Week Ending - 2019/10/13

BADGERS DOMINATE AT LEAGUE AWARDS NIGHT

Badgers enjoyed an action-packed evening at Grace Road, the home of Leicestershire cricket on Friday evening as their teams collected a host of awards following the conclusion of their most successful ever season in the Leicestershire Road Running League. The club’s men were triumphant in the top division backing up their success in 2018, while their vet men, third last year, also claimed top spot this time around. The club’s B-team (men) were utterly dominant all year and won the B-league at a canter. The strength in depth of the club was never more noticeable than here as some 31 different men contributed points for the B-team over the course of the season, a genuine team effort. The mixed team finished a creditable second in the top-flight behind a very strong West End Runners side, boosted by having the top three ladies in the entire league system amongst their ranks. The Badgers ladies, led by skipper Sarah Jane Chetwynd, did not miss out either as they stormed to victory in division two earning them a place at the top table for 2020. The ladies vets were already in the top league and managed a fine third place against some classy opposition.

Club spokesperson Danny Warren commented “We have come a long way since joining the league shortly after becoming an affiliated club. We didn’t have a full team when we began and in one race, the John Fraser 10, only one member, Jason Husselbee-Orwin, represented the club although it did enable him to hold the distance club record for a period of time! Compare that to now and we have been getting 70 to 80 runners to many of the races, which often sell out pretty quickly.”

The club have built well and after a couple of promotions, found themselves in the top-flight for the first-time last season, famously winning the league on the final race of the season in a nail-biting encounter over Hermitage Harriers who were seeking a fifth successive title. This year, the league was secured in a much less anxious manner as the side assumed an unassailable lead a few races out, ultimately holding a 19-point advantage of closest rivals West End at the end of the season.

Individually, five Badgers secured major honours. After finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th in previous attempts, Chris Horton became the first Badger in the club’s history to secure an outright win - his superb summer form enabling him to take first place in the vet 40 category in his last year before moving up an age group. Such was his points tally, he would have finished 4th senior male had the age restrictions not applied, a wonderful result for the Atherstone man. Team-mate Neil Russell took third in the same category as between them, the duo helped underpin a quality year in the vet men division which ultimately saw the club be crowned county champions for the very first time. The Bulkington-based flying machine has been one of the most consistent performers in the club this season and his honour was richly deserved.

The equally consistent Danny Warren took third place in the senior male section to go alongside his fifth-place prize in the winter league although surely his greatest achievement is just around the corner as his wife and former ladies’ captain Rachael is due to give birth to the couple’s first child next month. Dave McGowan completed his first full league campaign in 2019 and was rewarded with a magnificent 6th place in the senior male category. Never out of the points, the Baddesley based man has proved to be a vital cog in the Badgers machine with an array of top-notch performances to go alongside his stunning marathon debut at London in April. Becky Harris joined the club earlier in the year and the significance of her arrival cannot be underestimated as the ladies’ side ended up coasting to victory in division two. A real team player, she announced herself in style by setting a new club record in the Bosworth Half and continued to be first female home for the club in every race thereafter, setting new club records over both five and ten mile distances along the way. She ended up fifth senior female in the LRRL, a tremendous achievement in her first season and in doing so, she became only the second female in the club (after Esther Holyoak in 2017) to receive an individual league honour.

Away from the bright lights and glitter of silverware, Badgers were still actively doing what they do best – running a lot! In Coed y Brenin, North Wales, men’s skipper Simon Currier performed courageously in the Petzl Night Trail Run managing 4 x 3km over some tricky terrain. He was on hand to witness the mixed trio of Ryan Bennett, Glyn Broadhurst and Nicki Bowman storm to victory in the team category, Bennett picking up an additional gong for setting the fastest lap of all competitors across the event. Adrian Payne also ran in a team containing husband and wife duo and shoe fetishists Jimmy and Cheryl Dewis who missed out on a podium place by just one spot.

