Week Ending - 2019/07/28

BADGERS 1-2-3 AT SIMON’S HEROES ABBOTT 5K

Hopwas Woods was the scene for the 2019 Simon’s Heroes Abbott Trail event which saw two races, a 5K and a 10K attracting hundreds of people despite persistent heavy rain. 43 of those running belonged to Badgers who more than played their part as the charity set about raising over £4,500 and counting to help children with life limiting illnesses. There was unprecedented success in the first race, a challenging 5K incorporating the infamous Concrete Hill, which saw the club scoop all three podium places. Chris Horton was first over the line, successfully defending his title from 2018 as he made it back in 21:54 with fellow key-men Matt Tonks powering home in second in 22:27 and Glyn Broadhurst a gutsy third in 22:54. Veterans Jimmy Dewis (24:05 - 5th) and David Craig (28:03 - 10th) both made the top ten with pacy performances of their own with Wayne Repton (28:48) and John Hanson (29:44) both breaking 30 minutes. Ashley Taylor continued his comeback with a plucky 31:28 while Felicity Gray was first lady Badger back in 32:28. Mandy Hanson and Lesley Palmer both made it back in 39:11 and old soldier Ted Franklin toughed it out to get back in 56:42, a tremendous effort from the belligerent 79 year old, in very challenging conditions.

The 10K saw even bigger Badger representation and it was last year’s runner up Adrian Payne, one of the bookies favourites who lined up as a last minute entry after being let down by EasyJet for his Alpine trip, who emerged as one of the main protagonists in a group of semi-elite runners headed down the canal towpath. After two gruelling laps in some seriously moist conditions, Payne emerged back in a creditable third spot overall thanks to his time of 40:39, the race being won by Wolverhampton and Bilston AC star Daniel Maskew. Veteran Glyn Broadhurst had barely caught his breath from the rigours of the 5K but he manfully ploughed his way through the field to finish 7th in 44:57. David Grant was ten seconds and a place behind the chip-swaying key man with the improving Graham Engley managing an excellent 47:09 in 13th. As a top local bricklayer, Bob Dawe is often seen heading for home at the first sign of rain, but here he made a rare exception as the hard-working dad of two pipped teammate Engley on the line by one second to take 12th place.

Tim Gould was next through in 49:00 with Nivette Chester first female Badger home in 49:14 and 4th overall in the field. Ian Orton, Matt Green, Rachael Shelton, Anna Dawe and last year’s 5K winner Nicki Bowman all made it back in one piece while Gavin Crockwell was left wondering what might have been after dropping his banana while cheering on the 5K race earlier and thus depriving himself of vital sustenance immediately ahead of his big challenge.

Lil Souter, John Restall, Kerry Clover and Becky Kinson all performed well to break the hour barrier while Paul Wallace led home a clutch of seasoned Badgers including Richard Chester, Eamon Thawley, Stuart Walton and Richard Hill. Newcomer Michelle Loveland continued to show great potential as she sped home in 65:31 with Sarah Vine, Averil Williams and Mandi Stain all going well. David Dugmore almost ended up in the canal after taking a tumble on the line but thankfully survived to bag a time of 67:21. Charlotte Oliver (68:07) also ran as did Michael Ball, Paul Cooper (70:26) and Debbie Wilson.

On Thursday, the hottest day of the year, five brave (or foolhardy depending on your viewpoint) Badgers made the trip to Leicester in 34-degree heat to compete in the third round of the 5K Summer Series at Victoria Park. Chris Horton was first back in 4th spot overall, collecting the V40 prize once again, the 9th time in his career here, incredibly along with a season’s best 17:40. Dave Jackson finished 8th in 19:32, the 2nd V40 athlete with debutante Si Gilbert clocking a respectable 21:13 after an electric start. Ashley Taylor dug deep for his 25:46, another season’s best for the self-proclaimed “Wonder of Warton” while Jenny Davies finished first female Badger in a fine 27:39.

