Week Ending - 2025/03/23

CRUMP BREAKS YET ANOTHER CLUB RECORD AT ASHBY 20

Badgers star Rachel Crump gave a virtuoso performance at the Ashby 20 helping herself to another club record as she took nine minutes off the V50 mark set by Anne Wells a decade ago at the Gloucester 20 race in 2015. She was one of a host of Badgers all battling their way around the undulating two lapper and the irrepressible Crump was quick to give thanks to teammates Sara Wilson and Chris Young who helped her complete the course in a marvellous time of 2:50:55. This was her second record in eight days following her Kibworth 6 heroics and even at the age of 54, hopes are high for a standout marathon time in Manchester next month. 

The first Badger over the line in the race was Luke Neal who ran a 17-second PB to take 86th place in a fine 2:18:03. He is another Badger on a seemingly endless list heading to Manchester in April and this run offers nothing but hope for a good result there. Chris Tweed will be attempting the Newport marathon in a few weeks, and he finished a minute behind Neal in 2:19:08, well inside the top 100, with marathon majors man and Boston USA 2025 entrant Mark Repton close behind 22 seconds later. London-bound Sam Starkey had to really grit his teeth on lap two as old injuries flared up once again, the Tamworth man still recording a gutsy 2:25:42 on the day ahead of his good friend and teammate Matt Green who at 47, continues to confound nature by smashing out another personal best, this time in 2:33:36, a quite astounding achievement from a runner with a wealth of race experience behind him. 

Wayne Repton too ran a PB of 2:37:42, six minutes quicker than in 2024 when his feats deservedly earned him the award for most improved male at the club. The previous year’s winner, Chris Young, chipped in with a PB of his own as he ran 2:41:54, another athlete using the event as a stepping stone to an April marathon. Second-claim athlete Lucy Marchi ran a brilliant 2:43:34 which was just inside the longest-standing club record of them all, the 20 Mile Senior, set and still held by Liz Peel with her fantastic run in the same event more than 12 years ago. 

Ashley Taylor got around in one piece seconds before the duo of Crump and Wilson crossed the line together to great acclaim. Jim Cottom (2:52) and Rachael Browne (3:06) each took nearly ten minutes off their previous bests with super runs. The experienced former chair Karen Thompson added to her hoody collection with a well-paced affair in 3:20, her friend and Aldi employee Serena Baker in close attendance. Faye Cruikshank was next through in a fine time of 3:23 before Krystal Knight took the tape three minutes quicker than her last attempt when she was training for the London marathon in 2024. This year’s marathoner Jill Miller, Ross Kilburn and Sharon Jackson finished as a trio in 3:43 with new signing Gary Bartlam, Debbie Bremner (4:03 - PB), Eve King and Gemma Spencer all completing the task in hand to earn their medals and bulk-bought casualwear. 

One Badger who has now finished his Spring marathon is the long-serving Paul Grubb, who casually jetted out to Malta for the 26.2-mile extravaganza there. Despite being a runner for many seasons now and being 48 years of age, the Warton-based sensation still managed to run a personal best time for the distance, coming home in a magnificent 4:17:37, testament to a really good training block over the winter. London-bound Bryony Sherwood put herself to the test at the Twin Lakes 20 and passed with flying colours as she completed her longest-ever run in a quality time of 3:36:53 in Milton Keynes. New Badger Rhys Hopwood tackled the Liverpool half marathon and emerged with a well-earned PB time of 1:55:12 and the Fradley 10K saw the esteemed David Craig lead the way for the club in a brisk 46:25. Veteran ace Mark Reynolds ran a fine personal best of 50:26 while Erica Bassford surprised herself by knocking three minutes off her old best as she coasted home in 52:53. Rick Reilly also ran a PB, dipping under the hour with a fantastic 58:40. Alastair McCallum, Carl Ford and Kieren Coopey were also in action. 

Parkrun saw plenty of action with Holly Smith making her 250th parkrun appearance, this time at Vicar Water parkrun and magical Merv Jones chalked up his 100th different venue with his run at Salcey Forest, two excellent achievements. At Walsall Arboretum, Chris Horton landed a surprise win at the fast three-lapper, making it eleven on the bounce. His time of 16:27 set yet another V50 club record and is the second fastest time of his career, amazing given he is 50 and had already raced the distance 228 times prior! He wasn’t the only winner on the morning as Liberty Underhill dominated proceedings at Babbs Mill with a rapid run to glory. Her 20:53 was too quick for the rest of the ladies racing at the event which saw teammates Glyn Broadhurst, Meg Griffiths and Alice Belcher all make the top ten. 

The speedy Stacey Horner also bagged a win over at Tamworth Castle Grounds in a quality time of 22:02. Joanne Crow and Yvonne Faulkner-Grant also enjoyed top ten finishes at Barmouth and Dewsbury respectively.