Week Ending - 2023/12/31

BADGERS MAKE A SPLASH AT THE HUNCOTE HASH

A month plus of wet weather led to the year-ending cross-country Huncote Hash race being the wettest on record but that did not deter numerous Badgers from taking part in the energy-sapping event in West Leicestershire which prides itself on being “no frills”.. 

Chasing the cash, in second place was Dave Hill who ran a terrific race only to discover there was no prize money on offer at this event, only soup. Looking flash, and not far behind him, Danny Warren was in his element ploughing through ditches and saturated farmland. 

Others included the often brash Colin Lees, the occasionally rash Paul Cooper and the prone-to-crash Cameron Barnes. And if you think we have run out of Huncote Hash rhymes, then think again as we found a secret stash to include Judy Parkes who amazingly avoided a date clash, Rachael Browne, fresh from being out on the lash and Peter Mann who, had he done Movember, who have no doubt sported a moustache. Jill Miller finished the race with a brisk dash and in form Suzy Farrell’s running shoes were so muddy after the race, she threw them in the trash.

Stefan Martin gave his new Vapourflys a thrash, Sharon Jackson felt like a character off M*A*S*H and Charlotte Oliver enjoyed a free but muddy wash. I’ll get my dry-robe.

In other events, Dave Grant and Yvonne Faulkner Grant ran the Wheaton Aston 10K in times of 47:20 and 59:58 respectively. Holly and Andy Smith both completed the Newcastle Town Moor half in 2:25 on New Year’s Eve. 

There were parkruns galore over the festive season and it was my intention to mention each and every runner. However, poor planning led to a last-minute rush making it very difficult to garner every required detail so the remainder of this report will be limited to a brief synopsis of the highlights from the two Saturdays, Christmas day and New Year’s which all held events across a ten day period. Dave Hill rounded off a stellar year with a fine 3rd place at Beeston parkrun with Glyn Broadhurst finishing well in 8th. Megan Griffiths made second spot at Rosliston with Suzy Farrell getting third at Market Bosworth. Jill Miller and Sam Starkey also made the top ten at Dishley and Tamworth respectively. 

Hill also helped himself to another first place on December 23rd with a classy performance at Forest Rec. Danny Warren, Adrian Payne, Griffiths and Miller also hit the top ten heights at Kingsbury with Jim Cottom doing similarly at Battlestead Croft. Maggi Savin Baden ran her best time in months with her pacy 28:22 at Oaklands just before the year was out. The brilliant baking boffin, a professor at Oxford University no less, is still the only female Badger to have won a parkrun overall, regardless of gender and the former multiple club record holder was back in action on New Year’s Day at Bedworth as well as celebrating her 100th parkrun on Christmas Day with her daughter Anna matching the achievement. The well-liked duo were joined by Jo and Rob Crow, who tied the knot in 2023, Judy and Adrian Parkes, Nicki Bowman, Megan Griffiths, Suzy Farrell and Martin Graham. Oh, and Dave Hill who won the race in 16:31. Hill made it three wins from a possible four with an easy win at Gedling to start the year as he means to carry on. Glyn Broadhurst finished fourth in the same event with a sick run.