Week Ending - 2019/09/29

NICOLA’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

Not that long ago, Badgers star Nicola Stanley enrolled on the club’s highly regarded beginners programme and twelve weeks later, she had managed to complete her first ever 5K event. She continued to work hard at her running and threw herself wholeheartedly into club training, eventually tackling a 10K race. Fast forward a few months to last weekend and she has now cracked her first ever half-marathon as she joined eight other team-mates at this year’s Robin Hood Nottingham half. Her incredible achievement is testament to her character and determination to succeed and she was thrilled to bits as she crossed the line in 2:28:07, flanked by kit-specialist Dave Bailey and Albion fan Terry Argyle alongside her for support. Running 13.1 miles is no mean feat and plucky Nicola has started from scratch – a real inspiration for those just starting out. The trio of Sarah Vine, John Dulson and Lynne Gould all finished together in 2:21:22 and Paul Wallace (2:18:02) and veteran John Devenney (2:25:58) also finished the race but no-one was able to keep pace with Adders season-ticket holding run-leader Colin Lees who was first back for the club in an impressive 1:42:20.

Nottingham wasn’t the only half marathon race on at the weekend as Yvonne Faulkner took part in the Tissington Trail half finishing the scenic point-to-point race in a career best 1:48:51. However, Liz Peel went twice as far and twice too! In the Birch Challenge Marathon at Cannock Chase the eminent Professor of Pace chalked up yet another marathon, assisted in parts by Lil Souter, Rachael Shelton and Yvonne Faulkner before having a short break ahead of the Tolkien Challenge Marathon in Dover, Kent. Emma Masser went well in the Adventure Challenge Duathlon.

Five Badgers took on the Bournville Leafy 10K race in some seriously wet conditions. Paul Restall was first back in 60:14 with Adam McElhone following through in 66:52 just ahead of Vikki Smith who ran 68:19. Zoe Cope and Jenna Davies rounded up the action in 68:28, wet to the bone on an otherwise enjoyable morning.

The inclement weather put paid to Kingsbury parkrun on Friday evening so runners had to travel further afield for their 5K fix this week. At Conkers, Chris Baxter was the fortunate beneficiary of a wrong turn by GB star Ellis Cross, going on to take first place in a far from shabby time of 16:40, the 19th time he has finished first here and in his quickest time too! Graham Engley maintained his great form by running 19:32 in 11th place overall while Mick Bailey continues to impress, the Kingsbury man coming home in a rapid 22:47. Jack and Mark Reynolds both ran well while youngster Evie Whitehead clocked a superb 25:43 at the south Derbyshire venue. Merv Jones, Terry Argyle, Leesa Dennis and Paul Wallace also ran.

Badgers key man Glyn Broadhurst has churned out some notable parkrun performances in his time at the club and on Saturday, he became the fastest Badger ever at the Alvaston course as he romped to a superb fourth place in 19:08 beating Neil Clemons record set earlier in the summer. Nicki Bowman is on a real run of form right now. The popular 43 year old has spent a good amount of time on the side-lines with knee and hip injuries alongside a crippling bout of haemorrhoids that would undoubtedly have ended the career of lesser mortals. Uncharacteristically on time for the start, the sleek mum of three roared to a time 23:46 to secure a hard earned second lady on the day and with it the mantle of top female Badger at the course in history.

Yvonne Faulkner, Jared Karim and Richard Hill all made the long journey over to Gdansk to take part in the Zamek-w-Malborku parkrun as the trio continue their intrepid travelling across the parkrun world. Karim and Hill have now completed their parkrun alphabet (apart from the yet-to-exist X), cementing their statuses as statistical nerds of the highest order.

Bedworth parkrun is one of the most welcoming and popular events in the Midlands, superbly organised and efficiently managed by the thinking man’s crumpet Ann-Marie Currier amongst others. On Saturday, a host of Bagers turned out including the club’s esteemed former secretary David Craig, Michael Ball, Peter Black and front-runner in the club’s upcoming “best legs” competition Jenna Davies. Their performances were augmented by the self-effacing Gavin Crockwell who recorded his 50th volunteering stint in the role of race reporter, a cracking effort from the at times bizarrely-attired crime-stopper whose sporting heroes include Brian Kilcline.

Colin Lees was the sole representative at the fledgling Babbs Mill course in Chelmsley Wood while Nicola Prestwood continued this distinction at the Abingdon event. John Hanson ran at Rushcliffe as the enthusiastic Tottenham supporting veteran carried on his rampant touring. The genial Alan Argyle rolled back the years at the beautiful Bakewell course.

Rosliston saw the in-form Keir Hardy top third place, his best ever finish, in a decent time of 19:41 over the tricky yet scenic course there. Lesley Palmer ran at Minehead along the promenade while Andy Smith and Holly McClay both took part at Arrow Valley near Redditch. Mark Repton raced to a new PB at Walsall Arboretum in 18:35 as his stellar season continues apace. Brother Wayne ran a respectable 22:09, close to his very best over the 5K distance. Finally, at Sutton Park, a septet of Badgers were in the mix escaping the wetlands of the water park at Kingsbury. Tim and Amanda Gould ran nicely with local boy Matt Green going well on his home turf. Sharon Jackson, Lil Souter and the experienced John Restall all put in solid performances and the athletic Rachael Shelton delivered the goods yet again.