Week Ending - 2019/08/11

BADGERS of the WEEK

Waiting on names from Run Leaders

BADGERS EDGE CLOSER TO THE LEAGUE TITLE WITH GREAT TEAM EFFORT AT CARL RUTT 10K

With just two races to go, Badgers continued to press home their advantage at the top of both the men’s and women’s leagues in the Leicestershire Road Running League programme with another gutsy display at the hilly Whitwick-based Carl Rutt 10K race. At the time of going to press, the club were anxiously waiting on confirmation of the finalised results in order to determine whether their leads are now great enough they cannot be caught at the top of their respective tables. In division one, the men, hoping for back to back titles, were dominant in their field despite missing several regular heavy scorers but their vets’ side really stepped up to the plate with as good a display of running as there has been all season. The ladies went into the race with a huge lead over second placed Roadhoggs meaning even a mediocre performance would most likely promote them into the top division before the season finishes in September.

The race happened to be the 10K (Road) County Championship and therefore assumed even greater significance and it was long-serving star Chris Horton who was not only first back for his side in a season’s best 36:09 but as a result became 10K County Champion veteran. This earned the 44-year-old a prestigious medal to go alongside his trophy and prizemoney, presented on the day by Team GB ace Gemma Steel. One place behind him in 8th position overall was fellow Badgers stalwart Danny Warren who once again delivered a top ten finish for his side when it mattered in 36:23.

Key man Neil Russell has recaptured some of his very best form of late and he finished fast once again in a superb 37:16. The 40 year old Bulkington based star, recruited to the fold by Dave Jackson two seasons ago, managed the hugely impressive feat of a scoring hat-trick as he bagged points for his team in the men’s, men’s vets and mixed team competitions. In-form Dave McGowan was next home in 37:31 in 20th spot overall with Jason Molloy returning to action after missing the last few races in a swift 38:50. Adrian Payne stepped down as captain earlier in the season, handing the reins over to Simon Currier, but he continues to add his considerable talent as well as good looks and experience to the side as here he strode home in a fine 38:55. The Badgers veterans then poured through in quick succession as first Matt Tonks, running a quality 39:05 as he continues to make big strides forwards in terms of form, followed by Glyn Broadhurst (39:39) and new dad Sam Starkey (39:42) all helped the club achieve maximum points. Vice-captain and club performance director Dave Jackson led the B-team back in a grit-filled 40:20, a real return to form for the messianic rugrat who is enjoying the steadier length of the 10K discipline. Both he and Broadhurst became the latest Badgers to reach the impressive milestone of 50 league appearances for the club, a testament to their outstanding commitment and dedication to the Badger cause.

Rising star Mark Repton followed home next in 40:31 with Neil Clemons also going superbly in 40:53. Justin Haywood appears on the mend after battling back from his hernia operation, the sun-loving veteran making the top 100 with a brisk 42:40. Graham Engley, Mark Cox and Stefan Martin all gave their best with Cameron Barnes digging deep ahead of Matt Green, Tim Gould, Colin Lees and Bill Gutheridge. Matt Jackson was the club’s top U18 runner but struggled with his asthma, yet still managing a time of 48:32! “Captain Courage” Currier was next back for the team leading some Badger greats across the line behind him as David Craig, Rob Boland and Leon Millership all finished well inside 50 minutes. Wayne Repton clocked 49:46 while David Earp enjoyed a ding-dong run in with Bernie Bowman before Mick Bailey (50:21), Alan Argyle (51:41) and Gavin Crockwell (55:02) got back in good time with Stuart Youngs managing 56:04.

Richard Chester ran 59:01 and Paul Cooper ran a 10K PB of 63:56 with Terry Argyle and Ian Jackson also finishing the challenging hilly course.