Shaven-headed speedster Chris Baxter was in action at the track at Nottingham, competing in the 5000m. The Ashby based club record holder managed 16:58 in his heat while over at Northampton in the Gothic Marathon, club legends Karen Thompson and Alan Argyle completed the 26.2-mile course through pouring rain in a shade over four and a half hours. Down the road at Milton Keynes, Rachael Shelton, Ian Jackson, Lil Souter and Sharon Jackson all ran 2:10:53 in the Shaken Not Stirred half marathon event there.

At parkrun, there was plenty going on with 25 Badgers taking to their travels and another 26 running at Kingsbury Water Park. It was at Long Eaton where the club had their only first place finisher this week as Danny Warren finally joined the sub 17 club, despite managing the feat in training, as he clocked a long overdue PB at the rapid Long Eaton course. His time of 16:51 was good enough for top spot earning the expectant father even greater kudos. Neil Clemons ran a brisk 19:18 with wife Katy hitting the heights of a great new PB in 23:46. Sam Starkey finished a fine 4th place at Chasewater ahead of Colin Lees and Pete & Hannah Coogan. Brave Dave Jackson clocked a steady 18:50 at Blickling parkrun in north Norfolk, the home of Alan Partridge. His kilometre splits lacked the usual consistency with which he is synonymous but undulations in the course profile may go some way as to explaining the variance seen in his times of 3.53, 3.43, 3.53, 3.56 and 3.34. Ever the entertainer, freshly bearded Jackson, looking very much like a cut-price Catweazle, produced a stirring sprint finish for the gathering crowds, reminiscent of the legendary Eamon Thawley in his cross-country racing pomp, minus the whiskers naturally.

Rob Crow headed home a group of team-mates including Jo Davies, Gavin Crockwell and Helen Jenkinson at Conkers while Adam McElhone earned family bragging rights at South Shields as he beat both wife Eileen and daughter Lucy at the 5K event there. The dashing Jared Karim was seen dashing round Alvaston parkrun, in 24:51 to be precise while Jason Husselbee-Orwin donned his pumps to trot round Sheringham parkrun mid-holiday. Anne-Marie Matthews was first Badger back at Churchfields parkrun, clocking a time of 50:33 in the process with Zoe Cope flying the flag gamely at Bedworth. A quintet of Badgers made the trip to Krakow parkrun in Poland and ran together in a smidgeon over thirty minutes, Judy Parkes, Clare Whetton, Leesa Dennis, Rachel Hudspith and Vicky Cawley all making their mark on the continent.

At Kingsbury, Chris Horton led the way for the club, time-trialling his way through the trees in a distant second place overall with a time of 17:16. His friend and team-mate Matt Tonks took 4th spot in a season’s best 17:53 as his improvement continues apace. There were good runs for Bill Gutheridge, Tim Gould, Matt Green and David Craig with Wayne Repton heading home a group including Darryl Johnson, Mark Reynolds and Ashley Taylor. Veteran Dave Bailey managed a superb PB at the age of 61, his 26:28 was matched stride for stride by the amiable John Dulson. Sarah Reynolds was first female Badger home seven seconds later with Dean Bowd, Becky Kinson, Paul Restall, Michael Ball and Amanda Gould all finishing well within the half hour mark. Paul Grubb was another to achieve this feat as he returned after a back problem. Matt Jackson ran ahead of Teresa Satchell with Mandy Hanson, John Hanson, Paul Wallace, Helen Morgan and Vicki Fowler all rounding up proceedings on another busy week for north Warwickshire’s premier running club. Next week sees the Leicestershire Road Running League recommence after a brief hiatus, with the fast and furious Joy Cann 5 race at Huncote in midweek. With well over 70 members registered for the event, hopes are high of the club maintaining their strong league positions in both men’s and women’s divisions. The side welcome back their talismanic vice-captain, Ann-Marie Currier who returns after a recent cloaca injury and the men will have key man Glyn Broadhurst in their ranks as they seek to carry on where they left off at the Prestwold 10K in June.