Week Ending - 2021/08/22

LAUNDE OF THE MANOR

Badgers made the long journey across to east Leicestershire to run in the second-ever Launde 6 road league race and emerged with some impressive successes in what is undoubtedly the most challenging race in the LRRL schedule. A number of runners were absent on the day leaving the side with just 20 runners in total, their lowest turnout in years for a league event, however, that did not stop in-form Matt Scarsbrook from putting in yet another barnstorming run at the head of the field. The Baddesley man was at the sharp end of the action once again, finishing in an excellent 33:42, less than a minute behind former France international athlete Ludovic Renou of Leicester Coritanians. The hilly surroundings lend for a very scenic race backdrop, but certainly do not help fast times which makes Scarsbrook’s run all the more remarkable, especially given as he shaved 12 seconds off Ryan Bennett’s club record set five and a half years ago. With veteran athletes making up the top three, he therefore scooped a medal as second senior male finisher as well as playing a crucial role in the men’s team of three that finished second in the team competition on the day, earning yet more silverware.

The second of that trio was Chris Horton who produced the club’s only Diamond standard run of the day. At twice the age of his team-mate Scarsbrook, he was no less determined in his bid for a high finish and looked back to his belligerent best with his sparkling time of 35:19 in 11^th spot. Club stalwart Danny Warren continued his upward curve with a brisk 37:21 beating off his New Street neighbour Adrian Payne in the process by the slender margin of nine seconds on the gun. Speedster Dave Hill made a welcome return to action ahead of his upcoming Iron Man triathlon to finish in 37:54, four places behind Warren.

New signing Ryan Preece made his league debut, something of a baptism of fire you might say, but he performed well enough to break 40 minutes in 55^th position (39:22) with evergreen Sam Starkey back in the fold, albeit unexpectedly (to him at least), with a respectable and hard-fought 39:32, two places behind. Carl Savage’s attempt to complete the race incognito was an epic fail, thanks to his new barnet, but his time of 42:11 was anything but that, another terrific effort from a man who has improved out of all recognition and thoroughly deserving his place in the top 100. Cameron Barnes chipped in with a tidy run of 43:04 and veteran Matt Green as ever gave 100% to manage 44:36. Form horse Ashley Taylor galloped home in 45:28 with Wayne Repton somehow producing a six-mile personal best in 47:35.

The ever-popular and slimmed down former club secretary David Craig was back in a Badgers vest at an LRRL event for the first time since 2019 and he produced a classy run of 47:40. Rob Crow moved himself into the top ten most capped Badgers men of all time with his appearance and delighted his teammates with a quality effort of 48:39, full of grit and determination. Veteran Mark Reynolds ran a handy 51:21 and headline writer’s dream John Shade, at age 75, came home in a marvellous 54:15 to continue to lead his age group in the overall standings.

The ladies team fielded the bare bones of a side with just four of the club’s 100+ female membership making it to the start line. Thankfully, all four finished the race and with impressive performances to boot too. Sarah Reynolds has been in great shape of late and it was no surprise to see her lead the team home with a fine 53:42. Veteran ace Janet Crumpton is another who has been improving recently and offered yet more evidence of such as she, like Wayne Repton before her, recorded a personal best on one of the most unlikely of courses. Leesa Dennis and Karen Draper, another who has improved out of all recognition, rounded up proceedings on the hour mark, all four scoring invaluable points for the club who sat third in their group going into the race, with only the top two guaranteed to qualify for the grand final.

Parkrun saw a host of Badgers churning out their Saturday morning 5K’s across a plethora of locations nationally. The club’s elite performance director Dave Jackson, returning from injury, dipped back under 20 minutes at Walsall Arboretum. Danny Warren ran a top ten finish at Kingsbury Water Park with his baby daughter in transit while Mark Repton (2^nd – 19:20), Sam Starkey and Austen Puleston all recorded high placings. Badgers key man and Manchester United supporter Glyn Broadhurst was the quickest of the weekend taking second spot away from home at Evesham in an impressive 18:14. Andy and Caroline Smith both bagged top ten finishes at Oaklands parkrun while Ian Orton was the furthest flung at Torbay Velopark. Next week is bank holiday weekend, for years synonymous with the semi-legendary Badgers Atherstone 10K race, but once again, Covid has forced its postponement until 2022 when the club will seek to resurrect the event in what will hopefully be safer, more certain times.