Week Ending - 2019/12/29

BARNES-STORMING RUN FOR CAM AT HUNCOTE HASH

Cameron Barnes has had a superb 2019 running wise and he capped a fine year with a terrific run at the Huncote Hash off road 6.5-mile race on Sunday. Now the club’s youngest and newest Run-leader, the 21-year-old Leicester City fan stormed back in a marvellous 56:34 to take 66th place in the challenging yet hugely popular mud-fest. He spearheaded a team including Colin Lees, Rob Crow and his aunt, Jo Hardy, not to mention his proud mum Lisa. Nivette Chester was first back for the Badgers ladies with Steph White in close company and husband Richard following faithfully behind.

In addition to this race, there was more than a sprinkling of action at parkrun over the festive period. Colin Lees led home ten other Badgers on Christmas Day at Conkers, Wayne Repton, John & Anne Devenney, Eamon Thawley, Dave Jenkinson, Richard & Nivette Chester, Steph White, Terry Argyle and Richard Hill all doing their bit. Sharon Jackson took 7th female in the Barnsley Christmas Day parkrun with a great time of 25:10 – a course best for the determined Yorkshire lass.

On Saturday, there was a bumper turnout at both Conkers and Kingsbury with full-time club hunk and eligible bachelor Adi Payne impressing all with a swift 19:26 in 10th place. Dug Ladkin capped a fine year in 20:23 just behind with Jack & Mark Reynolds, Terry Argyle, Dave Bailey, Sarah Vine, Nicola Stanley, Sarah Jane Chetwynd, Karen Missen, Ann-Marie Currier, Zoe Cope, Leesa Dennis, ex-local football star Merv Jones and the pugnacious Paul Cooper all getting round safely.

Mark Repton took 7th place overall at Kingsbury in 19:53 with a mince-pie and red wine laden Sam Starkey also going well in 11th. Graham Engley, Carl Holyoak, Matt Green, the reliable Bill Gutheridge, Lee Millership, Wayne Repton and Mick Bailey all put in decent performances. The wet conditions did not deter Paul Wallace from having a good run while Sharon Jackson continues her good form with yet another top ten finish at the Water Park, this time in 24:13 (8th place) flanked by her son Matthew. Mark Darby made a welcome return to action with David Craig, the indomitable Ashley Taylor, Rachael Shelton, Dean Bowd, Darryl Johnson and Amanda Gould all breaking 30 minutes. Peter Black, Teresa Satchell, Vikki Smith, the waspish Jason Husselbee-Orwin, Stefan Martin, John Hanson and Mandy Hanson all made it back safely with Mark Robinson (61:29) rounding things up for the club.

Neil Clemons enjoyed a super run at Chasewater as he took seventh place overall in a quality 19:24 ahead of teammates Ian Orton and the legendary Colin Lees. At Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, Holly McClay and Andy Smith both got round safely despite a bad back between them. Pip Weston took 6th female at Llanerchaeron parkrun in Wales with her dazzling time of 25:32. Jenny Davies tore it up at Irchester County parkrun and Pete Coogan led home a clutch of colleagues inclusive of Paul Hadland, Emma Masser and Hannah Coogan at the friendly Bedworth event. Lil Souter was in action at Castle Park near Bishop’s Stortford and Gervase Lancaster was first Badger back at Shrewsbury. At Queen Elizabeth parkrun near Horndean, Nivette Chester finished an impressive third lady in 24:38 with husband Richard following faithfully in behind. Finally, at Brixworth Country Park, the popular Jared Karim went well as did fellow Badgers Richard Hill and Eamon Thawley.