BAXTER TURNS UP THE HEAT AHEAD OF HERMITAGE MEET

BADGERS star Chris Baxter once again triumphed over his favourite distance in the inaugural Chase the Sun 5K at Prestwold Hall in midweek. The 29 year soon to be dad took the tape in a mightily impressive 16:55, winning comprehensively to give him plenty of confidence going into the club’s crucial penultimate league race of the Leicestershire Road Running League season, the Carl Rutt 10K, which took place at Whitwick on Sunday. Here, host club Hermitage Harriers put on a super show of strength to cut BADGERS lead at the top of the men’s division and with West End Runners from Leicester also enjoying a stellar day, BADGERS now occupy joint first place with Harriers. Despite losing ground on their big-hitting rivals, BADGERS still managed to produce some excellent displays as the weather turned unusually conducive to fast times.

The course is renowned as one of the toughest on the calendar and with this season’s talisman Aaron Chetwynd under the weather, it was left to Danny Warren to once again assume the responsibility of leading the club home, a task he performed with consummate style. Working his way through a tiring field, the 31-year old speedster finished in an excellent 12th position in a top-quality field, his time of 35:55 a tremendous effort on such a notoriously hilly course. Veteran Chris Horton produced a surprise as he followed through next in 17th place ahead with a very respectable 36:24 before Chris Baxter (36:50) and the aforementioned Chetwynd (36:56) bravely soldiered home. Jason Molloy looked in good shape as he crossed next for the club in a fine 38:08 with fellow parkrun winner Sam Starkey a minute behind in 47th spot. Iron man Ron Mahoney charged home in a brilliant 40:24 and Jonathan Vardy incredibly produced a PB performance of 40:26 in 69th place.

The inclusion of veteran Justin Haywood without doubt boosted the side as he ran a superb 41:10 with fellow vet and key-man Glyn Broadhurst narrowly pipping him to the line by just three seconds as the men’s vets’ team finally begin to pull clear of the relegation zone in their first season in the top tier. The promising David McGowan (41:14) showed another good turn of speed as he became the tenth BADGER to break into the top 100 with the durable Mark Cox becoming the eleventh as he ran a quality 42:07. Mark Repton produced another solid display in 42:40 with stand-in Captain Rob Boland (43:32) and veteran Colin Lees (45:57) both in fine form. Cameron Barnes (46:40) showed great spirit as he finished particularly strongly as did Ian Orton (48:36) and hardworking veteran Rob Crow (50:44). Ashley Taylor ran 47:18 while the esteemed Alan Argyle (51:00) and his former work colleague Stuart Youngs (52:07) both slogged their guts out as the sweat poured but the rain held off. Adam McElhone and John Devenney both recorded new personal bests in 56:51 and 57:18 respectively with fellow veterans Paul Restall, Pete Boardman, Dave Bailey and Terry Argyle all doing well, the latter pair making impressive debuts in this kind of race.

There was a change at the head of the ladies’ side as the improving Cheryl Dewis pipped her friend and work colleague Esther Holyoak to become first lady back for the club. Her time of 46:38 was another PB in a season littered with them and to achieve it on such a tough course made the feat all the more impressive. Both her and Holyoak (48:19) look well placed for individual honours once again this season as the league draws to a close on September 2nd. Nicki Bowman came up trumps yet again in 51:21 before Emma Masser once again showed what an asset she has been to the club since joining last year, finishing powerfully to earn a well deserved PB of 52:43. The cerebral Emma Vardy also managed a PB, this time in a fabulous 53:21 while BADGERS supremo and self-styled princess of pace, Karen Thompson showed Herculean fortitude to get round in 54:05 less than 24 hours after a marathon! Sarah Vine achieved a new best in 54:38 while top local hair stylist and salon owner Clare Whetton romped home in a superb 56:26. Helena Rean trotted round elegantly in (57:41) before heading off to win yet another golf trophy. Leesa Dennis dug deep to break the hour mark with fellow V40 stars Charlotte Oliver and Janet Crumpton following suit. Bev Spencer ran 63:38 with Katrina Dawson, Debbie Wilson, Mandy Hanson and Anne Devenney rounding up the action.

Away from the cut and thrust of the league, Rob Boland and the genial Maggi Savin-Baden were in action at the Notts 10 race chasing their club standards. The popular ten-mile race has moved to later in the year in 2018 and both BADGERS were able to achieve their aims around the fast, flat course at Holme Pierrepoint running 70:19 and 93:58 respectively. Popular club Chairperson Karen Thompson tackled the Birmingham Canal Canter marathon, the 49th of her incredible career, and finished in a little over four hours. Justin Haywood completed the Mudnificent 7 obstacle race.

At parkrun, there was double joy as both Sam Starkey and Jason Molloy triumphed at Kingsbury and Bedworth. Molloy made the most of a rare opportunity to race at parkrun and clocked an impressive 17:55 in his first crack at the 5K course in the Miner’s Welfare Park. The speedy Dave Hill (18:35) was in close attendance in third place with Mark Cox making 7th in 20:06. Holly Matts, Andy Smith and Teresa Buck also went. After waiting months for his first win, Starkey has clearly got a taste for success as he now has two to his name in quick succession. He was pushed hard at Kingsbury on Saturday but ended up eight seconds clear of second place in 18:17. Neil Clemons became the latest BADGER to join the sub 20 club notching up a fine PB of 19:45 in 7th spot. Tim Gould continues his comeback with a classy 21:34 while there is no stopping Rachael Shelton right now as she hared round in 23:02, the 5th fastest lady on the day.

Ashley Taylor, Lee Millership, John Restall, Matt Green, Colin Lees and David Craig all produced the goods with the revitalised Pete Boardman enjoying a new lease of life as he clocked 26:08, just shy of his PB. Amy Stredder performed well with Dave Bailey, Nicola Stanley (30:21 – PB), Karen Missen, Leesa Dennis, Amanda Gould and Tracy Piper (34:40 – PB) all running too. Peter Black and Claire Bradford finalised the activity.

Parkrun legend Richard Hill travelled to Dublin and ran a season’s best 24:23 at the St Anne’s parkrun while at Newtown, Dave Jarvis ran 23:19. Jonathan Davies turned out at Worcester, Jared Karim featured at Beeston while Eamon Lord-Thawley ran 27:31 at his beloved Sheringham parkrun. Kerry Clover, Alan Argyle and Paul Grubb turned out in force at Conkers while finally at Princes parkrun near Liverpool, Glyn Broadhurst ran a respectable 19:29. Nicki Bowman also ran, wind-assisted.