MATT’S MADE IT – SATISFACTION FOR JACKSON

Badgers youngster Matt Jackson got his first taste of race success at the weekend with a terrific third place in the Robin Hood Trail 5K race near Mansfield. The 14-year-old has made excellent progress since joining Badgers earlier in the year and has more than held his own against runners much older than him. His time of 20:05 was not only a PB over the distance but surely also a taste of things to come if he continues to work hard and develop. To gain a podium place in an adult’s race so soon after taking up running shows how much potential he has, and proud parents Ian and Sharon were in attendance competing in the 10K race at the same event, emerging in a respectable 58:45.

Chris Baxter went back to his home town at the Shepshed 7 and featured in the prize money if not the podium thanks to his rapid time of 41:45, bagging him seventh spot in a quality field on the day. Former Hinckley RC ace Nivette Chester was able to pick up some silverware as she finished first V45 lady on the day in a cracking time of 53:26 and Gavin Crockwell made his distance debut in an impressive 54:50. It was a real pluse to see John Hanson run a superb 38:55 at the five mile Centurion Grand Prix Series opener in Chelmsley Wood, a wonderful time for the Tamworth athlete who is improving with each run right now. Adam McElhone was alongside the popular veteran running a good PB of 42:35. In the ten-mile Peak District Trail Race near Buxton, Adrian Payne flexed his not insignificant muscles to grab a fine fourth place in the third race of the series, putting his Long Eaton parkrun mixer woe well and truly behind him.

In the Flying Fox 10-mile race near Stone, Keir Hardy cashed in on his recently gained new fitness by running a top-quality 67:35, a healthy new PB for the distance, as he now begins to demonstrate how he has taken his running up a level in the last few months. Kerry Clover (95:37) and Yvonne Faulkner (94:58) both scooped PB’s over a course that is not renowned for producing the fastest of times. The rest of the Hardy family travelled north to run in the Dovedale Dash, a four and three-quarter mile rampage through the prettiest parts of the Peak District and delivered strong performances to a person. Cameron Barnes ran an impressive 40:31 with mum Lisa clocking 66:25 with sister Sam Klucis. Birthday boy Colin Lees went better still, the 52-year-old recording 41:27 in his first attempt but star of the show from a Badgers standpoint was old soldier Stefan Martin who ran a very brisk 36:50 soon after his marathon debut at Snowdon too. Becky Kinson was the quickest lady from the club on the day, ably demonstrating her athletic prowess in 45:17.

On the subject of marathons, the phenomenal globetrotting Abbie Liddle was at it again, this time in Nairobi, Kenya where she performed heroically in another 26.2-mile battle finishing with a great time of 4:14:35 in the heat of the East African tropics. This week’s other marathoner was Adie Kirkham who cranked one out in the somewhat less exotic location of Milton Keynes. Despite losing speed in the closing stages, the Badger hung on grimly for his time of 4:03:34 to leave him just one race short of his century of marathons, which he hopes to achieve next month in Nottinghamshire, a tremendous effort from the club stalwart, lark.

There was a wealth of top performances at parkrun on Saturday, most notably from Paul Grubb who was first Badger back at Conkers. The dart playing, crown green bowler showed his comprehensive range of sporting proficiencies by storming to a PB of 23:07, an incredible time considering he has run over 100 events and is the first time he has broken 24 minutes. Katrina Dawson and Karen Missen both made it a Badger celebration at the popular South Derbyshire tourist attraction-based venue.

The speedy Sam Starkey was back in familiar territory, at the sharp end of the field at Kingsbury Water Park. The silver haired flyer posted a classy time of 18:45 to bag him a respectable 4^th place. Following hot on his heels was veteran in waiting Mark Repton who romped to a handy 19:54 in ninth place while Shrimpers follower Matt Green pipped young protégé Tobey Brain on the line by a mere second as the duo helped themsens to top twenty finishes. Leon Millership produced the second quickest run of his career to date breaking 23 minutes by two slim seconds with Colin Lees (23:12), John Restall (23:18) both showing some real speed. Pete Boardman is running better than ever right now and fellow veterans John Devenney and Paul Restall saw this first hand as he finished ahead of the experienced pair. Sarah Vine was first back for the ladies in 26:26 with Adam McElhone and John Hanson following through soon afterwards. Leesa Dennis, Liz Peel and Terry Argyle trucked home while Nicola Stanley exceeded all expectations by slicing a huge chunk of time of her PB running a staggering 28:38. Fiona Meldrum also featured as did Tracy Piper, Vikki Smith, Mark Robinson, Lesley Palmer, Mandy Hanson and Peter Black. Teresa and David Buck also went.

Ian Orton made the most of his Welsh trip turning out at Nant-y-Pandy parkrun in 23:50 while Jared Karim took in the scenic delights of Fell Foot parkrun up in the Lake District while holidaying up in the area. Veteran boffin Maggi Savin-Baden landed furthest from the sett as she became the very first club member in action in Copenhagen. Men’s captain Adi Payne made the trip up the M1 to get deep in the heart of the Long Eaton parkrun mixer while Anne-Marie Matthews ran 44:19 at Sandwell and Claire Bradford 43:08 along the old railway track in Keswick which just leaves the six plucky Badgers who braved the Bedworth parkrun left to comment about. Leading the way was the venerable David “DC” Craig who showed that once again he has got this by coming home in 23:13 albeit minus a big Welsh bear. Janet Crumpton was once again like a fine wine as she stormed through the line in double quick time (28:48) with fellow veteran Gail Gunn bulleting round ahead of the spritely Sam Klucis and the Akabusi-esque Jenna Davies. Lisa Barnes rounded up the action as Badgers showed plenty of fight in their colours of black and white.