TEIGNBRIDGE Trotters were out in force over the weekend of Saturday, May 9, and Sunday 10, with club members taking part in races across Devon and beyond.

These included the Ottery 10K, the Great Bristol Half Marathon, and the ultra‑challenging Endurancelife Exmoor Marathon.

The Ottery 10K, held on Sunday, formed an important fixture in the Trotters Club Championship, with a strong turnout of 32 club runners keen to claim valuable points in the 10K category. With championship standings beginning to take shape, there was plenty at stake across all age groups.

Conditions were warm, but runners were occasionally tested by a cool, strong breeze. The largely flat course starts in Ottery St Mary before heading out into picturesque surrounding countryside, winding through quiet rural lanes. A short mid‑race loop of around two kilometres, completed twice, added interest before runners enjoyed a downhill run back to a fast finish.

Pre‑race atmosphere was excellent, thanks to a lively group warm‑up outside the cricket clubhouse. Runners were further inspired by the presence of five‑time Olympian Jo Pavey, who offered words of encouragement before joining the field and supporting competitors out on the course. A one‑mile junior fun run also took place, creating a friendly and inclusive feel with plenty of family support throughout the morning.

A highlight for the Trotters came from Lucy Evans, who produced an excellent run to break the 50‑minute barrier for the first time. Lucy took an impressive 45 seconds off her previous 10K personal best, finishing in 49:35 and securing valuable championship points.

Other Trotters to feature strongly included Duncan Knight (44:01), Ben Tampkins (44:22), Alan Kember (46:35), Neil Rutley (46:45), Liz Nuttall (46:49), Gavin Parrott (47:19) and Derek Skinner (47:28). A full 32 club runners completed the course, contributing to another successful championship outing.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Chloe and Steve Weeks represented the club at the AJ Bell Great Bristol Half Marathon, one of the South West’s largest mass‑participation running events. With over 18,000 runners and an estimated 75,000 spectators, the atmosphere across the city was exceptional.

Chloe and Steve ran a strong, controlled race to finish together in 1:32:26, despite both having battled colds in the lead‑up to the event. Feeding off the incredible support, they settled into a steady rhythm and finished strongly, later describing it as the best half‑marathon atmosphere they have experienced. Both have already secured places for next year’s race.

On Saturday, Tim Synge tackled one of the most demanding endurance races available, completing the Endurancelife Exmoor Marathon. Widely regarded by organisers as the toughest in their coastal marathon series, the route features more than 5,500 feet of ascent along the South West Coast Path and the edge of Exmoor.

Tim completed the brutal course in 7:05:11, finishing 43rd out of 47 runners in a field made up entirely of younger competitors. He was also rewarded with first place in the MV60 category, a remarkable achievement on such an unforgiving course.

Another busy and successful weekend highlighted the depth, determination and enthusiasm of Teignbridge Trotters across a wide range of distances and terrains.