.32 gaining the title of first Male Vet 70.

Neil Pallant 53.06 (65), Syd Willocks gained 1st Male Vet 65 with 54.11 (72).

Mary Goulden won first Female Vet 35 in 55.05 (77), Marsha Garrard 55.17 (79), Caroline Clark 55.54 (85), Katy George 56.00 (86), Steve Rawlinson 57.06 (91), Tina Caunter 57.07 (92), Milos Erben 57.27 (96), Sharon Bowman 57.52 (99), Caroline Hayes 58.24 (100), Eleanor Taylor 58.46 (102), Kevin Besford 58.49 (103), Lucy Payne 59.30 (105) which gained her first Female Vet 55.

Just missing the hour was Lucy's husband Rod Payne although in constant agony with a severe back problem still did 1.00.03 and was 109th.

Janice Caunter in her first race for a long while did 1.01.28 (113), Keith George running with his daughter Ellie did 1.02.10 (114) and 1.02.18 (115).

Deborah Clark back from a recent health scare did 1.02.26 (117), Graham Penn, running with his faithful friend Kelso the collie, did 1.04.46 (132).

Mark Wotton who at last year's trip turned up to run in a gorilla suit decided to run as an elephant this year and managed a credible 1.07.13 (142) followed by Vicky Hales who has been off the racing scene in a time of 1.11.08 (156).

After the presentations and a wander around a fair, the 'Triumphant Trotters', enjoyed a meal and a well-deserved drink in the sunshine.