Mark Repton was on top form yet again as he raced to a 10K PB at Draycote Water, the new men’s team vice-captain clocked a spirited 37:51 to cap a superb season. Sarah Vine ran 2:13:30 in a particularly wet Oxford half marathon, managing the 13.1-mile course without resorting to front-crawl! Spare a thought to the seven Badgers who attempted the Birmingham half marathon on Sunday. One of the most expensive half marathons on the circuit, a security alert forced a re-route of the course which fell some two miles short of the full distance. In-form Keir Hardy was one of many runners well set for a new personal best on the day, deeply disappointed given the sacrifices made in the lead up to the event. Tim Gould, David Dugmore, Katrina Dawson, Paul Wallace and David Grant all fell foul of the shortened course but completed what they could in good spirits. If anyone was going to get this race, it was undoubtedly long-serving former club secretary David Craig. However, even he could only run 11.2 miles due to the circumstances, but nonetheless proved to those watching that he had indeed “got this”.

Ladies star Anne Wells made a welcome return to action recently at the Tamworth 10K after a long and tortuous injury lay off. The holder of several long-distance club records, Wells is regarded as pound for pound one of the best runners in the club. Her time of 58:42 was some way off her imperious best but represented a major stepping-stone in her rehabilitation. Jo James is another veteran on the comeback trail. This weekend she was in action at the Kielder 10K, running a fine 72 minutes and being spurred on by former track star Steve Cram of all people!

Parkrun saw a raft of action too and it was the popular Matt Tonks who briskly made his way to collect the number one token at Kingsbury Water Park. His time of 18:19 meant that he has finished first here on no fewer than ten separate occasions, an excellent return for the 44-year-old. Carl Holyoak was next home in 11th place with Bill Gutheridge and Colin Lees also making the top 20. Lee Millership ran strongly ahead of last week’s marathon hero Mick Bailey. Esther Holyoak was 4th female back overall in 24:01 which saw Rachael Shelton also make the top ten ladies. Other runners included John Restall, David Craig, Sharon Jackson, Jenna Davies, Darryl Johnson, Jake Bradford, Michael Ball and John Hanson. Lil Souter lead through a succession of Badgers inclusive of Matt Jackson, Amanda Gould, Peter Black, Lisa Barnes, Sarah O’Donoghue, Dave Bailey, Paul Wallace, Lesley Palmer and Mandy Hanson. Zoe Cope rolled back the years with another belligerent display of 5K running while leading fantasy football predictor and veteran stalwart Barrie Davies produced a PB of 37:15 on his latest and hitherto most impressive racing comeback. Vicki Fowler also went.

The pacy Chris Baxter chalked up yet another first place on the road, his time of 16:50 was too fast for the other 389 runners over at Long Eaton. The Shepshed-born speedster has finished first at parkrun more than any other person at the club. Mark Repton went close at Chasewater as he ran 19:39 to finish fifth, brother Wayne following in behind. Gail Gunn and Anne-Marie Matthews were out in force at Bedworth while Karen Missen was first Badger back at Cannock Chase.

Adam McElhone bossed the show at Babbs Mill as he ran 25:51 to emerge first Badger back, while newly qualified yet still youthful looking veteran Karen Thompson was first female V40-44 Badger home at Fell Foot parkrun in the Lake District. Richard Hill ran at Brueton, newlywed Dean Bowd at Seaton and Yvonne Faulkner turned out at Yeovil. Graham Engley and Paul Restall both went well at Walsall with Holly McClay and Andy Smith both travelling to Northampton.

Finally, at Conkers, Neil Clemons made the top ten with his rapid 19:24 with Dug Ladkin showing great pace in 20:15. Mark, Sarah and Jack Reynolds made it a real family affair while Katy Clemons continued her good form with another classy run. Alan Argyle and Merv Jones rolled back the years while Leesa Dennis provided perfect pacing for those seeking a target time of 30 minutes, the top local chiropodist crossing the line in exactly that time. Alex Ladkin rounded up the action at the south Derbyshire venue.