Week Ending - 2018/12/09

BADGERS of the WEEK

BADGERS PERFORM ADMIRABLY AT BRADGATE PARK AND BEYOND

The third round of the Derby Runner cross country league season at Bradgate Park in Leicester on Sunday for the final league race in 2018. Skipper Adi Payne was once again in a fortunate position to have great strength in depth as his league leading men once again showed the way. It was the returning Ryan Bennett who led the club home in a superb 11th place with half a dozen of his team mates following closely behind, a trait that has undoubtedly characterised the team effort this term as their collective might has been a standout feature over other teams. Key man Neil Russell produced his best display in a Badgers shirt to date finishing in a superb 13th as his season continues to go from strength to strength. Aaron Chetwynd was reliable as ever in 21st with Chris Baxter making a rare XC appearance finishing in a fantastic 23rd place just ahead of the rapid Jason Molloy.

Danny Warren toughed it out in 27th after an injury hit few weeks with skipper Payne enjoying taking yet another half dozen bum-pats for the team in 41st. With key man Chris Horton absent for the first time this season, veteran Matt Green bravely stepped up to become the side’s 8th scorer. Sam Starkey finished in a creditable 56th place with new boy Neil Clemons again making the top 100 in his first season. Hard man and club enforcer Mark Cox made a welcome return to action after suspension (to do his house up) while Simon Gilbert, Graham Engley, Bob Dawe, Glyn Broadhurst, Mark Repton, Stefan Martin, Rob Boland, David Earp and Cameron Barnes all featured. Ian Orton led home a clutch of Badgers including but not exclusive to Dave Jenkinson, Paul Grubb, Paul Bruce (on debut), Eamon Thawley and John Shade. Dave Jarvis and Rob Frost rounded up the action.

In the ladies’ side of the field, Cheryl Dewis was first back in a superb 23rd place as she once again led by example in terms of both performance and attitude. Monika Lampart produced a muscular run in 26th place as she looks close to her best form after a serious injury. Emma Masser has been a real find for the club as she stormed home in 79th place to become the third scorer with seasoned campaigner Stephanie White sneaking into the top 100 to complete things. Becky Kinson survived an early tumble to end up 105th with Judy Parkes, debutante Katy Clemons, Anna Dawe, Pip Weston, Charlotte Oliver and Hannah Coogan all battling hard. Mandi Stain put in a good effort as she finished ahead of Sam Klucis, Karen Thompson (incredibly, less than 24 hours after a marathon), Maggi Savin-Baden, Lesley Palmer and Lisa Barnes.

Away from the mud and hills, there was still a wealth of road running action with over a dozen other performances out and about. At the Sneyd Striders Christmas Pudding Run in Birmingham, Dave McGowan produce the performance of the weekend with his outstanding 61:43 (PB) in the ten-mile event there, earning the Arsenal fan a superb 15th place in a strong field. Tim Gould produced a solid performance in 72:56 and fellow KWP stalwart John Hanson clocked an incredible personal best over the distance in 75:54 proving there is life after turning 50. Charlene Dunn was the stand out female once again as she hared round in a PB time of 82:30 with her good friend and training partner Emma Vardy close behind in a fine 82:50, also a PB. Veterans Stuart Youngs and Alan Argyle both produced consistent runs in keeping with their numerical backgrounds clocking even splits for their joint times of 85:38. John Devenney ran an excellent 95:23 (PB) while his wife Anne ran the 5-mile event coming home in 61:41, a fair distance behind first Badger back David Dugmore (47:27) although she was running in fancy dress!

The fast and furious Telford 10K saw Keir Hardy break 40 minutes for the first time ever and by some margin too as he romped home in 39:20, proving he will be one to watch in 2019. The popular Serena Baker rolled back the years with her fastest time since 2015 as she crossed in 49:29 while Zoe Cope and Jenna Davies were once again reunited finishing in 57:29 on the fast, flat course. At Leicester during the week, the in-form Cheryl Dewis picked up an age category win in the popular 5K winter series thanks to her splendid time of 22:26. Husband Jimmy scooted round in an impressive 20:15 but first Badger back was the improving Mark Repton in 19:29 (11th place). Yvonne Faulkner tackled the Big Bear Christmas Challenge completing 16.5 miles in 3:03 on Monday possibly explaining her relatively more sedate time of 29:28 at Victoria Park. The durable duo of Karen Thompson and Liz Peel battled through tough conditions at the scenic Barmouth based Winter Run to The Castle Marathon, both completing the foam filled course to bring up Peel’s half century.

Another Badgers double act were back in action at Kingsbury Water Park at the same time, although distinctly quicker albeit over a much shorter distance, where Chris Baxter (16:58) produced a high class run in windy and slippy conditions to land the 40th parkrun win of his career. Chris Horton pushed him all the way in second place, ultimately rolling in ten seconds behind his friend and team mate in 17:08. Matt Green performed heroically in 20:30 for a top ten finish with Tim Gould, Sam Starkey and Ian Orton all going well. Jake Bradford ran a PB of 23:01 with Pete Boardman continuing his good form. The bubbly Rachael Shelton celebrated her 100th parkrun and emerged back in 26:25 and first lady from her club in the process. Other runners included Darryl Johnson, Sharon & Matthew Jackson, Fiona Meldrum, top local chiropodist Leesa Dennis, Becky Kinson, Evie Whitehead, Amy Wakelin, Holly Matts, Andy Smith and Amanda Gould. Vikki Smith weighed in with a new personal best time of 32:53 while Mandy Hanson, Helen Morgan and Peter Black all featured.

Emma Masser was the star of the show for Badgers at Bedworth as she romped to a PB of 23:45 and with it a superb 5th place lady. The Steed of Speed Gavin Crockwell ran as did former England youth high jump ace David Craig, Anne-Marie Matthews and Paul Cooper. Adie Kirkham put his marathon shoes to one side for the weekend to run 22:40 at Conkers ahead of Alan Argyle and kit guru Dave Bailey. Stuart Walton flew the flag at Rosliston while Richard Hill featured at Walsall and Jonathan Davies at Worcester.