THE Teignbridge Trotters staged their last race of the year on Sunday, October 6. The Sibelco Templer Ten is a 10-mile race, 90% of which is off-road. It starts and finishes in the wonderful grounds of Stover School in Newton Abbot.

Race conditions were rather damp, with a light drizzle falling before heavier rain arrived at the latter end of the race.

Before the main race got underway, there was the small matter of the kids' 1-mile fun run. The course is held within the grounds of the school. 45 youngsters stood on the start line. It wasn’t long before Riley Payne crossed the finish line in first place in a superb time of 4:59. First female home was Izzy Packer in a time of 7:11 Each finisher received a lovely bespoke medal.

At 11am, 209 runners started the main race. The first two miles of the course are within the grounds of the school, before runners head off towards the fields of Teigngrace, running alongside the river Teign and then onto Stover Park

Due to drainage works at Stover, the course had to be altered slightly. This meant the actual distance was a tad under the usual 10 miles.

Alex Sparks, running for the host club, Teignbridge Trotters, won the race in a fantastic time of 56:36. Second was Henry Saddler-Irvine representing Dawlish Coasters in 57:43. Oli Reynolds, also from Teignbridge Trotters was third in 58:25.

First Lady home was Elizabeth Dyson from Haldon Trail Runners in 1:05:28. Liz Nuttall from Teignbridge Trotters was second in 1:12:47 and third was Karen Eyre from Axe Valley Runners in 1:13:17.

Race Director, Roger Hayes said: ‘I was really pleased with how the day went, despite the weather. Entries were up on last year and it was fantastic for the Trotters that Alex won the race’.

The team events are always hotly contested, with the first four runners counting for the team. Axe Valley Runners won the men’s team, whilst Haldon Trail Runners won the ladies.

Other Trotters finishing times were: Roger Easterbrook 1:02:56 (1st MV50), Phil Reynolds 1:05:55, Andy Gilson 1:11:22, Steve Weeks 1:13:35, Chloe Weeks 1:15:09, Jason Trevenen 1:18:27, Simon Watts 1:22:45, Andrew Fox 1:26:21, Roger Moss 1:30:10 (2nd MV70), Jo Jacobs 1:34:01, Matthew Stout 1:36:21, Sue Tremlett 1:38:50, Gary Corken 1:40:28, Becky George 1:42:04, Nicky Swann 1:49:22, Yasemin Jeffrey 1:51:32.

With ever-increasing overheads, the race wouldn’t take place without the generous support of its sponsors; Sibelco, Moorview Vets, Foxy Golf and Classic Windows.

As a result of the race, the Trotters are delighted to be able to present Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS) food bank, with a cheque for £500, maintaining their proud reputation of donating a large part of the proceeds from all five of their races to charity.