Week Ending - 2019/12/15

BADGERS GEAR UP FOR CHRISTMAS WITH FESTIVE RUNS APLENTY

With the festive season approaching faster than Danny Warren in a sprint finish, Badgers were out in force yet again across the Midlands in a host of Christmas themed runs. Experienced long serving Badger couple John and Mandy Hanson have clocked up a staggering 499 parkruns between them in their time as runners and on Saturday they tackled the Stoneleigh Park based Christmas Reindeer Fun Run, resplendent in superb fancy dress. Over at Wolverhampton, Matt Scarsbrook was in scintillating form in the five-mile Turkey Trot race. The Baddesley based newcomer managed a quality 14th place overall in a star-studded field, his finish time a magnificent 28:53. Jenna Davies was also taking advantage of the helpful conditions as she plundered her way to a PB over the distance, the leggy 33 year old mum of two rattling off a fine time of 42:51.

At the Enigma Christmas Cracker 5K, Lil Souter took advantage of a sparse field as she helped herself to 5th overall and the honour of being first lady back thanks to her time of 25:51. Liz Peel clocked up her 69th marathon at the low key Poplar Challenge event in the Sence Forest near Ibstock. The Evesham 10K saw Dave Bailey, Yvonne Faulkner and Carl Savage beasting it up in the mud while there was success in the filth of Elsecar where Sharon Jackson trudged her way home to become first lady overall in the Its Grim Up North, 6.7 mile trail race. Also in the rural climes of England, Jimmy Dewis bagged 10th place in his age category in the Mortimer Forest 9 mile trail run with wife Cheryl celebrating her birthday with a top notch 2nd place age group finish in the same event.

As usual, there was a plethora of action at parkrun, despite some wettish conditions. Dazzling Dave Hill has been knocking on the door for weeks now and his persistence and talent was finally rewarded as scooped top spot at the Babbs Mill event with his superb run of 18:35. Mark Repton took a fine third in 19:29 with fellow Badgers Lee Millership, Wayne Repton, Richard Chester, Adam McElhone and the well-liked Paul Restall all getting home. The in-form Jenna Davies powered her way into the top ten ladies at the Fire Service College event in the Cotswolds, her time of 27:38 earning the fleet footed club secretary 8th place. Holly McClay and Andy Smith got round safely at Warwick Racecourse while Colin Lees led the charge at Bedworth, followed home by Paul Hadland, top local volunteer scribe Gavin Crockwell, Richard Hamblett, David Grant and Anne-Marie Matthews.

Oswestry welcome the travelling quartet of Lord Thawley, Richard Hill, Jared Karim and Yvonne Faulkner and Merv Jones and Leesa Dennis were representing the club up at Markeaton parkrun. Charlotte Phillips was spotted at Leamington with Dug Ladkin bossing the show at Conkers ahead of Lee Talbot, Paul “Grubby” Grubb, Prosecco Prince John Dulson aka “J-Dizzle”, Dave “Brett” Bailey, Alan “Plymouth” Argyle Along with Mark & Sarah Reynolds.

Finally, at Kingsbury Water Park, Teresa Satchell celebrated her 50th parkrun in style, showing just how far she has come since taking up the sport. Even with key man Glyn Broadhurst stuck at home pondering his choice of legwear for his upcoming flight to Cuba, there were still three Badgers in the top ten as Sam Starkey (20:16), Matt Jackson (21:34) and Tim Gould (22:10) bagged 3rd, 5th and 7th places respectively. The reliable Bill Gutheridge went well and it was great to see the pacy Ben Satchell back in action once again. Other runners included David Craig, Mick Bailey, Sharon Jackson (5th female), Chris Upton, John & Anne Devenney, Amanda Gould and Lil Souter. Lesley Palmer battled hard to get her time with Sue Thould rounding matters up in a workmanlike 45:45.