Year Ending - 2019/12/31

NEW YEAR – NEW ATTENDANCE RECORDS

2020 began with a surge of excitement as record numbers of runners gathered at many of our local parkruns. Kingsbury Water Park race director Hannah Coogan and her hardworking team of volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that a staggering 824 runners were able to enjoy their 5K run, many of whom had travelled from neighbouring Conkers which saw a mammoth 977 people descend upon their turf earlier the same morning. The staggered start times enabled many runners to complete the now famous New Year’s Day double.

Kingsbury saw the biggest Badgers turnout with some 62 members tackling the flat but greasy woodland route. First back for the club in 6^th place overall was former male model Chris Horton (18:05) with team-mate Dave Hill also making the top ten with his speedy 18:58. Matt Tonks has had ten wins here previously and he took a respectable 12^th place in 19:00 as he hopes to build on his recent rehabilitation into 2020. The up and coming Mark Repton also broke 20 minutes on less than the freshest of legs as he galloped home in an impressive 19:45 ahead of Keir Hardy, Graham Engley, Tim Gould, Leon Millership, Colin Lees and the brave Matt Green who hung on grimly with a gluteal problem. Others who made it back included Wayne Repton, David Craig, Ian Orton, Mick Bailey and the reliable Bill Gutheridge.

Sharon Jackson was first female Badger back in a quality 24:47, enough to earn the veteran athlete 15^th place overall in her gender. Plucky Steve Wilson made the trip as he begins his London Marathon training in earnest and Richard Chester put in the second of two brisk efforts in close succession, tickling his PB for the second time on the same morning. Men’s captain Simon Currier put in a shift ahead of Lee Talbot, Darryl Johnson, Dean Bowd and Adam McElhone. For the ladies, Pip Weston was in top form once again with fellow vets Esther Holyoak, Jo Davies and Judy Parkes all going well. The athletic Rachael Shelton looked good once again as she finished along with the Steed of Speed Gavin Crockwell, the indomitable Rob Crow, noble Lord Eamon Thawley, Paul Wallace, Merv Jones, Lil Souter and Paul & Mandy Restall.

There was no steward’s enquiry as Stephanie White had something of a mare as she galloped round in some equine themed fancy dress along with Nivette Chester. Jo Hardy showed her class as she got round alongside Nicola Stanley with Dave Bailey, Pete Boardman, Debbie Wilson and Peter Black also in close attendance. Prosecco prince John Dulson, aka J-Dizzle, was full of Hogmanay fuelled fizzle and he was kept company by the lovely Zoe Cope. Popular club chairperson Karen Thompson tore it up in her 108^th parkrun, the super-fit mum of two leading through many Badger troops including Amanda Gould, Terry Argyle, Ann-Marie Currier, Teresa Satchell, Leesa Dennis, Rachel Hudspith and the two Vikki’s, Smith and Fowler. The dazzling Clare Whetton made a rare appearance, the hardworking hairdresser often works Saturdays, so she for one made the most of her time away from her salon. Husband and wife duo Craig and Lisa Barnes did well with Mark Robinson, Matt Jackson, Vicky Jennings and Sarah O’Donoghue also doing their bit for the Badger cause.

There were ten Badgers bossing it at Sutton Park. In form Dave Hill has taken over ten minutes off his 5K best since starting out running and here he shone brightly yet again with a nippy 18:39 in 7^th position overall. Matts Jackson and Green were also in good form with Tim Gould tucked in behind on his first leg of a two-part double. Rachael Shelton, Sharon Jackson, Lil Souter, Peter Black, Vicki Jennings and Sue Thould all made it round with many going on to repeat the feat at Kingsbury shortly afterwards. Jared Karim and Yvonne Faulkner saw the New Year in at the South Manchester / Northwich combination with bearded legend Simon Gilbert accomplishing a similar feat between Stratford and Leamington Spa. Jenna Davies was smashing it out of the park too, first Badger back at firstly Hanley and then The Wammy parkrun, the pacy mum of two thraping her Mini Cooper to oblivion in between to make the impossible possible. Anne-Marie Matthews, Holly McClay and Andy Smith attempted the Ferry Meadows / Rutland Water double which saw the popular Smith bring up the milestone of his 200^th run, a great achievement despite a bad back. Karen Missen ran Chasewater as she continues to make progress. Stuart Youngs ran at Victoria Park in Leicester and Sarah Vine appeared at Brighton and Hove. Rosliston saw Paul Grubb, Stuart Walton, John & Anne Devenney and Mark & Sarah Reynolds all turn out. Having secured a new sponsorship deal with Baron St Jean, the club’s elite performance director David Jackson was all set for a cloaca-busting effort but ultimately did not run due to wanting to keep his new pumps from getting muddy.

With 977 participants, Conkers was the 6^th biggest parkrun in the world on the day (Kingsbury came in at 19^th) and competition to get a good starting position was as challenging as the run itself for many! First home for the club was the experience Matt Tonks, celebrating moving into a new age bracket with a rip-snorting 18:25 to bag 17^th place overall. Mark Repton ran a course best in 18:54 with Carl Holyoak smashing out a season’s best in 21:50. Wayne Repton performed admirably ahead of Paul Wallace, Mick Bailey and the brave Colin Lees. Nivette Chester was first lady back in 23:47, 14^th overall with husband Richard following faithfully in behind. Ian Orton, Eamon Thawley, Darryl Johnson and Lee Talbot all made hay with Dave Bailey, Nicola Stanley, John Devenney, Lisa Barnes and Karen Thompson all impressing in their own inimitable style. And what style.

Club great Jason Husselbee-Orwin was buzzing after finishing what was his 200^th parkrun taking him to joint 6^th on the all-time list. Andy Venney was back at it in 2020, accompanied by Terry Argyle, Clare Whetton, Leesa Dennis and the steady Zoe Cope. Pete Boardman, Maggi Savin-Baden, Paul Grubb, Bill Gutheridge and John Dulson rounded up the rest of the incredible action on yet another fantastic day of running that will live long in the memory.