CLUB STUDS GALLOP HOME AT UTTOXETER RACES

BADGERS duo Chris Horton and Adrian Payne made the trip to Uttoxeter Racecourse on Sunday to take part in the annual Uttoxeter Festival of Running and both emerged with excellent top five finishes, which was great news for punters backing them each way! On a hot bank holiday weekend, Horton sought to defend his title from 2017 but was left trailing from the start thanks to a blistering run over the rolling Staffordshire hills by local ace Ian Salt. Despite far from ideal temperatures, Horton (37:18) ran negative splits, over a minute and a half quicker than the previous year to bag himself a hard earned second place while debutante Payne (39:48) hung on well after an aggressive start and was one of just five runners to break 40 minutes in a tough event showing how testing the conditions were. In the half marathon event, Holly Matts was the sole BADGERS representative as she finished bravely in 3:04.

South of the county in the Lichfield Half Marathon, veteran Glyn Broadhurst delivered a tremendous performance in the heat running 89:40 to finish in a highly respectable 19th place overall with team-mate David McGowan also putting in a superb run just behind in 91:36 in 25th spot. Sole female BADGER Charlene Dunn ran a solid 2:02:13. The Birmingham 10K attracted a gaggle of BADGERS who were led home by dad-to-be Ian Orton in 49:50. Gavin Crockwell clocked an excellent 54:53 with Dave Bailey (66:59) and Tracy Piper (77:22) also making the distance. Sharron Fisher made her first attempt at the distance and bagged herself a good time of 78:11. Bev Spencer and Leesa Dennis were amongst the action in the Brecon Beacons 10K in mid-Wales while Chris Upton tackled the five-mile Wymeswold Waddle in a fine 37:57.

Despite the warm weather, Simon Gilbert braved the 50km ultra marathon the St Illtyds Ultra set in Carmarthenshire and survived thanks to his time of 8:33. The Cakeathon marathon saw Paul Grubb (5:27) notch up his second ever marathon and Yvonne Faulkner also making the 26.2-mile distance in good time. At the Woodhouse May Day 13.5-mile challenge trail run, Mark Cox ran a determined 1:49 with skipper Adrian Payne going quicker still with an impressive 1:38. In the inaugural Polesworth District Canal Association Aqua-jog Championships, Dave Jackson, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Franklin the turtle, finished fifth.

Marathon man Adie Kirkham had a double celebration at the weekend as he notched up the 89th and 90th marathons of his career to date in the Cakeathon marathon followed by the Chocathon events, both set on the same course near Northampton. Even more impressive was the fact he completed both these back-to-back races in under four and a half hours each. In Monday’s Cookiethon marathon, super-fit Karen Thompson ran a sub 5-hour time in terrific heat. Matt Tonks is already in the 100-marathon club and he had his work cut out in the Milton Keynes marathon where he provided official pacing duties for runners seeking to dip under 3:15. On the hottest day of the year, he hit his target although he no doubt would have hoped for better weather in which to do so. In the Milton Keynes Half Marathon, Sharon Jackson sweltered her way to a time of 2:25:33 with veteran Helen Tibby making 2:51 in similarly steamy conditions.

Saturday morning parkrunners picked the perfect time to get out and about before the mercury rose. At Kingsbury Water Park, Chris Baxter (16:45) ran a breathtakingly quick 5K as he smashed his own club record held at the very same course. With his nearest challenger almost a minute adrift, he effectively time-trialled his way to glory making his achievement even more impressive. Matt Tonks finished 3rd male in 17:50 with Jonathan Vardy (18:40 -PB), David McGowan (18:51 – PB) and Sam Starkey (18:58) all making the top ten to give BADGERS an incredible 50% of the places. Martyn Barrett struck gold with his fabulous 20:57 just two weeks after his marathon heroics. Tim Gould ran a classy 22:14 and new boy Peter Coogan 23:28 before Shaun Coyle, Lee Millership and Pat Cleall burst through. Veteran John Restall followed through in 24:26 and another newcomer, Dean Bowd impressed with his time of 24:29. Ben Satchell made a long-awaited return to action while John Hanson continues to improve running a respectable 26:36. Adam McElhone made light of turning 50 as he turned in another strong run and Sarah Vine ran a quality PB in 27:09. Paul Restall, David Bailey and Amanda Gould all showed well with Terry Argyle, Yvonne Feasey and Paul & Karly Cooper all managing to get around. Several BADGERS were attending ladies Captain Rachael Bunting’s hen-do, starting proceedings with a 5K run at Kingsbury. Clare Whetton, Karen Thompson, Serena Baker, Monika Lampart, Nicki Bowman, Rachel Hudspith, Michelle Carter, Julie Tonks, Angela Stallings, Karen Missen, Claire Fielding and of course the bride-to-be herself were all amongst those involved. David and Teresa Buck also went.

At Rosliston, Mark Repton (20:18) enjoyed his highest ever finish as he ended up fourth thanks to his gutsy effort on the challenging course there. Jonathan Davies bossed the BADGER show at Worcester in 25:55 while six BADGERS ran the new Bedworth parkrun. Richard Hamblett was first back in 26:25 with Matthew Shaw, stalwart Simon Currier, Amber Bradford, Peter Black and Charlotte Phillips all in hot pursuit.

Finally, at Conkers Colin Lees led home a throng of BADGERS and BADGERettes as he ran 22:03, just 8 seconds ahead of the newly shod Ashley “T-Dogg” Taylor. Other runners included Ian Orton, the respected Richard Hill, Jason Husselbee-Orwin, Alan Argyle, and Andy Smith. Emily Karim ran a cracking new PB as her husband Jared celebrated his 100th parkrun event. Pete Wells showed a clean pair of heels alongside big Stuart Walton with veteran Mick Judd once again impressing with a well deserved PB in 33:36. Holly Matts also ran ahead of her half marathon effort the following day.