Week Ending - 2023/06/18

DOUBLE DELIGHT AT RUGBY PARKRUN

Finishing first at parkrun is always an impressive achievement but to have the first male and the first female at the same event is a particularly rare thing and that is exactly what happened at Rugby parkrun on Saturday as a troupe of Badgers headed over to the east of Warwickshire to see what they could do. Dave Hill coasted to victory overall in a speedy time of 17:05, comfortably clear of his nearest challenger on what is not the fastest course in the world. The in-form Polesworth man is rarely out of the top end of proceedings at parkrun and this was no exception. First lady back was Liberty Underhill who continues to go from strength to strength. Her winning time of 21:34 was a new personal best and she joins a select group of Badger ladies who can lay claim who have won a parkrun either at home or abroad. Her improvement this season has been nothing short of remarkable and is a testament to her attitude and endeavour. Sam Starkey ran a quality 20:10 to make the top ten and with Jim Cottom (21:19) and Matt Green (22:01) close behind, Badgers were all over the top end of the race. Megan Griffiths took 4th female in 23:06 and Rachael Browne, Sharon Jackson and firefighting Nicki Bowman all stormed into the top 25. There were good runs for Terry Taylor, Lil Souter and Laura Starkey too. 

There was another large gathering at Arrow Valley near Redditch with Ashley Taylor operating solidly to lead the club home in 20:32. He was followed by the likes of fellow solid operators such as Colin Lees, Dave Purvis and a resurgent Paul Cooper clocking 24:46. Pip Weston was first back for the ladies ahead of newcomer Danni Gunn, super Sarah Vine, marathon runner Ann-Marie Currier with Carl Savage and Martin Graham both getting round, the latter via racewalking no less. 

The largest turnout of Badgers once again was at Kingsbury Water Park with Chris Horton taking 3rd place and Chris Tweed making 10th place in 19:24, just three seconds shy of his course best. Mark and Wayne Repton went well alongside Neil Thorne, David Craig and Andy Altoft. There was delight in the Gutheridge household as firstly Bill bagged a season’s best time of 21:18 before his wife Alicia romped to a new personal best of 28:03, a fantastic achievement again borne out of dedication and hard work. Mick Bailey ran 24:20 to improve his own V70 parkrun club record, yet another terrific effort from the Kingsbury resident in good form even into his eighth decade.  Jill Miller, Eamon Thawley, Nick Miles, Jo Horton, Vikki Smith and Ivana Babicova all battled around the two-lap course.

Elsewhere, Kate Rathbone dipped under 35 minutes for the first time ever with a great run at Bedworth, Danny Warren took second at the hilliest of them all, the Whinlatter Forest parkrun in Cumbria with Jo Hardy, Jo Davies, Eileen McElhone, Leesa Dennis, Karen Draper, Janet Crumpton and the magical Merv Jones all getting involved at Abbey Park parkrun. 

On the road, there were runs for Adam McElhone, Adrian Parkes, Holly & Andy Smith, Stuart Batchelor and Anna Savin-Baden. Last but not least is David Grant who clocked up his full set of parkrun alphabet, running an event (barring the impossible letter X) at events beginning with every letter of the alphabet. His trip to Zielony Jar in Poland rounded off a heap of exploration and he was rewarded with a top ten finish too in 24:20 with his new wife Yvonne joining him for the journey in 29:24. 

In other races, Wayne Repton ran a half marathon PB in 1:46:30 in the Redditch half on Sunday while the pacy Kat Wilson bagging a 5-mile best at Beacon Hill in 46:34 in the Rise of the Phoenix race. 50K was the distance for the Chichester-based Race To The King ultra event. Three Badgers ran, first back in 11:05:13 was Anne-Marie Matthews in a course best with Vicky Brunsdon and Vicky Jennings running together in 11:58:06.