Week Ending - 2019/11/24

BADGERS GOING DOWN A STORM IN BENIDORM WHILE BEGINNERS MAKE THEIR MARK AT THE WATER PARK

Several Badgers made an appearance at this year’s Benidorm running festival, enjoying some winter sunshine while all at home were doing their best to keep warm and dry. The 10K race once again proved a popular draw with both locals and visitors alike and it was the club’s very own Chris Baxter who sped home in 16^th place overall in a time of 35:50, a superb effort in a field of over 1000, especially when he lost the best part of a minute by going the wrong way 6k in, costing the 30 year old a probable top ten finish. David Grant was next back in 43:43 just ahead of Carl Savage who came home in 44:54. Seasoned campaigner Colin Lees, himself no stranger to the sights and sounds of the Costa Blanca emerged back in 46:26 with Ashley “T-Dogg” Taylor, a near ever-present on these overseas tours crossing the line in 51:23. Yvonne Faulkner made it back in 52:50 while veteran Lesley Palmer even managed a personal best in 1:03:23, a terrific effort. Other runners included Richard Hill, Gail Gunn and Pip Weston, who stormed to third in her age category with a splendid time of 53:03.

At Clowne in Derbyshire, some sixteen Badgers toughed it out in the annual half marathon there. On an undulating course some 774 runners took to the streets and it was one of the club’s founding fathers, Martyn Barrett who not only led the side home at the age of 61, but also scooped the V60 award in the race overall thanks to his sterling time of 1:40:56. An inspiration to many at the club, Barrett is still turning out quality performances in between helping out in his capacity as one of the club’s run leaders and offering general words of wisdom such as how to wipe your bottom when left with just a solitary sheet of toilet paper. Following through behind him were a phalanx of Badgers spearheaded by Ian Orton, the top-knotted grinder banging out a quality time of 1:47:30.

Kay Whitehead was first back for the ladies in a cracking time of 1:54:52. The popular palliative care nursing specialist has shown numerous glimpses of her very best form in 2019 and here was yet another fine example. Baggies fan Terry Argyle was next back in 1:55:37 to cap a great weekend for him, for once having the upper hand on elder brother Alan who came home in 2:05:26. Jenna Davies is a runner in form right now and she weighed in with a stunning PB of 1:57:49 to go under two hours. Kerry Clover ran a solid 2:02:02 while Richard Chester (2:04:14) narrowly missed out on a PB which will surely come given a flatter course and more favourable weather. Nivette Chester and Lynne Gould were next back with Helena Rean, Sarah Vine and John Dulson all safely negotiating the 13.1-mile course. Holly McClay and Andy Smith both ran 2:17:30 with Vicki Fowler finally finishing in 3:25:55.

With no club league fixtures scheduled, Danny Warren tried his hand at the Derby Runner Staffordshire XC league event at nearby Cliff Lakes on Sunday, appearing as a guest runner with Badgers not being affiliated to this division of the league. The soon to be dad was no less prominent however as he stormed home in a superb 4^th place overall, selflessly leaving the podium free for some of the league’s more regular attendees.

At the Silverstone Half Marathon, Bill Gutheridge (1:40:31) and Lil Souter (1:59:21) both helped themselves to new personal bests while John Devenney was in action at the Cannock Chase 10k clocking a respectable 59:16. Last week in Coventry, Matt Scarsbrook was in great form as he ran a fine race to finish 6^th overall in the Coventry 10K.

Kingsbury parkrun was busier than ever with Badgers as the latest batch of new recruits successfully completed their Beginners programme with a 5k run around the wet water park under the guidance of Clare Whetton and her fellow coaches and run leaders. Paul & Sarah Baggott, Alison Clarke and young Harry Collinson all did well as did up and coming Olivia Hardy, the latest in a fine dynasty of local distance runners. Mick Judd was back at it alongside Shelley McLoughlin, Kate Rathbone and Matthew Smith. Sue Stock was in great form too as she picked up her deserved certificate while the Smith family of Rob, Amie and Abbie were the others who made it round in good time to round up another successful 12 week starter programme, the next of which will begin after Christmas in Atherstone. At the head of the field, Dave Hill was second only to top local star Lloyd Biddell as he finished in 18:43. Mark Repton ran 19:44 to take 4^th male and with Glyn Broadhurst (19:56) and Sam Starkey (20:18) also making the top 10, there was a distinct Badgers feel to the upper echelons of the timed event. Graham Engley ran 21:04 to make the top ten and Tim Gould missed out two places back in a speedy 21:55. Matt Green went well as did Bill Gutheridge, Wayne Repton, Mick Bailey, Paul Wallace, Pete Coogan, Dean Bowd and Darryl Johnson. Sharon Jackson (no relation to currently sidelined performance director David) was 4^th female overall in 25:05 with Evie Whitehead taking 6^th in a nippy 26:17. Other runners included the industrious Rob Crow, Keir Hardy, Jo Davies, Merv Jones, Harry Chesters, Bernadette Bowman, Jo Hardy, Sarah Vine, Gervase Lancaster, Adam McElhone, Dave Bailey, Nicola Stanley, Paul Cooper and Lisa Barnes. Teresa Satchell was back in the mix alongside Vikki Smith, Rachel Hudspith, Mandy Hanson, Leesa Dennis, Helen Morgan, Liz Peel and the Argyle brothers Terry and Alan.

Away from home, Dave McGowan took a fine first place at Bedworth parkrun, dominating from the off to earn his first win at the Miner’s Welfare Park in 17:57, with fellow Badgers Paul Hadland, Zoe Cope and Anne-Marie Matthews also in attendance. Katy Clemons continued her rich vein of form with another first place, this time at the fledgling Oaklands parkrun in Birmingham. She finished in a brilliant 24:44 while husband Neil made the top ten men with his rapid 19:33. Lee Millership was another breaching the top ten as he claimed 9^th spot at the Babbs Mill parkrun with his excellent time of 22:51. Jared Karim and Richard Hill both turned out at Clumber Park while Jenna Davies was in action at Daventry. The well-liked Karen Missen flew the flag at Cannock Chase and Holly McClay and Andy Smith both managed the East Park event. Finally, in far flung west Wales, Chris Upton finished 15^th at Aberystwyth in a time of 22:51.