Week Ending - 2019/05/12

BADGERS BOSSING IT AT BOSWORTH AND BEYOND

Badgers hit one of the busiest weeks in their calendar with over one hundred members making an appearance in one event or another. With two very local races, the Kingsbury Classic 10K and the Bosworth half marathon, a bumper turnout was always on the cards and this year was no exception. After a mid-season break, the Leicestershire Road Running League began again at Bosworth with Badgers men looking to defend their title as County Champions from 2018 as well as the ladies side hoping for more good results after a promising start to their campaign. With a whopping 56 runners, it was perhaps no surprise there were a number of outstanding performances from those in black and white. In her competitive debut for the club, new signing Becky Harris stormed to a new ladies’ half marathon club record in a magnificent time of 97:38, eclipsing the mark set by Monika Lampart at Warwick some five years ago by the slender margin of just seven seconds.

In the men’s competition, Badgers men picked up maximum points for their efforts to retain their top spot in the league with their quartet of Ryan Bennett, Danny Warren, Chris Baxter and Dave McGowan bagging the prizemoney for top team on the day in the event. Bennett was one of seven the Badgers first eleven runners to finish with the London marathon still in his legs from two weeks prior. The inspired Chapel End man showed tremendous grit to take 4^th place overall in a top-quality time of 77:11. Danny Warren has worked hard since the turn of the year to recover his very best form and his fabulous time of 78:52 here shows that he has now achieved his objective. Chris Baxter is used to much shorter distances but stepped up for the team here as he romped home a place behind Warren in 8^th with his 20:55 while McGowan churned out a marvellous display of running so soon after his stunning marathon debut in the capital with a hard fought 84:01. Chris Horton was the next runner home in 85:52, a quite incredible run from the veteran who had been side-lined for some time with injury and the rapid Jason Molloy was hot on his heels just three seconds adrift, putting his side in pole position. Aaron Chetwynd battled hard for his 86:50 despite being less than 100% and key man Glyn Broadhurst showed tremendous courage to get home in 87:13, clearly fatigued from his April marathon double. Fellow London competitor Mark Repton helped himself to a new PB of 87:13, a quite magnificent effort in finishing one place behind Broadhurst, it meant that he ended up leading the Badgers B team home, a quite remarkable feat given the pace of his run!

Whole-hearted Jon Vardy ran a great PB too in 88:39 to make the top 50 while a weary Adi Payne also dipped under 90 minutes in his penultimate outing as captain. Neil Clemons ran a PB in 89:53 meaning that an incredible 12 Badgers broke the 90-minute barrier. To put this into context, in 2013 when the club first entered this race, they did not even field twelve male runners, never mind twelve under 90 minutes! Hard hitting flooring specialist Mark Cox powered home to a tidy PB of 91:09 while the race saw an emotional return to action for one of the club’s real characters (v40). Dave Jackson, now a veteran and making a comeback after ankle surgery, whipped onlookers into a frenzy and that was just parking his car in the field before the race. While still some way off his best, the hard-drinking former cross-country specialist showed he is well and truly on the comeback trail thanks to his belligerent 92:43. Graham Engley has come on leaps and bounds since joining and earned himself a quality PB of 93:35 and ex-Nuneaton Boro ace Jimmy Dewis impressed with his 95:25. Dewis was a hero on two counts on the day, helping his team score valuable points in the vets league before helping a fellow competitor near the finish after she suffered a serious asthma attack, which thankfully due to the former football and occasional cricketer Dewis’s intervention, ended well.

Top local bricklayer Bob Dawe produced a sparkling run, taking minutes off his PB to finish in 97:46 while Martyn Barrett gave yet another masterclass of running to break the V60 club record for the distance in 98:11. His team mates have not been this captivated since the amiable veteran demonstrated his unrivalled expertise on bottom-wiping with just one leaf of toilet paper en-route to the Swithland 6 way back in 2015. Next home was young youngster Cameron Barnes, whose season continues to go from strength to strength. The Foxes fan showed Vardy-esque speed to finish in 99:40, just over a minute ahead of the hard-working Andy Orchard. Outgoing vice-captain Rob Boland was next back in 1:41:29, twenty seconds ahead of the industrious Colin Lees while veteran Rob Crow held on determinedly for his time of 1:46:48. Michael Bailey had an excellent race in 1:47:57, Ian Orton ran 1:48:46 and the long-serving Paul Grubb a magnificent new PB of 1:48:57. Other runners included David Earp, Lee Millership, newcomer Michael Cordiner-Barton who all finished well within two hours. The noble Alan Argyle selflessly sacrificed his own ambitions to aid a fellow runner in the dying stages of the race and Adam McElhone successfully completed his first half marathon at the age of 50 with Gavin Crockwell and David Dugmore for company. Terry Argyle, Wayne Repton, Richard Chester and John Devenney also ran.

