Week Ending - 2022/05/01

BADGERS BRANCHING OUT ON BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

The three-day weekend saw some extra races to be run as Badgers saw their members spread far and wide covering a variety of challenges. The high-profile Birmingham Half saw seven runners head to the second city with Dave McGowan first back in 79:20. Matt Green clocked 1:37:04 with fellow vet Bill Gutheridge running the second quickest half of his career in 1:39:20. It was a good day for Andy Altoft as he scooped a PB of 1:49:38 and Adam McElhone was also in a celebratory mood as he ran 32 seconds over two hours on his 54^th birthday. Katrina Dawson was first female Badger back in 2:20:19 while Rich Boyd tackled the 10K discipline coming home in just under the hour (59:30).

The midweek Bluebell Challenge at nearby Hartshill Hayes sold out with a handful of Badgers giving the six hour yompathon a go enjoying stunning scenery but perhaps not enjoying as much the tortuous hilly terrain. Ryan Preece came for almost everyone but fell agonisingly short of first position clocking up 30-odd miles as he finished in a gutsy second place overall. Chris Tweed ran a superb 32.5 miles to take 8^th place, the furthest he has ever run continuously. Ashley Taylor managed a respectable 20.7 miles in three and a half hours and the globetrotting Liz Peel notched up another half marathon distance. Clare Whetton and Karen Thompson also clocked up some significant miles.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge race is another huge challenge, attracting endurance athletes from around the UK. Badgers sent Adrian Payne and Mark Cox into battle, the two goliaths of endurance evenly matched in terms of pace. In the end, it was Payne who showed he could handle Cox pretty impressively, claiming 58^th place overall in 3:52. His Stoke Golding based team mate wasn’t far behind, running a marvellous 4:01 in 83^rd. At the Livingston Relays in Leicester, Badgers vet ladies fielded a trio who managed a fine 79 minute aggregate time. Sharon Jackson, Caroline Smith and Stephanie White all representing the club in fine style on Saturday. The Milton Keynes marathon saw Russell Lomas record a distance PB in 4:19:35, Stephanie Attenborough also went.

At parkrun, there was plenty of action with firmer ground and warmer weather greeting runners at the popular Kingsbury Water Park. There it was Mark Repton who led the club home, in second place overall with his time of 19:09, a good effort with a very recent marathon in his legs. Ashley Taylor ran a course best in 20:19 to take 8^th overall with Neil Thorne, Steve Perry, Oliver Birch, David Craig, Paul Wallace and Jill Miller all going well. They were accompanied by Andy Smith and Lil Souter.

Sam Starkey was back in the business end of the event at Oaklands with a strong second place showing in 18:31. Veteran ace Mick Bailey, who turns 70 next year ran a remarkable 22:29 to take 7^th position overall with Peter Mann, Fiona Reidy and Teresa Satchell all featuring. Dave Purvis made a good fist of things with his 24:17 at Woodgate Valley. Cameron Barnes ran an excellent 19:26 to finish fourth overall at Conkers ahead of former club chairperson Karen “KT” Thompson. Mick Judd ran at Woodhouse Moor and Mark Reynolds starred at Markeaton parkrun.

Rapid Rachael Shelton was third lady at Dudley with a swift time of 24:19 while Yvonne Faulkner and Zoe Yeatman ran Pontypridd to complete the four course full-Ponty parkrun challenge. Tim Gould made the top ten with a handy run of 21:53 at Rosliston, trailed by John & Anne Devenney, Sarah Vine, Ivana Babicova, Amanda Gould and Paul Cooper. Colin Lees flew the flag once again at Babbs Mill with the Restall brothers getting stuck in at Chasewater.

Maggi Savin Baden ran at the Carrickfergus parkrun, the published academic also making the top ten with her time of 28:45. Andy & Holly Smith both travelled to the Wyre Forest while Merv Jones, Karen Draper, Janet Crumpton and Leesa Dennis could all be found at sunny Sutton. Last but by no means least, Glyn Broadhurst came 5^th at Ludlow and Nicki Bowman a fine 7^th female as the club rounded up a good week’s action on the road.