Week Ending - 2019/03/24

BADGERS OUT IN FORCE AT ASHBY 20

After the abandonment last year through snow and ice, this year’s Ashby 20 was held in conditions almost perfect for running as the sun shone on the most beautiful spring morn. 25 Badgers took to the Leicestershire countryside, many for the first time over such a distance and in a lot of cases in readiness for a marathon in the coming weeks. It was the in-form Dave McGowan who led the club home with a tremendous performance right out of the top drawer. He ran an incredible 2:10:49 to finish 25th male out of a field of over 1200. Mark Repton consolidated his London training with a fine run of 2:21:46 with team-mate Sam Starkey stepping up in distance to run a quality 2:23:24. Keir Hardy helped himself to a new PB of 2:27:54 while his near namesake Jonathan Vardy showed his credentials in 2:37:11. Bob Dawe produced one of the performances of the day as he powered home in 2:39:22. The evergreen Martyn Barrett set a new V60 club record for the distance with his excellent 2:45:34, V50 ace Colin Lees ran a new PB in 2:47:30 and Ian Orton ran heroically in 2:50:34.

Charlene Dunn was the first home for the ladies with an exceptional performance, her time of 2:52:23 was just three minutes off Karen Thompson’s seniors club record. Emma Vardy (2:57:56) ran well to break three hours while Serena Baker ran her best Ashby for some years, accompanied every step of the way by popular club chairperson Thompson (3:05:23). Darryl Johnson was next through in a determined 3:14:04 and Sarah Vine clocked 3:16:57 on her distance debut. Rachael Shelton ran 3:17:03 with Sharon Jackson in hot pursuit in 3:21:38. Ladies captain SJ Chetwynd continues her great form as she stormed through in 3:22:37 with Zoe Cope, Clare Whetton, and Leesa Dennis running collectively in 3:37:27. Maggi Savin-Baden managed a new PB in 3:40:32 before Helen Morgan (4:27:29), Anne-Marie Matthews 4:31:19 and Paul Cooper 4:34:13 all made it back.

The Coventry Half Marathon saw a raft of excellent performances as 14 Badgers made their mark in the Midlands motor city. Key man Neil Russell was first back in a superb 82:09, 8th veteran back overall with Luke Melling running a quality 86:39 in his very first attempt at the distance. Robert Boland managed a fine 98:09 as he edges towards his very best running form while John Hanson continues to amaze as the 58-year-old ran a staggering 98:38 over the testing 13.1-mile distance. Simon Gilbert ran a respectable 1:40:45 before Blues fan Rob Crow ran a quality 1:44:19, a personal best for amiable veteran in his final season of PB chasing. Stuart Youngs grafted hard for his 1:51:30 and Gavin Crockwell followed through three seconds later, the excitement having got all a bit much for the Nuneaton-based Steed of Speed. Ron Mahoney provided expert pacing duties and Eamon Thawley rolled back the years with a stellar run of 2:01:01. Jo Davies went well after a difficult injury hit 2018 in 2:03:53. Paul Bruce continued his Manchester marathon prep in great style with his PB of 2:06:36 with Fay Casey close behind in 2:07:14. Veteran Janet Crumpton rounded up the action with a well-run 2:20:06.

Esther Holyoak came out on top in the Nuneaton 5K fun run at the Pingles, clocking a brisk 21:28 for her win in the charity event. Amy Wakelin completed her first half marathon in the London Landmarks Half clocking 2:18:19 with the popular Jo James also making a welcome return to action in the same race in 2:44. Mark Cox ran an impressive 3:33:31 in the 21-mile Edale Skyline fell race while Kerry Clover (1:59:26) and Yvonne Faulkner (2:11:55) both fared well at the Monsal Trail half marathon. At the Charnwood marathon, Liz Peel notched up her 54th 26.2 mile run in her bid to become only the third Badger to reach 100 behind Matt Tonks and Adie Kirkham and the first female to achieve the feat.

Parkrun saw more than its fair share of Badgers success with three first place finishes over three venues. At Conkers, Chris Baxter recorded another first at his favourite hunting ground, Conkers. The 30-year-old pace ace ran a course best 16:46 ahead of a resurgent Chris Upton in 22:54, Katrina Dawson and Karen Missen. Aaron Chetwynd was first back at Bedworth in a course best 17:11 for the Baddesley man. Charlotte Oliver was next through for the club with Pete Boardman and Pam Bridgwood following in behind. Rosliston saw Graham Engley race to a career high 5th place in 21:03 but it was veteran Nivette Chester who capitalised on her excellent recent form to take first lady in 23:36. Team mate Steph White made it a Badgers 1-2 as she followed Chester home in 25:07. Paul Grubb (24:09), Stu Walton and brothers Paul and John Restall also ran. John Hanson continued his purple patch with a tenth place at Sandwell Valley thanks to his time of 22:29 with Mandy Hanson also getting round. Richard Hill made an appearance at Houghton Hall parkrun while Holly Matts and Andy Smith travelled to Cannock Chase. At Kingsbury, Danny Warren pipped men’s captain and poster boy Adi Payne to third place in 17:59, Payne just a second behind in a new PB time of 18:00. Matt Tonks continues to improve in 8th place in a season’s best 18:33 and key-man Glyn Broadhurst ran 19:15 in 13th. The popular Matt Green finally realised a long-held ambition to break 20 minutes which he did with a valiant effort of 19:58. Neil Clemons, Tim Gould, Mark Repton and Sam Starkey all went well as did Colin Lees, Lee Millership, Bill Gutheridge, David Craig and Esther & Carl Holyoak. Wayne Repton was next through with Adam McElhone, Lil Souter, Rachael Shelton, Matt Jackson and Monika Lampart all going sub 27. Iconic kit legend Dave Bailey was next home in 27:05, with Nicola Stanley seemingly improving by the week in 27:41, Amanda Gould, Peter Black and Tracy Piper all performing.