BADGERS SET FOR CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESS

Badgers began the defence of their Derby Runner Cross Country League in fine style at the season’s opener at the new Launde Farm course near Uppingham. Some 47 Badgers made the long journey on the furthermost part of the patch on a cold and crisp autumnal morning, made more bearable by the clear blue skies and stunning rolling scenery.

Skipper Adi Payne did a tremendous job rallying his side who were without last season’s star man Ryan Bennett and key man Glyn Broadhurst, both enjoying some father and son time in Turkey together. Runners were thankful for the dry underfoot conditions which allowed some mild respite from the severe gradients that lay in wait. Danny Warren was first back for the club, hanging on grimly in the latter stages for a gutsy 10^th place. It was very much a team effort from the men as five runners finished almost en-bloc. Key-man Chris Horton made a rare appearance, even donning Warren’s shoes for the occasion, rolling home a few seconds behind his team-mate in 11^th place with Badger of the Year Aaron Chetwynd a superb 12^th. The impressive Jason Molloy was one place behind in 13^th and new signing Gordy Smith made a classy debut in 15^th position. The skipper himself showed his finesse posting a career-high finish of 32^nd spot while “I-Ron Man” Ron Mahoney manfully filed the void left by Broadhurst in 59^th with Neil Clemons five places back scoring points in his very first league race for the club.

Ex-Nuneaton Boro star Jimmy Dewis turned key man once again and took 84^th place, a terrific run from the veteran before Mark Repton got home ahead of team-mate Graham Engley who ran well. Rugged Roland Bulgington took time out of his busy day of chatting incessantly to battle round the 5.6-mile course with cohorts Andy Orchard, Bob Dawe and big David Earp who were all left somewhat speechless by comparison. Young youth Cameron Barnes gave a good showing as did seasoned campaigner Rob Crow. 16-year-old Tobey Brain had a baptism of fire but emerged with great credit with his fine performance, finishing ahead of the experienced John Restall, darts ace Paul Grubb, Simon Currier and Pete Boardman. Eamon Thawley is the club’s most experienced cross-country runner and even he found life tough on the hills but finished strongly nonetheless alongside Paul Restall, Jason Husselbee-Orwin and the popular Rob “Ice-Man” Frost who made a welcome return to race action after a lengthy spell on the side-lines.

Sarah-Jane Chetwynd’s ladies’ side were very well represented and once again were indebted to their golden generation who once again led the team home. It was top Stockingford crimper Cheryl Dewis who was first back in an exceptional 15^th place with her esteemed Trendz colleague Esther Holyoak back with a spring in her step a few spots behind in a game 20^th. Emma Masser showed that her great debut season was no fluke by breaking the top 50 yet again, a feat shared by V50 ace Steph White who clearly has no plans to start slowing down just yet. Becky Kinson has travelled a long and winding road back from injury and she looked back near her best in 61^st place. Sarah Vine showed great determination ahead of Anna Dawe, both relative newcomers making the top 100, an excellent achievement.

These performances were complemented by more good runs from the likes of Lottie Farmer, Jenna Davies, Jo Hardy and Leesa Dennis. Dawn Cross showed real courage as she got around the 5.6-mile course and Sam Klucis too looked good, cheered home by several family members. Yvonne Feasey, Gail Gunn, Nivette Chester and Maggi Savin-Baden all trucked home with Zoe Cope assisting the hardworking Jo Davies back to competitive action after a tortuous few months out with a foot problem. Lisa Barnes ran well as did brave skipper Chetwynd.

At Prestwold near Loughborough, ten Bagers turned out for the Leicestershire 10K with Chris Baxter in top form running a super time of 35:42 to take 8^th place. Sam Starkey was another runner on song as he clocked 39:43 and David Craig is once again heading in the right direction after his terrific 46:16. Fellow veteran John Hanson is another whose star is in the ascendancy as he bagged a marvellous time of 48:29, rich reward for months of hard work and dedication. Richard Hill ran a gritty 54:18 with Mandi Stain, Terry Argyle (both 61:08), Nicola Stanley (62:04) and Eileen McElhone (75:24 -PB) all going well. Vicki Fowler rounded up the action in 77:11.

Gavin Crockwell turned on the style at the Rugby Half, helping himself to yet another top time of 1:41:44 as a sub 1:40 time in 2019 looks inevitable. The Snowdon marathon took place on Saturday and while it may not be the fastest course, it surely ranks as once of the most picturesque. Stefan Martin made his marathon debut and what a debut it was. He was first Badger back in a quality time of 4:02:30. Club coach Nivette Chester was next over the line in 4:07:06 with Simon Gilbert running 4:18:10, his quickest over the distance. Adie Kirkham cranked yet another one out as he ran 4:19:35, his 100^th marathon now within sniffing distance. Alan Argyle cranked another one out too, this time in 4:34:22 before Holly Matts and Andy Smith crossed the line together in 6:15:28. Anne-Marie Matthews turned out too making 7:06:44.

There was plenty of parkrun action over the weekend too as a plethora of runners to the parks of the nation for their regular 5K Saturday morning fix. At Kingsbury Water Park, Chris Horton (17:24) took his 13^th first place finish in 87 runs at the venue, over a minute clear of second place. Mark Repton snuck under 20 minutes by just one second as he landed 6^th place while new boy Graham Engley impressed with his time of 21:00 in 12^th position. Tobey Brain ran an excellent 21:22 before old warhorse John Hanson battled home in a terrific 23:48 as he closes in on his 250^th appearance. There were strong showings from Lee Millership, Pete Boardman, Eamon Thawley, Darryl Johnson and the Restall brothers. Judy Parkes was first lady back in 26:27 ahead of veteran Sarah Vine, Rachael Shelton and Leesa Dennis. David Dugmore dug deep while Jason Husselbee-Orwin was buzzing after his latest efforst. Terry Argyle, David Buck, Nicola Stanley and David Bailey all got round safely while Liz Peel swapped her mortar board for running shoes as she notched up her 134^th event. Tracy Piper, Paul Cooper, Peter Black, Vikki Smith, Mandy Hanson and Anne Devenney all featured. Yvonne Feasey, Paul Grubb and Hannah Coogan all got involved with the Hallowe’en themed run too.

The streamlined Chris Baxter provided the quickest run of the day at Conkers clocking a rapid 17:07 as he finished third in a good field. Sam Klucis was first female home with Cameron Barnes, Yvonne Faulkner and Karen Missen all prominent. At Worsley Woods, Amy Stredder powered home in 25:36 while veteran boffin Maggi Savin-Baden ran 29:21 at Leamington. Ian Orton led a trio of Bagers home at Rosliston running 22:37 with Jared Karim (23:45) and Richard Hill (27:08) also making the trip. Finally, six Badgers starred at Bedworth with the talkative Robert Boland providing pacing duties of all things coming through in 22:06 and fellow pacer Gavin Crockwell bang on the money in 24:00. Janet Crumpton ran well, and Gail Gunn went like a bullet after shooting off at the start. Zoe Cope defied the critics once again as she showed her raw pace searing through the field with Jenna Davies storming through like prime-time Kris Akabusi without the baton (or hurdles) to round up a busy week for the omnivorous nocturnal animal monikered outfit.