The ladies were not wanting to be outdone and while inspirational vice-captain Ann-Marie Currier was forced to sit this one out with a sprained mott, Becky Harris made a stunning debut, improving an already impressive club record at her first attempt. Her presence in the side sent a real positive spirit cascading through the female ranks and her time of 97:38 was good enough for 11^th place overall in the race. Last year’s most improved female Cheryl Dewis showed that 2018 was no fluke as she hammered home a new PB of 1:40:33 and finished a superb third in her age category. In-form veteran Nivette Chester ran a respectable 1:43:13 with Emma Masser battling her recent marathon fatigue as well as sunburn to finish bravely in 1:51:57 (PB). Despite the undulating terrain and warmth of the sun, the personal bests kept on coming as firstly Emma Vardy (1:51:32), then the pacy Charlene Dunn (1:57:58) and finally Kerry Clover (1:59:07) all romped home with new standards. The always-impressive Karen Thompson manufactured yet another exceptional performance with her time of 1:58:22 and veteran Yvonne Faulkner managed a decent 2:03:09. The classy Serena Baker is as steady as they come and the honourable club secretary showed her class with a time of 2:02:30, executing her performance with ruthless Germanic efficiency. Jo Davies continued her comeback after an injury ravaged 2018 with a run of 2:05:18 and Lil Souter managed a fine 2:05:53. One-to watch Lorna Jackson ran 2:06:41 battling on after a leg problem mid-race. Skipper Sarah Jane Chetwynd endured a tough day at the office but led home her team of Marie De Rome, Janet Crumpton, Gail Gunn and Vikki Smith. Newcomer Mandi Stain made her distance debut and emerged with a splendid time of 2:22:15.

The 2019 Kingsbury Classic was won by local ace Lloyd Biddell, therefore ending Badgers recent dominance of the event. Their men still won the award for the top team however and there were plenty of strong individual showings along the way. Chris Baxter was quickest back finishing a decent third overall with previous winner Danny Warren two spots behind in fifth. Glyn Broadhurst took 12^th and with it the hugely prestigious V40 prize, Neil Clemons and Sam Starkey showed their burgeoning credentials while Keir Hardy also made the top twenty with another rapid run as he continues to improve month on month. Justin Haywood gutsed it out in 42:16 while young Matt Jackson took the prize for the top junior runner in the field. Jimmy Dewis led home a torrent of Bagers inclusive of Cameron Barnes, Matt Green, Colin Lees, Jake Bradford and the genial Rob Boland. Once again, Cheryl Dewis was the first of the Badger ladies to finish, the popular barber (not hairdresser) also taking first place in her age category which earned her yet another trophy to take back to Trendz. Dave Earp was next through with Michael Bailey and the indefatigable John Hanson both showing a great turn of speed.

The impressive Charlene Dunn was next back for the ladies with Sharon Jackson and the speedy Rachael Shelton in hot pursuit. Katy Clemons, Pip Weston, Yvonne Faulkner and Lil Souter then crossed the line in quick succession with vet men Richard Hill, John Devenney and Ian Jackson all going well. Top local professor Maggi Savin-Baden ran a terrific race to pip Dave Dugmore by just one second. Marie De Rome continues to amaze, and Katrina Dawson finished strongly too ahead of Pete Boardman, David Bailey and Louise Gibbs. Amy Wakelin enjoyed a decent run out as did the popular Pauline Morris, Joanna Moulton, Wayne Repton, Teresa Satchell and Anne Devenney. Finally, Sasha Wickham, Eileen McElhone and Karen Draper rounded up proceedings for the club on another successful Tuesday evening at the local beauty spot.

A number of Badgers enjoyed their annual trek to the Market Drayton 10K. Sam Starkey was first home in 39:19 with Keir Hardy going well in 42:33. Rachael Shelton was first back for the ladies in 47:48. John Hanson continued his fine form running 46:54 and David Craig went hard early on to finish in 48:34. Pip Weston rolled back the years in 51:28 with Judy Parkes, Mandy and Paul Restall all coming in just over the hour mark. Mark Robinson rounded up the Badgers action in 66:17.

At Draycote Water, Richard Hill ran 55:26 in the 10K on Sunday. Dave Bailey managed 60:00 in the Sinfin 5-mile race while Amy Stredder ran the same distance only down in Marlow and clocked a terrific new PB of 42:53.

At parkrun, Sam Starkey led the way at Kingsbury Water Park, the speedy 40-year-old running 19:23 for 8^th place overall. Matt Green went well ahead of his busy weekend on the bike while Jake Bradford was another to impress. Esther Holyoak was 6^th female back overall in a brisk 22:12 and team-mate Katy Clemons performed superbly as she hared round to a PB of 23:59, pipping husband Neil in the process to earn bragging rights at home for the remainder of the weekend. Other runners included Sharon Jackson, Bill Gutheridge, David “DC” Craig as well as young speedsters Harry Chesters and Evie Whitehead. Albion fan Mark Robinson featured as did the nippy Sam Klucis. Paul Wallace got round safely alongside Lisa Barnes, Cameron Barnes, Peter Black, Teresa Satchell, Mandy & John Hanson and Matt Jackson. Colin Lees was in action at Cannock Chase running 22:16 and big Stuart Walton flew the flag at Rosliston. At Conkers, Chris Upton was in action alongside John Dulson, Alan Argyle, Dave Bailey and Karen Missen with six Badgers were at it over in Bedworth, former gardener and recent marathon star Paul Cooper helping himself to a PB with Judith Haley, Holly Matts, Andy Smith, Karen Thompson and Jenna Shaw all going like campsite privy door in a force ten gale, almost. Lesley Palmer had a good run at the Eden Project while both Richard Hill and Jared Karim were the embodiment of steadiness as they bolted merrily round the Great Denham course.