OVER 24 HOURS OF TRAIL AND HILLAGE…

YOU CANNOT BEAT THE PEOPLE OF VILLAGE!

The 10th running of the Continental 24-hour Thunder Run race at Catton Park took place at the weekend saw several BADGERS go west to experience the popular event that attracts clubs from all over the UK. Teams are challenged to complete as many laps of 10K as they can with the 24-hour timeframe and it was one of the BADGERS’ mixed teams of 8, named the Village People, that stole the show by taking first place with a mightily impressive 36 laps. This was the most laps achieved by any team irrespective of category and despite some top-quality competition, when female ace Nicki Bowman completed her final lap, the side had secured the win with the comfort of a full 10K lap advantage over their nearest challengers.

Late injury withdrawals had threatened to scupper the team’s dreams, but macho man Damo Taylor pulled some strings in order to field a strong outfit with veteran Heanor RC ace Gordy Smith filling in for the injured Mark Cox the day before the event. Action man Ryan Bennett went down very early on in the race although more “in the gravy” style than “in the navy” but continued on his merry way when the referee waved play on. Club stalwarts Danny Warren and Glyn Broadhurst were joined by men’s captain Adi Payne and fellow Baddesley flyer Aaron Chetwynd as the team took an early lead that they never relinquished. Covering an incredible 223 miles between them over tricky but thankfully dry terrain, the semi-bashful octet fully deserved their moment of glory, spraying champagne atop the winner’s podium early Sunday afternoon.

In the Ladies solo category, Monika Lampart produced a stunning individual performance to end up second overall with an incredible 15 laps (93 miles). What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that just two years ago, there were major question marks over whether she would be able to compete again after undergoing major reconstructive surgery on her injured knee. The indefatigable personal trainer worked tirelessly to regain her fitness and develop extra strength in order to protect her knee and this is hopefully just the start of things to come.

Clare Whetton produced 4 laps in her team of 8’s outstanding effort. Her outfit comprising Stuart Walton, Jo Hardy, Sam Klucis, Gavin Crockwell, Yvonne Faulkner, Vicky Cawley and marathon man Adie Kirkham completed a very respectable 22 laps between them while there were also two teams of five making a good fist of matters. The men’s team of Keir Hardy, Alan Argyle, Rob Crow, Eamon Thawley and the up and coming Simon Currier amassed a magnificent 24 laps with the mixed five of Chris Upton, Serena Baker, Ashley Taylor, Dave Jarvis and Stefan Martin racked up a superb 23 laps in total. Away from the racing, young BADGER sisters Sophie and Olivia Hardy along with their friend Amber Thawley raised an impressive £25.46 for the race charity “Ride for Charlie” thanks to their enterprising bingo game organising.

Away from the thick of the off-road action, Chris Horton was in action at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds for the annual One Mile race held there, part of the Gloucestershire County Championships and finished 10th in a race of high quality. His finish time of 4:52 was not only a personal best for the 43-year-old but a new overall club record too, disproving the theory that you lose speed as you get older. Fellow speed-smith Chris Baxter bagged himself second place in the Nottingham Summer Series 5K in a quick time of 17:09 while Aaron Chetwynd matched the feat in the Leicester equivalent race a day later, running a tremendous 16:47, narrowly being pipped by Hermitage Harriers ace Alex Cumming. Mark Repton was there too as he helped himself to a PB of 19:44 while Ashley Taylor clocked an impressive 21:39 ahead of the in-form Cheryl Dewis who ran a PB of 22:04 to finish third lady – a brilliant achievement. Sarah Jane Chetwynd rounded up a fine evening with a top quality PB of her own, nailing her time of 26:18 in her first season as BADGERS Ladies Captain.

At the Long Lane 5-mile Dash in Kegworth, Bev Spencer and Janet Crumpton both ran 49:16 while Liz Peel notched up her 46th marathon and Karen Thompson her 48th, in the Lucky Dip marathon in Northampton, running 5:34 apiece. Jimmy Dewis finished a noteworthy 12th in 64:55 and Si Gilbert 75:04 in the Ashby Triathlon.

At parkrun, there was once again plenty going on. Sam Starkey has been knocking at the door for weeks now and finally his chance came at Kingsbury on Saturday as he swept to a well deserved first place in 18:32. Team-mate David McGowan also made the top ten finishing 8th in 20:08 with a resurgent Matt Green eking his way back to full fitness in 21:06. Cameron Barnes has been training hard over the past few weeks and his reward came in the shape of a 21:36 PB for 5K. Colin Lees, Tim Gould, Neil Clemons, Shaun Coyle, Lee Millership and Paul Grubb all ran well while for the ladies, Sarah Vine was first back in 26:11 ahead of the improving Charlene Dunn and the athletic Rachael Shelton. Young Evie Whitehead produced another strong run in 27:52 while Sam Klucis, veteran Paul Restall, Jason Husselbee-Orwin, Nicola Stanley, Pete Boardman, Terry Argyle and Amanda Gould all got round safely. Other runners included Lisa Barnes (34:13 – PB), Anne-Marie Dittman, Tracy Piper, Mandy Hanson, Pam Bridgwood, Karly Cooper (PB), Paul Cooper, Karen Draper, Peter Black, Gavin Clegg and Hannah Coogan.

Adam McElhone led the way at Conkers with a barnstorming effort, closely followed by Katrina Dawson, John Dulson, Leesa Dennis, Dave Bailey and Eileen McElhone. Jonathan Davies appeared at Worcester with the trusty club treasurer / membership axis of Jared Karim and Richard Hill running at Coventry. At nearby Bedworth, Rob Boland was in fine form as he powered his way home in 5th position (20:42) and Matt Tonks began his comeback after a recent spell on the side lines. Karen Missen and Gail Gunn did their bit with popular club chairperson Karen Thompson following through soon after. Finally, at Market Harborough, Holly Matts, Andy Smith and Claire Bradford all went.