Week Ending - 2019/11/17

GOING GOOD IN THE MUD

Badgers kicked off their 2019/20 cross country league campaign with a typically muddy affair over at Holly Hayes Woods near Coalville. The tricky narrow course is a favourite with many of the XC specialists despite having limited overtaking places and several water hazards to negotiate. As it materialized, a whopping 54 runners in black and white turned up along with a handful of juniors for their race and all 54 emerged back, most adding a distinct tinge of brown to their attire by the end.

The men’s team are defending champions and as usual it was the hardworking club stalwart Danny Warren that once again excelled. The 33-year-old powered his way to yet another top ten finish in 8th place proving he is as consistent a performer as there has been for the club. Aaron Chetwynd ran well to take 15th spot with Dave McGowan close behind in 18th and Jason Molloy, key man Neil Russell and Adi Payne all finishing in rapid succession across the next five places. Dave Hill made his club debut and ended up in a fine 40th place, just ahead of old soldier and key man Glyn Broadhurst who bagged yet more points for his side as he trundled home determinedly in 47th alongside the hard hitting Mark Cox, almost fresh from last week’s ultra-marathon!

New vice-captain Mark Repton was next back with Graham Engley and the indomitable Bob Dawe proving their collective work. An emotional Cameron Barnes and his uncle Keir Hardy produced without doubt two of the strongest runs of the morning, while youngster Matt Jackson, new boy Jack Reynolds and old stagers Stefan Martin and Colin Lees all performed well. Other runners included Rob Crow, Ian Orton, Bill Gutheridge, Mick Bailey, Rob Boland, Jared Karim and the courageous captain himself, Simon Currier.

The collective experience of Alan Argyle, Paul Grubb and Eamon Thawley were next back across the line following the three-lap course with veterans Mark Reynolds, Paul Restall, David Dugmore and Peter Black all doing their bit.

The ladies were represented by some 22 athletes and it was Cheryl Dewis who was back at the head of things after a broken foot during the summer. The Atherstone lady stormed home in 36th place to be first back for her club while Anna Dawe, Pip Weston and Sharon Jackson all made the top 100 to count for their sides team points tally. Newcomer Catherine Hobbs was next through with Judy Parkes gliding home majestically and debutante Hannah Craig making an impressive start to her club XC career. The experienced Jo Davies led home a clutch of talent including Jenna Davies, Kerry Clover, Mandi Stain and fellow debutante Sarah Reynolds. Mandy Restall ran a cracking race to make the top 200 ladies on the day and sister’s in law Lisa Barnes and Joanne Hardy did their family proud with a battling run in the very toughest of conditions.

Dewis was not the only hair stylist in action on the Badgers ladies’ side. Top Atherstone based cutter of curls, Clare Whetton, was in the thick of things as she led home a gaggle of team-mates including Zoe Cope, Leesa Dennis, Fiona Hutton and the recovering Bernadette Bowman. Fellow veterans Teresa Satchell and Lesley Palmer did not miss out either as the durable duo dug deep to make their way round to the finish line.

In the juniors race, Evie Whitehead showed why she is one to watch, clocking a quality 15 minutes in her race while in the shorter distance, Thomas Dawe made his parents proud by smashing out a superb time of 7:37 and it won’t be long before Mia Cox is giving her dad some serious competition as she made it look easy in her cracking run of 9:16.

Elsewhere, Liz Peel continued her quest to achieve completion of 100 marathons as she ran the Yeti Challenge at Brixworth Park with Yvonne Faulkner before following it up two days later at the Roald Dahl marathon challenge with the pacy Karen Thompson. Serena Baker also attended clocking up 2:24:52 for the half marathon event. Baker was also in action at the Derby 10 where she paced her friend to a time of 1:59:12. Lil Souter was the other Badger in action as she completed the 10-mile course in 88:51.

Chris Baxter was in top form at the Derby Midweek 5K. He ran a superb 16:39 in the event there which incredibly was only good enough for 19th place such was the standard of the field. He soon bounced back to winning ways however as at the weekend, he flew to a first-place finish at Alvaston parkrun in a brisk 16:57. With Kingsbury Water Park under water, Badgers spread far and wide for their parkruns. Bob Dawe led the club home at Bedworth followed by Paul Hadland, David Simpson and Anne-Marie Matthews. Stuart Walton was first Badger back at Rosliston and Eamon Thawley, Jared Karim and Richard Hill all travelled to Alderford Lake. Tim Gould ran a swift 20:39 at Chasewater with Matt Green, Matt Jackson, Amanda Gould, Sharon Jackson and Bill Gutheridge all going well.

In Italy, Nivette Chester followed in Maggi Savin Baden’s footsteps in becoming a female overseas winner as she scooped first place at the Caffarella parkrun with a time of 23:24, husband Richard dutifully trotting in afterwards. Jenna Davies was the star of the show at the new East Park run in Wolverhampton and Dean Bowd was back on it at Brueton.

Conkers saw a number of Badgers in action, namely Alan Argyle, Evie Whitehead in a super 25:01, Paul Grubb, Gervase Lancaster, Katrina Dawson, Nicola Stanley, John Dulson and Zoe Cope. The fledgling Oaklands parkrun in Birmingham saw Graham Engley launch himself into the top ten with a nippy 19:56. Paul Restall rolled back the years as did John Hanson and Adam McElhone.

Finally, at the non-scenic Babbs Mill course in Chelmsley Wood, Jack Reynolds hared round to a seventh-place finish in 21:51 with dad Mark also running strongly. Colin Lees, Lee Millership, Ian Orton and Mick Bailey were also in action as was Felicity Gray who flew to a fine fourth placed female in a fabulous 25:50.