YOU DO RUN RUN RON, YOU DO RUN RON

Badgers multi-sport star Ron Mahoney helped himself to another respectable finish at the weekend in the gruelling Buff Winter Trail half marathon set in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. The challenging and highly scenic 13.1-mile multi terrain course attracted some 630 athletes from across the country and 46 year old Mahoney finished in a superb 52^nd place overall thanks to his terrific time of 1:51:49. His Tamworth based sidekick Justin Haywood was in close pursuit clocking a tremendous 1:56:19 to come 72^nd in the race despite feeling under the weather. The industrious Dave Jenkinson once again performed well too, emerging in great credit thanks to his time of 2:06:49. Nivette Chester was the sole female Badger in action amongst the men and ended up 30^th lady overall in the race with her time of 2:08:16, a great effort for the V45 runner. Her husband Richard got round in 2:44:43, a fine accomplishment as he continues his recovery from a heart attack in 2018.

Three Badgers took on the It’s Grim Up North marathon, oddly enough located in the Midlands at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottinghamshire. Popular club Chairperson Karen Thompson, veteran Alan Argyle and the eminent Professor of Pace Liz Peel all succeeding in negotiating the flat 26.2-mile lakeside course.

In the USA, specifically Rougemont, North Carolina, Angela Stallings clocked 1:56 in the Little River 10-mile trail race. The popular one-time club Membership Secretary spent five years living in the UK before heading back to America with her husband’s work but remains a valued member, competing under the Badgers banner, a group that will always remain close to her heart.

As usual there was a plethora of path pounding on the parkrun circuit. Chris Baxter was once again the highest finisher with his 2^nd place at Conkers (17:11) which saw Katrina Dawson, Andy Venney, Vikki Smith and Chris Upton all attend. Ann-Marie Currier was first Badger back at Coventry parkrun while Glyn Broadhurst romped to a sterling sixth place at Sutton Park in 19:40 with Nicki Bowman and Debbie Wilson also featuring.

Colin Lees, Ian Orton and Nicola Orton all travelled to the spectacularly busy Cannon Hill parkrun in Birmingham which saw almost 1000 runners converge there. Lees was first back in a respectable 23:34, seven seconds ahead of Ian Orton but such was the standard, this only earned him 192^nd place on the day! Rosliston saw Graham Engley in good form, running 21:24 at the challenging course there with John Hanson continuing his rich vein of form in 22:18. Big Stuart Walton and Mandy Hanson also ran. Jon Davies turned out again at Worcester while Vicki Fowler flew the flag at Telford. Andy Smith and Holly Matts got round safely at Churchfields Farm while the Steed of Speed Gavin Crockwell bossed the show at Bedworth becoming first Bager back in 22:05, an event that saw Adam McElhone, Karen Draper, Richard Hamblett, Zoe Cope and Jenna Davies also take part.

At Kingsbury Water Park, Sam Starkey led the black and white cherge finishing in 6^th position overall in 18:27. Matt Green pipped fellow vet Tim Gould by four seconds to steal a place while Cameron Barnes tore it up in 21:42. Former men’s captain Carl Holyoak made a promising return to his former speedy self in 21:57 ahead of his wife Esther who finished 7^th female in 23:19. Rachael Shelton bagged herself a top ten finish in 23:26. Other runners included Matt Jackson, David Craig, Sarah Vine, Leesa Dennis, Fiona Meldrum and Darryl Johnson. Young Evie Whitehead recorded her fastest time in weeks as she got home in 27:50. Seasoned campaigner Terry Argyle, Nicola Stanley, Karen Missen and David Bailey all following through behind. The pugnacious John Dulson was next to finish, in 30:07 ahead of Amanda Gould, Glen Thomas, Jo Hardy, Lesley Palmer, Alex Ladkin and Helen Smith. Finally, a special mention to Lisa Barnes (31:45) who is clearly on the up after recording her 9^th PB in the last twelve outings at Kingsbury, a terrific effort from the Atherstone based star.