IT WAS a bumper weekend of racing for the Teignbridge Trotters, with members taking on six very different events across Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Spain.

From rugged coast‑path epics to flat city marathons, ultra‑loop challenges, and sun‑soaked half marathons, the club showed impressive determination, ambition, and early‑season form. This round‑up highlights individual performances while reflecting the energy building across the club as spring racing takes hold.

Roger Moss travelled to Spain for the 2026 Barcelona Marathon, embracing the sunshine, city buzz, and famously vocal support.

This year’s race made global headlines when Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay delivered the fastest women’s marathon debut ever, and Uganda’s Abel Chelangat won the men’s race in under 2:05.

Against this elite backdrop and Barcelona’s fast urban loop, Roger ran a strong, steady race, finishing in 4:31. In typically modest style, he joked that he “could do better,” though it was an excellent performance in one of Europe’s most vibrant marathon settings.

Another standout performance came from Julian Scanes, returning to racing at the ultra‑flat Málaga Half Marathon after more than two years out with knee injuries. With only five months back running, he produced a superb comeback, finishing in 1:28:27.

The race’s coastal scenery, smooth profile, and ideal temperatures created the perfect backdrop. Julian described the run as deeply satisfying, lifted by Málaga’s palm‑lined streets, bright skies, and enthusiastic support.

Back in the UK, Jon Pressling continued his marathon build‑up at the popular Fission 20, starting at Hamfields Leisure Centre near Berkeley Nuclear Power Station.

Known for PB potential and a welcoming atmosphere, the event offers a 20‑mile race or a half marathon along quiet rural lanes ideal for spring training. Jon paced himself well, handling gentle inclines and the second‑lap headwinds with ease.

He finished in 2:15:25, placing 38th out of more than 422 runners, a confidence‑boosting long‑run effort at exactly the right stage of his preparation.

Closer to home, Jo Randall and Caroline Clark took on the Pi & Pasty Challenge along the Budleigh Salterton cycle path. Caroline completed six laps (just under 20 miles) in 3:36:53, a strong early‑season effort. Jo completed the Sunday marathon in 4:34:00, taking 3rd place for the day and 4th overall across the weekend. Despite dropping temperatures, both enjoyed the mileage‑building spirit the event is known for.

In Cornwall, Sue Tremlett tackled the rugged Polruan Shuffle, a point‑to‑point race from Looe to Polruan along the South West Coast Path.

With minimal course marking and the simple instruction to “keep the sea on your left,” the race demands resilience. Coming off the Grizzly just six days earlier, while nursing a cold and running on little sleep, Sue pushed through steep climbs, countless steps, and sticky mud to finish in 3:21:45, a gritty performance under bright Cornish skies.

Rounding off the weekend, Kevin Besford travelled to Dorset for the Weymouth Half Marathon, his third half marathon of the month.

Though advertised as flat, the second half delivered several sharp climbs. Kevin dug in, overtook runners on the hills, and finished strongly in 2:05:16, carrying excellent momentum into Tiverton next week.