In the ladies’ race, the club were without vital mainstays Cheryl Dewis and Charlene Dunn while captaincy duo Sarah Jane Poppins and Ann-Marie Currier limited their involvement to spectating only due to being less than 100%. The impressive Becky Harris once again led the way for the club as she looks well set for a high finish in the league individual standings in 2019. She was 13th back in the field with a cracking run of 45:00. Nivette Chester was next across the line in 46:09 as she too made the top 20 while the hardworking Monika Lampart, current holder of the club 10K record battled home in 47:48 a tremendous performance as she continues to rebuild her career after a serious knee injury. Steady Steph Norman looked good yet again as she became the ladies’ fourth scorer in an impressive 48:26 and Nicki Bowman came with a late flourish to dip under 50 minutes. Rachael Shelton showed her class with a spritely time of 50:40 and Emma Masser powered home after being on holiday to score yet more valuable points for her side. Lil Souter showed a great turn of speed as she finished in a very respectable time of 53:01 and Katy Clemons similarly impressed with her rapid 54:34. Judy Parkes has come on leaps and bounds since progressing through the beginner’s programme and here she scored vital points for the veteran ladies side as they remain 3rd in a competitive top division. Sharon Jackson went well as did the club’s dedicated secretary Jenna Davies who bagged herself a great time of 55:46. Helena Rean for once did not set a new club record, most probably on account of the copious amount of hills to negotiate, as she finished narrowly ahead of Emma Vardy. Janet Crumpton was the few people to achieve a PB in the race, the veteran star clocking 58:35 as her season goes from strength to strength.

Charlotte Oliver slogged round in just over an hour with Zoe Cope doing well after a long injury lay off and Leesa Dennis, Nicola Stanley and Gail Gunn also doing their bit. Veterans Amanda Gould, Lesley Palmer and newcomer Teresa Satchell all completed the course rounding up a spectacular 59 attendees from the North Warwickshire based outfit.

Away from this event, there were a small handful of other performances to report. At the fast and flat Stratford 6, three plucky Badgers attended, chasing their club standards. Rob Boland was in fine form as he blitzed to an impressive 42:06 while Martyn Barrett is on a mission to clean up the V60 honours board as he took almost four minutes off the previous club record, lowering it to a stunning 43:04, proving once again that he is pound for pound one of the top runners in the club. Badgers founder Nivette Chester went better still by taking two records in one performance. Her time was one second quicker than Barrett’s and as a result she was able to claim the V40 club best as well as take six seconds off the overall best six-mile time. In the Herm Island 3-mile Coastal race in the Channel Islands, Jo James continued her comeback from a health hampered 2018, to run a time of 33 minutes. Popular club Chairperson Karen Thompson completed the 26.2 mile Birmingham Canal Canter alongside team-mate Carl Savage.

Flooding caused the cancellation of Kingsbury Parkrun however there were still plenty of Badgers active elsewhere. The new Babbs Mill parkrun in Chelmsley Wood saw a strong turnout with Mark Repton first back in 21:28, 6th place overall. Carl Savage was next back ahead of Cameron Barnes, Bill Gutheridge and Wayne Repton with veterans David Craig, John Hanson, Jared Karim, John Restall, Richard Hill and Alan Argyle all following through soon after. Helena Rean was first female back for the club with Leesa Dennis, Karen Missen and Sam Klucis all running. Merv Jones was back in action too while Lisa Barnes celebrated her 50th parkrun appearance, a good achievement.

At Bedworth, Sam Starkey had to settle for second as he clocked a speedy 18:38. Ryan Handley took a fine 4th in 19:16 with Matt Green also making the top ten with a time of 21:23. Rachael Shelton was 4th female running a tidy 24:17 in a race which saw Richard Hamblett and the Steed of Speed Gavin Crockwell also run. Mick Bailey performed well at Burnham and Highbridge managing 23:36 while Leon Millership’s 22:33 was the fastest of the nine Badgers at Conkers, the others being Mar & Sarah Reynolds, Dave Jenkinson, Justin Haywood, Judy Parkes, Paul Grubb, Katrina Dawson and Andy Venney.

Lil Souter (25:48) was 8th lady back at Sutton Park alongside Matt & Sharon Jackson. Anne-Marie Matthews featured at Dishley while Michael Ball (Long Eaton), Dave Bailey (Trelissick) and Ian Orton (Eden Project) all had good runs. Finally, Paul Wallace ran 25:13 at Arrow Valley and Adders season ticket holder Colin Lees clocked a brilliant 21:41 at Coventry parkrun before heading home to watch his side get knocked out of this year’s FA Cup.